LT
On Wednesday, August 27, the SODAS 2123 cultural complex once again invites our young friends to come together for play and exploration in an artist-led workshop at the Clay Playground. This time, we will use clay to develop our senses, talk about emotions, and give them form 
Karen Vanhercke: Fill Up My Palms
This sensory awareness workshop invites participants to explore the feeling of inner fulfilment through clay kneading. With a piece of clay gently enclosed in their palms, participants will be guided to form a simple ball with their eyes closed. We will focus on its weight, temperature, moisture, and texture, while also following the inner impulses that arise during the creative process. Once they open their eyes, the work will continue, shaped by the inspiration and imagination of that moment.
Age of participants: 7–10 years old
Berta Bocullo-Kaziliūnė: Clay Masks – Emotions and Roles
This creative workshop invites children to explore the mask as a symbol and its connection to the human inner world. We will begin with the artist briefly introducing the meanings of masks in different cultures – from ritual and protective to theatrical and festive. Together, we will then discuss how masks allow us to embody and try out different roles and, in childhood, to safely explore different sides of our personalities.
Working with clay, we will create theatrical, emotional masks that reflect each participant’s inner state or chosen role. The properties of clay – its softness, fragility, and malleability – will serve as a metaphor for the growing, constantly changing personality of a child. The creative process will span the entire journey – from sketching and searching for form to moulding the mask. Together, we will also reflect on what we want to reveal or hide, the ‘masks’ we wear every day, and how they change over time.
Age of participants: 7–10 years old
Workshop schedule: 6:00 pm: Karen Vanhercke – Fill Up My Palms 7:00 pm: Berta Bocullo-Kaziliūnė – Clay Masks: Emotions and Roles
Duration of each workshop: 45–60 min.
The workshops are free and open to everyone.
On August 27, a free LIVE SODAS concert will also take place in the courtyard of the cultural centre SODAS 2123. More info >> https://fb.me/e/3xMfQ5cdv
—
Karen Vanhercke is an educator and art historian with more than 20 years of experience in the cultural sector. She completed her MA in Art History at the Catholic University of Leuven in Belgium, later deepening her knowledge in the field of antique furniture restoration at the Brussels Academy of Fine Arts and the Istituto per l’Arte ed il Restauro Palazzo Spinelli in Florence, Italy. Starting her career as a visual resources manager at the University of California, Davis, Karen later worked at the Musée Art & Histoire Bruxelles for more than a decade, where she led educational activities, presenting archaeological and applied art exhibits to the wider audience. From 2018 to 2021, she worked at the MO Museum in Vilnius. Since 2022, Karen has been independently leading visual thinking strategy training at various institutions, such as the Lithuanian National Gallery of Art, the Gaon Museum of Jewish History in Vilnius, and the Kintai Arts Residency (LT). In 2023, she began working at the Vilnius Waldorf Green School, where she teaches art, art history, theater, and English language. Since 2024, she has been working at the Stasys Museum in Panevėžys (LT), where she is responsible for the development and application of educational activity methodologies.
Berta Bocullo-Kaziliūnė is a set and costume designer. She graduated from Kaunas Art Gymnasium in 2007, studied industrial design at Vilnius Academy of Arts from 2007 to 2009, and obtained a BA in Set Design from the same academy in 2015. Her creative work includes various Lithuanian theater and cultural projects, ranging from set and costume design for performances to installations and visual solutions for music events. In recent years, Berta has worked on projects such as the Vilnius Theater Lėlė’s production of Gulliver Wants to Grow Up (2024), the Pojūčių teatras production MAMAsapiens (2024), the Vilnius Old Theater’s production Minor Marital Offenses (2024), and the ensemble Lietuva’s production Mikalojus’ Dream (2023). Previously, she created set designs and costumes for performances at the Lithuanian National Drama Theater, Šiauliai Drama Theater, Vilnius Youth Theater, Juozas Miltinis Drama Theater, and Alytus City Theater, among others. Her works have been presented at international exhibitions, including the Venice Architecture Biennale (2014) and the Prague Quadrennial of Performance Design and Space (2015).
—
Launched at the beginning of summer, the Clay Playground marks a new direction for SODAS 2123’s educational programme – a series of seasonal playgrounds and accompanying activities developed in collaboration with curator Vilius Vaitiekūnas. Throughout the summer, SODAS 2123 will host workshops for children led by various artists, offering opportunities to play, explore, and experience the world with clay in their hands.
Sculptural installation by: architects Mantas Peteraitis, Kamilė Vasiliauskaitė, Aistė Gaidilionytė
Creative collaborators: Emilija Kazakevičiūtė, Otilija Ieva Končiūtė, Svetlana Zobnina, Paulius Bogavičius, Radvilė Šapranauskaitė, Gabija Adelė Mandeikaitė, Ignas Uleckas, Matas Trimonis
Curator: Vilius Vaitiekūnas
Clay technique consultant: Gabrielė Šimkutė
Project Manager: Lina Rukevičiūtė
Coordinator: Gabija Stašinskaitė
Communication Coordinator: Gustė Grigaliūtė
Language Editor and Translator: Alexandra Bondarev
Organiser: Cultural Centre SODAS 2123
Partners: Vilnius Academy of Arts, Moline, Akee
Photo credits: Ugnė Steponavičiūtė
SODAS 2123 is financed by the Lithuanian Council for Culture and Vilnius City Municipality.
Please note: Photography and filming will take place during the event. Photos and videos may be used for publicity purposes on social media, websites, press, and other communication platforms.