🌊 TierrArte Workshop: Of Water, Wings & Offerings

Of Water, Wings, and Offerings: A Ceremony for Chalchiuhtlicue

Saturday, December 13, 2025

Join AZ(LAND) and TierrArte artist Estephania González for a deeply immersive, land-based workshop honoring the confluence of the Rio Verde and Rio Salado. This gathering centers Chalchiuhtlicue—the Mexica water goddess of flow, sacrifice, and renewal—and invites participants to reconnect with water, land, and community through art, ecology, and ceremony .

Set along the Salt River at Phon D Sutton Recreation Area, this workshop blends Indigenous teachings, mindful ecological observation, birding, storytelling, and a meaningful collective offering back to the river.

🌿 What You’ll Experience

Participants will engage in a guided, place-based experience that includes:

• Land acknowledgment and cultural grounding with teachings from the O’odham and Piipaash homelands and a representative from the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community (SRPMIC)

• Birding exploration, observing local bird species as ecological messengers

• Mindfulness of water through a guided sensory ritual inspired by Marina Abramović

• Creosote wreath making, using natural materials such as desert plants, clay tokens, herbs, and gathered offerings

• A closing act of reciprocity, returning wreath offerings to the river in gratitude and connection

📍Event Schedule Overview Document

• 8:30 AM – Check-in at the Nina Mason Pulliam Audubon Center

• 9:00 AM – Group departure by charter bus

• 10:00 AM – 1:45 PM – Workshop program at Phon D Sutton:

  • Welcome, land acknowledgment

  • Birding + ecology walk

  • Water mindfulness ritual

  • Working lunch + wreath-making

  • Closing offering ceremony

• 3:00 PM – Return to Audubon Center
  

🌱 What to Bring

Participants are invited to bring one small, natural offering—a flower petal, stone, leaf, or herb—to incorporate into their wreath. All offerings must be biodegradable, gathered with care, and honor the land and water we visit .

• Comfortable outdoor clothing & closed-toe shoes

• Binoculars (for bird watching) Hat, sunglasses, sunscreen

• Refillable water bottle

• Mats-Blankets/serapes/yoga mats

• Extra-Snacks (although snacks, beverages, lunch: including meat, vegan and vegetarian options will be provided)

🎟️ RSVP

This workshop is free and limited to 40 participants.
Reserve your spot early to be part of this ceremony of reflection, artistry, and ecological connection.