News

ETN's new Information concept

Beginning with the year 2010 we have separated the activities of TFS (Textile Forum Service) because these are not under the responsibility of the Network, even if connected closely with regards to the persons active and the spectrum of content.
Since 2010 the ETN Newsletter will be published - password protected - on this website. It is available only for members with up-to-date information from the fields of textile art and culture. Publication dates are quarterly around mid-January, April, July and October.
Newsworthy information of international importance, reaching the ETN secretariat after these dates, will be completed, also regularly, on this NEWS page at the end of February, May, August and November of each year.

SUZANNE PINAULT - A LIFE FOR TEXTILES

An exhibition held at the Musée de la Chemiserie et de l'Elégance masculine, Argenton-sur-Crense (Rue Charles Brilland, F-36200), from 29th May until 17th October 2010 pays homage to Suzanne Pinault's life (born 1898), which was dedicated to the textile arts. From 1924 to 1957, the artist worked as a lecturer for lace
and knitting at the Paris Ecole des Arts Appliqués Duperré.
A well-known name in France, she dedicated her entire legacy (fabrics, laces, jewellery etc.) to the Hyères museum (http://chemiserie.cc-argenton.fr).

THE TEXTILE TRADITION OF BRABAND, THE NETHERLANDS

This exhibition held at Kempenland Museum, Eindhoven (St. Antoniusstraat 16, NL-5616 RT), from 12th June until 21st November 2010 is entitled “Stik maar! De textieltraditie van Brabanders (Get Stitched! Brabanders and their textile traditions)”. It focuses on the textile history of the town and its surroundings, both on its product range and on local industry, trade and education, spanning a period from the Middle Ages until the 19th century.

MAGIC THREADS

From 18th June until 14th Sept 2010, Atelier voo Hedendaagse Kant (Contemporary Lace Studio) is showing an exhibition entitled “Magische Draden” at the Brussels Costume and Lace Museum (Violetstraat 12 – B 1000). Nine members of Atelier, whose spokeswoman is Jeanine Billens and which is located in Borgerhout (Oedenkovenstraat 63, B-2140), will present their laces. The lace-makers work with linen, cotton, silk, wool and more unusual materials. They combine their lace techniques with braiding, weaving, felting, painting and modelling. The exhibition venue, the Museum voor het Kostuum en de Kant (Costume and Lace Museum), was established in 1977, and has since collected precious textiles and clothing that either use or consist of lace.

INTERNATIONAL TEXTILE ART FESTIVAL IN CANADA

Several events themed “When Thirteen Moons Entwine” will be held at Val-des-Monts near Ottawa, Canada, from 15th August until 10th October 2010, organised by the local Moon Rain Centre. With reference to the lunar calendar, they will celebrate the inspirations of 13 hand-picked international textile artists, expressed in exterior installations. Also envisaged are seven exhibitions, a number of workshops and artist meetings that attract many participants. Two websites provide detailed information, http://www.moonrain.ca and http://www.moonraincentrefortapestryarts.blogspot.com.

17th QUILT NATIONAL

The world largest quilt art exhibition will again take place from 27 May to 5 Sept. 2011 at the Dairy Barn Arts Center, P.O. Box 747, Athens, Ohio 45701-0747, USA. The organisers are asking for art quilts completed after 1 Sept. 2008, showing “the variety of techniques and innovative trends in the medium of layered and stitched fabric and demonstrating the breath and diversity of contemporary expressions”. There will be awarded 11 prizes to a total sum of US $ 6,000. A full-colour catalogue will be published by Lark Books. Jurors are Eleanor McCain (quilter), Pauline Verbeek-Cowart (weaver) and Nelda Warkentin (quilter). Pauline has a Dutch background and has a very “European” approach in her own work. This might give European quilt artists more chances to be selected. The chosen works will be part of a touring exhibition from September 2011 through Dec. 2013. There is an entree fee of US $ 35. The work should be submitted in digital form. For more information see http://www.dairybarn.org or write to Kathleen Dawson, Quilt National Director, e-mail: qn@dairybarn.org
Deadline: 10 September 2010

