One definition of casket is a box or chest for holding valuable objects.

Being inside of a drum gives one the chance to feel the music as much as he or she hears it.

I like the interactive nature of drumming with friends and strangers as a way of inspiring a sense of community and partnership.

I’m not sure what to think about death: As I experience western rituals of death, I understand the need for calling hours and paying respects.  However, in these moments of mourning, I see how important it is to consciously celebrate our living experiences and relationships.

I’ve grown up in a culture that doesn’t have a clear way to talk about death. In all beliefs, there is a barrier that separates us, but also in some way allows us to connect with people that have passed. There are also barriers that separate us as people everyday.

In the case of Drum Casket, the barrier is the box, the drum.  It separates an individual from the group. The ritual of a wake or paying respects at calling hours is transformed into synchronized rhythmic celebration of life and rebirth. The energy of the group is literally passed through the barrier and absorbed by the person in the drum. The person feels the vibrations of the drumming till they are ready to exit, they then, reenter the group. Another enters and so on