Silvija Juozelskytė

Weaver

Part of the family

Silvija's sources of inspiration are antiquity and tradition
It is important for her yarns and colours to be natural
She feels beauty lies in simplicity

Since childhood, Silvija Juozelskytė has witnessed every weaving process: carding, spinning, dyeing. Her grandmother, who can be said to have lived among threads, would always knit. Those images have stayed with her and still inspire the textile artist Silvija is today. She hand weaves fabrics from natural linen yarn on an ancient loom to make towels, pillows, blankets, table decorations and other fabrics for interior design. Fascinated by Baltic culture, the more she explores it, the more she resonates with the worldview of these countries. While weaving, Silvija feels like she is a part of a tribe, continuing a tradition that has been passed down for generations by the women of her family.

Interview

How are your works connected to your homeland?: I have a studio in Guntauninkai village, and this is where my inspiration lies. People lived here in the Stone Age, and the eastern front in WWI passed through it; you can still find bunkers in the surrounding forests. In the garden, I find pieces of pottery from the Middle Ages, or bullets. The olden days seem to still be in the air.
What traditions and innovations are present in your works?: Tradition is more of an inspiration to me. I am fascinated by the minimalist style of Lithuanian folk fabrics and simple patterns. Beauty lies in simplicity. Graphic patterns are inspired by tradition and history, yet they are also suitable for modern interiors.
What do you like most about your profession?: Purchasing thread. It is a horrible illness – I have entire shelves full of thread! Truly, the most interesting moment is holding the thread and thinking what pattern I could weave with it. I take great satisfaction from selecting each one, and dyeing it with natural dyes, such as black alder bark.
What advice would you give a budding young weaver?: Weaving requires immense desire and great patience. It is such an archaic craft. For example, even the process of putting all the harnesses onto the loom takes a long time. But personally, I find it incredibly important to continue the tradition. You can buy everything, but it will not be the same.

Silvija Juozelskytė is a master artisan: she began her career in 2000 and she started teaching in 2000