WARP & WEFT

A remarkable exhibition entitled “Warp + Weft” will be held at Oriel Myrddin Gallery, Wales (http://www.orielmyrddingallery.co.uk), from 11th September until 30th October 2010. Among other artists, it will feature work by Ann Sutton, Peter Collingwood, Reiko Sudo and Ann Richards. A further exhibition, entitled “Warp + Weft: From handloom to production”, is being organised by the National Wool Museum in Drefach Felindre, also located in Carmarthenshire/Wales, and will be shown from 4th September until 8th January 2011. It will illustrate fashion and interior textiles that handweavers and weaving artists managed to create in co-operation with industrial producers, without giving up aesthetic standards. The exhibitions will be accompanied by a one-day symposium held on 11th September 2010; led by Jessica Hemmings, its theme is cross-disciplinary approaches to weaving. For further details see http:// www.museumwales.ac.uk/en/whatson/?event_id=4336
A further, open-air show of textile art will present work by the Fibre Art Wales group, as well as pieces by students of the West Wales School of the Arts. The co-ordinator is Laura Thomas, email: info@laurathomas.co.uk

14th INTERNATIONAL LACE BIENNIAL OF SANSEPOLCRO

Sansepolcro, a small town in the Arezzo Province of Tuscany, was originally established around the Santo Sepolcro monastery. It is home to an association called “Il merletto nella città die Piero (Lace in the City of Piero della Francesca)”, which harks back to a late 19th century lace tradition and maintains a school offering courses in lace and embroidery. Twenty-seven years ago it established the Lace Biennial, now in its 14th edition and next scheduled at the town's cultural centre from 11th September until 15th November 2010. The exhibition is in several sections,
1) an overview of European lace;
2) a display of lace from non-European countries;
3) a selection of laces from Italian regions;
4) lace made in the local lace school; and
5) a show of lace for the clothing industry.
In addition, there will be displays of competition results, this year themed “The Beauty of Body and Soul”. The competition was open to entries produced in bobbin or needle lace; objects were not supposed to exceed 70 x 70 cm in dimension (although exceptions were granted), and had to be made by hand. The submission deadline was 30th May 2010. The best pieces were included in the organiser's lace museum. The opening ceremony will take place on 18th and 19th September. Accompanying workshops led by international instructors are planned. Regrettably, we were unable to obtain information on the course instructors. Prior to the event, communication with organiser Paolo Piovaticci, who understands English, was quite an effort. Incidentally, Paolo Piovaticci is the founder of the Biennial, which began just one year after OIDFA, in 1983, and despite little initial public funding, has continued a lively existence and attracted increasing international interest. The catalogue for the 13th Biennial presented 103 lace objects and 75 exhibits of the competition show, held in 2008 on the competition theme, “Laces as the Architecture of Threads”. Address: Presidenza Centro Culturale di Sansepolcro, Via XX Settembre 99, I-52037 Sansepolcro; tel/fax: +390-575/ 049344; email: ssepolcrolace biennal@libero.it; http://www.biennaleinternazionaledelmerletto.org
Beatrijs Sterk

'NORTHERN FIBRE' IN STOCKHOLM

It appears that this textile art symposium will next be held from 13th to 19th September 2010. We encountered these dates on the website of ID:I Galleri, Stockholm. The organiser, Fiber Art Sweden (FAS), regrettably has not responded to our enquiries for information. FAS aims to be a forum for discussions on contemporary textile art, and has chosen “Points of Departure” as this year's theme. Several artists from Scandinavia, other European countries and the USA have been invited (http://www.fiberartsweden.nu).

2011 HANOVER TEXTOUR

From 11th March until 16th April 2011, a second edition of TEXTOUR will be held in Hanover, with exhibitions,
a symposium and various other events on textile themes.
As in the previous edition, two international judged exhibitions are planned:

RAG REVOLUTION
(Re-)use of textile materials is the theme of this exhibition shown at Workshop Hannover from 11th March until 15th April 2011. The exhibition explores artists' current reflections on the theme and the ways in which they employ textile media, techniques, materials or metaphors. The call for entries from around the world quite deliberately addresses artists from all genres. To throw further light on the theme, TEXTILE FORUM magazine 1/2011 will be dedicated to “Rags”, and expand on the subject by inviting suggestions from readers.
Detailed conditions for entry and a comprehensive explanatory text can be found on the website of Workshop Hannover e.V., Zentrum für kreatives Gestalten, Lister Meile 4, D-30161 Hannover; tel: +49-511/344711;
e-mail: box@workshop-ev.de; http://www.workshop-ev.de
Application deadline: 15th October 2010

