{IN PERSON} Traversing the Underworld with the Periodic Cicada and the Myth of Persephone

PLEASE READ: This class is IN PERSON. TICKETS ARE NOT TRANSFERABLE.

Class fees are non transferable, we stick to the student agreements agreed upon during registration. Please ensure you are able to attend the scheduled class time.

Persephone, Goddess of Flowers and Queen of the Underworld, reminds us to embrace the endless cycle of life and death. As we depart the darkest part of the year, we look forward to new growth, blossoms, and the light that Spring brings to us. This new life is not possible without the inevitability of death, decay, and the resulting recycling of natural materials.

Likewise, cicadas follow a similar rhythm. Eggs of the cicada are laid beneath tree bark and the young hatchlings fall to the ground and burrow beneath the earth. Depending on the species, cicada nymphs will lay beneath the soil for weeks to years, until they finally emerge in large quantities to molt into adulthood, mate, and continue the cycle. This journey to the underworld, and an existence of dormancy is a natural reflection of Persephone’s journey between Hades and the world of the living.

This class will discuss the beneficial cycle of life and death and how it relates to the myth of Persephone. We will touch on the fascinating mystery cult of Eleusis, and tie these themes to the life cycle of cicadas. There are many beautiful lessons to learn from this chthonic journey and its important role in helping us accept the reality of death and decay.

Each ticket also includes a small shadow box, a cicada specimen, some dried flowers, and a brief instruction on how to create a devotional art piece to Persephone.

YOUR INSTRUCTOR:

Jess is a Denver-based artist who creates small sculptures and jewelry using elements of nature.
Jess creates imaginative miniature worlds honoring elements of nature and science. These sculptures contain magic in the form of preserved insects, bones, stones, moss, and plants. Inspired by the natural curiosity assemblages of the Victorian Naturalists and the Wildlife Halls of modern science museums, Jess hopes to inspire wonder, curiosity, and understanding for our natural world. Each piece she creates is a reminder of the beauty that lies in death and its importance in the cycle of life.
Jess teaches classes that stitch together magic, art, and science with an aim to inspire her students to to approach the world, and their practice, with endless curiosity.