Magic Carpet Residency in Kaunas, 2024
Magic Carpets is a Creative Europe platform dedicated to emerging artists, offering them the chance to embark on creative journeys across Europe. Through collaborations with local artists and communities, the platform supports projects that highlight local cultural identities while fostering cultural accessibility, activism, and participation.
As a textile artist, designer, and “professional teddy bear killer,” I was thrilled to be part of this initiative. My work often involves repurposing discarded textiles and toys to create sustainable art that speaks to the emotional value we attach to objects long after their original purpose is gone. Magic Carpets provided a unique space for me to deepen this practice through co-creation and connect with communities I might not otherwise encounter.
This residency was organized by the Magic Carpets platform and Kaunas Biennial, in partnership with Kaunas Artists House, Foundation Frida, and VšĮ "Būkime kartu," with co-funding from the European Union and the Lithuanian Culture Institute.
Read more about my thoughts about the residency here.
Residency Projects in Dainava: Textile Landscapes, Collaborative Workshops, and Sound Art
During my residency with Magic Carpets, I worked with the community in the Dainava District on a project centered around discarded materials, including old toys and textiles. The journey unfolded in multiple creative phases, each exploring different aspects of Dainava’s unique culture and environment.
Teddy Bear Killer Workshop with Dainava community
During my Magic Carpets residency in Dainava, I held a Teddy Bear Killer Workshop, a signature part of my practice. Using discarded stuffed animals, I invited participants to dismantle and reimagine these familiar forms into new, sustainable artworks. This workshop offered a playful yet meaningful space to discuss environmental impact and how we can repurpose materials. It also allowed participants to reconnect with the sentimental value of these once-loved objects, while collectively engaging in a hands-on, creative process. The experience sparked conversations about the stories embedded in everyday objects and how art can reawaken their significance.
Photos by G Zaltauskaite
Dainava textile collage landscapes
In collaboration with the community of Dainava, we created textile collages that represented the district’s unique identity. We worked with discarded textiles, turning them into visual landscapes that reflected the spirit of the area. Together, we translated the essence of Dainava into figurative words and phrases, capturing its local stories and values. These words then guided our hands in crafting textile pieces, each one a layered expression of Dainava’s collective memory. This project fostered an inspiring sense of community and connection, with each participant contributing their perspective to a shared narrative. This textile collages where later shown at Fluxus Festival as a community work.
Photos by Vaidos Barzdaitės
My Textile Interpretation of Dainava
In addition to the collaborative projects, I also embarked on a personal exploration of Dainava, creating my own textile interpretation of the district. Inspired by the community's stories and my own observations, I incorporated discarded stuffed animals from the area, to capture Dainava’s essence in textile form. This piece reflects both the tangible and intangible qualities of the place - a textile landscape that speaks to the memory, resilience, and spirit of Dainava. It was a way for me to internalize my experience there and express it through my own artistic language.
Teddy Bears of Dainava, 2024
Textile-Sound Collaboration with Ugnė Makselytė
A standout experience of my residency was collaborating with Lithuanian sound artist Ugnė. Together, we explored the intersection of my deconstruction process with teddy bears and Ugnė's approach to sound design. This led to the creation of a video sound piece, which premiered during the residency exhibition at the Fluxus Festival. Our combined work created an immersive environment, merging textile art and soundscapes to bring our mediums into a rich dialogue. We experimented with how sound could enhance the tactile and visual qualities of textiles, discovering new ways to engage the senses and amplify the emotional depth of our work.
Curious about Ugnė's work? Check it out here.
Sacrifice of a Teddy Bear, 2024
Sacrifice of a Teddy Bear, 2024
Video: 05:00´