Carmel, Indiana and Seiffen, Germany

This public art initiative utilizes century-old craftsmanship to activate public spaces across multiple destinations, creating a walkable, family-friendly trail that brings transatlantic communities closer together. By placing runs at local museums, three businesses, and parks, the KugelTour transforms streets into a living gallery of play. This reciprocal legacy, mirrored by a sister track in Seiffen, blends master woodworking with Hoosier hospitality. The KugelTour is an evolving story where each new track is a collaborative design between Carmel’s community and the master woodworkers in Seiffen. Furthermore, the wooden balls are highly customizable for special editions, community events, and provide a fantastic platform for transatlantic design competitions for the next collectible ball.
The KugelTour honors Seiffen’s UNESCO World Heritage trade while fostering American STEAM education through a hybrid production model. Aside from local makers, engineers and artists, we are targeting our 16,000-student school district for curriculum integration to facilitate design collaborations and giving students a hands-on role in transatlantic production. German Engineering: Primary kinetic components are designed in Germany by DESIGNSYSTEM to ensure the highest standards of craftsmanship. American Integration: Modular housings and backdrops are fabricated in Indiana, facilitated by Moden Agency, ensuring tracks meet U.S. safety and ADA standards
By scaling a validated German model within the urban fabric of the American Midwest, this project fulfills the Goethe-Institut "Connecting Places" mission to re-energize international ties through forward-thinking, co-created art.