Seed Jewelry Workshop

In case of inclement weather, this workshop will be rescheduled to 3/28.

Join artist Eric César Morales for an art-making workshop! Participants will learn to weave intricate jewelry with seeds harvested from around Philadelphia, including the grounds of Bartram’s Garden, as well as seeds collected from Latin America and the Pacific. We will learn about the historical and cultural significance of each type of seed, including their roles in art, music, food, medicine, and folktales. 

Participants will design and weave their own bracelets out of seeds! All materials are provided, and interested participants will have the chance to hand-drill a few of their own seeds. Designed for all ages and experience levels, this workshop welcomes everyone—from children to seniors—to engage creatively with nature, culture, and craft!

Eric César Morales, Ph.D.

Eric César Morales is an activist, academic, and interdisciplinary artist whose work centers Indigenous knowledge, environmental relationships, and embodied cultural practice. He received his M.A. and Ph.D. from the Department of Folklore and Ethnomusicology at Indiana University, where his research focused on cultural transmission through Indigenous dance, music, and material culture. As an artist, he specializes in weaving intricate jewelry using only natural seeds and shells collected both locally and internationally.

Eric developed his craft through extended travels, study, and apprenticeships with Indigenous communities around the world, including Paumotu artisans in the Tuamotu Archipelago, Bribri communities in Costa Rica, and P’urhépecha artists in Michoacán, Mexico (his own Indigenous heritage). He approaches the gathering of materials as a meditative practice, researching the histories of each plant and shell and their cultural roles across Indigenous societies. Seeds and shells are never dyed or paired with commercial beads, as such alterations are understood to disrupt their mana, or natural energy. Through this process, his jewelry seeks to reconnect wearers with nature and ancestral ways of knowing.

Eric regularly leads workshops and lectures across the United States on dance, Indigenous material culture, and the impacts of globalization on traditional artistic practices. He also facilitates hands-on workshops in seed and shell jewelry-making using locally sourced materials. Participants learn about regional biodiversity, the historical and cultural significance of collected seeds and shells, stories and beliefs associated with these seeds, and the ways global forces reshape natural and cultural landscapes—all through an Indigenous-centered framework that emphasizes creativity, sustainability, and embodied knowledge. His workshops are adaptable for a wide range of audiences, from children to seniors.