Expressive Art
Spirit Nest Drum
About the Artist
Based in Big Sur, California, Jayson Fann is an interdisciplinary artist, educator, musician, and producer whose career spans the creation of more than fifty Spirit Nests across the United States and internationally. His commissions include projects for the National Institute of Children’s Health Hospital, Pacific Grove Natural History Museum, University of California Santa Cruz Arboretum, and the Basalt Public Library in Colorado. Celebrated for work that weaves together art, nature, and community, Fann has been featured in publications such as The New York Times, Condé Nast, and World Architecture News.
Spirit Nest Drum
Jayson Fann (Big Sur, CA)
2021 Artist in Residence
Materials: Hollowed maple tree trunk, cedar pegs, cow skin, cedar platform
This 500-pound drum was created as a musical extension of the Spirit Nest installation located in Zone 2 of Bernheim’s Playcosystem. Crafted primarily from natural materials found on-site, the drum symbolizes the heartbeat of the forest. Rhythms produced from its surface echo patterns found throughout the natural world, offering an immersive experience at the intersection of art, nature, and sound.
Location: Sassafras Room. Occasionally moved to the Spirit Nest for special programs and events.