Keepsake Urn Creation
for Day of the Dead
Transform grief into gratitude through clay.
Join ceramic artist Jesse Brinkerhoff of Gratitude Ceramics for a deeply intentional evening of creation during Missoula's Day of the Dead celebrations. In this sacred two-hour workshop, you'll hand-build a keepsake urn using ancient coil techniques—creating a vessel to hold partial ashes, treasured mementos, or sacred objects that honor your departed loved one, cherished pet, or even an old version of yourself you're ready to release.
Working with clay offers a profound pathway for processing grief and celebrating life. As your hands move through the rhythmic process of coiling and shaping, you'll have space to remember, reflect, and honor what has passed while creating something beautiful to carry forward. Each urn becomes a sacred container for physical remains, keepsakes, and the actual love that never dies.
This isn't just a ceramics class; it's a gentle ritual of remembrance. Bring objects that might stamp or impress meaningful patterns into your clay, or simply come ready to carve symbols, words, or images that celebrate your beloved's unique essence. Whether you're grieving a recent loss or honoring someone who passed years ago, all hearts and skill levels* are welcome in this sacred space.
What to expect:
All clay, glaze, and tools provided
Guided coil/slab/pinch building instruction
Sacred space to process and create
Resources for grief & arts support
Your finished piece will be fired and ready for pickup before Nov 2nd (option: some of you may want to walk in the Festival of the Dead processional)
Some clay experience is helpful but not required—an open mind and willing heart are all you need. Come as you are, leave with a sacred vessel that celebrates love beyond loss.
Meet Jesse Brinkerhoff
Five years ago, ceramic artist Jesse left her stable career to pursue art full-time, catalyzed by her family's encounter with devastating loss and her brother's passing. With a B.F.A. in ceramics from the University of Montana, her artistic practice has become a profound exploration of how grief transforms us—both in life and in clay. Her work has evolved from earthy, grounded pieces to lighter, more feminine ceramics that reflect her own healing journey through trauma therapy and deep personal work. Specializing in hand-building techniques and commemorative vessels, Jess teaches from the philosophy that if we can "stay out of the way just enough, the work will evolve" alongside us. Through Gratitude Ceramics—named for what rebuilt her through grief—she creates sacred space for others to discover that art can be medicine, clay can be ceremony, and we are already equal to our own becoming.
To purchase Jesse's urns and ceramics, visit her website, email gratitudeceramics@gmail.com, or message her on Instagram https://www.instagram.com/gratitudeceramics. You can also find her work at local markets this holiday season.
Collaboration of Sacred Ally, Gratitude Ceramics, and Missoula’s Annual Festival of the dead. @facebook.com/Missoula.Festival.ofthe.Dead/, email : missoulafestivalofthedead@gmail.com
Registration for this event is $40
✨ Your pre-registration is appreciated to help us keep the event on the calendar.. ✨
To ensure Sacred Ally remains accessible to our diverse community, we offer the option of a socioeconomic discount. We ask that people reserve the use of these discounts for those who need it most.
Annual Income $0-30k = 20% discount —> Code: Socioeconomic20
Annual Income $30-40k = 15% discount —> Code: Socioeconomic15
Annual Income $40-50k = 10% discount —> Code: Socioeconomic10
Annual Income $50k(+) = We ask that you pay full price