BODY SHEATHS
What are the properties man-made covers could, must or should have to offer humans protection from the elements while also meeting their individual and fashion needs? This question is the focus of an exhibition on view at Handwerksform Hannover from 19th March until 16th April 2011.
All candidates from Germany or abroad who have obtained a professional qualification or can show several years of professional experience may ap-ply. Applications are expected to include a CV, three to five good quality photos (jpg files, 300 dpi), a statement and information on working methods, techniques and materials, in a format not exceeding A4.
All further details can be found on the Handwerksform Hannover website: Informations- und Ausstellungszentrum der Handwerkskammer Hannover, Berliner Allee 17, D-30175 Hannover; tel: +49-511/348
5921; e-mail: handwerksform@hwk-hannover.de; http://www.handwerksform.de
Application deadline: 15th September 2010

SUSTAINABLE TEXTILES: ‘reTHINK'

From 25th September until 30th January 2011, the Audax Textielmuseum of Tilburg (Goirkestraat 96, NL-5046 GN) will feature a show of “sustainable” fashion, interior textiles and other product designs. A number of designers were invited to think about the entire production process, from production of raw materials to recycling of products, and to present examples to illustrate their ideas. For instance, Christien Meindersma used wool from Dutch sheep in her 3D knitted products; jewellery designer Wille- mijn de Graaf explored stinging nettles as her starting material; and the Atelier NL duo went into biodegradable yarns. A total of 14 designers are involved in the exhibition. The accompanying programme includes a conference day, “Creative Search for Sustainable Textiles”, and two workshops held on 29th October 2010 (http://www.textielmuseum.nl).

'TALENTE' SPECIAL SHOW

Internationale Handwerksmesse (IHM), a fair held by the Chamber of Skilled Trades in Munich from 16th to 22nd March 2011, will reserve 600 m2 for “Talente (Talents)”, a special show for young designers from all over the world who are invited to submit innovative work. The age limit for applicants is 33 (35 for technical fields). An international panel of judges will select the “Talente” award winner. – Handwerks-kammer für München und Ober- bayern, Abtlg. Messen und Ausstellungen, Dr. Michaela Braesel, Max-Joseph-Str. 4, D-80333 München; http://www.hwk-expo.de
Application deadline: 1 October 2010

“FROM LAUSANNE TO BEIJING”

The 6th International Fiber Art Biennial & Symposium will again take place in China from 22nd October until 6th November 2010. This year's event will be held in the city of Zhenghou, Henan Province. Submissions will be viewed by a panel of 17 judges, 10 of them foreigners (Europeans Annika Ekdahl, Sweden, and Bashir Makhoul, UK, as well as three judges each from the USA and Japan, and two from South Korea). The organisers are asking for two- or three-dimensional art pieces in any material, measuring a maximum of 320 cm in height for two-dimensional and a maximum of 600 cm in height for three-dimensional objects. At the 5th Biennial, more than 240 pieces were included in the exhibition and catalogue. The participation fee of US $300 includes returning of the work, two catalogues and a wealth of additional services for those attending the event, those not present are charged US $ 150. Awards will be presented in the form of medals – 2 gold, 4 silver and 8 bronze – and 46 “Outstanding” commendations are also envisaged. The first registration forms were sent as early as April, when the 2008 form was still posted on the organisers' website (communication channels with China are a matter of luck!). International contact address: C322/B357, Fiber Art Institute, Academy of Arts & Design, Tsinghua University Haidian District, Beijing 100080, China; tel: +86-10/62798976; contact: Wang Mei, e-mail: may_zhe@hotmail.com; http://www.chinafiberart.com.cn/4th-english.html
Subm. deadline: 25th July 2010

CHILDREN'S KIMONOS

The French assoc. Amitiés Tissées will present some 100 objects, kimonos, accessories and several illustr. from the Kazuko Nakano Collection, dating from the late Edo period to the early 20th cent.. The show will be on view at: the Basel Doll House Museum (Puppenhausmuseum, Steinenvorstadt 1, CH-4051), 16th Oct. 2010 until 2nd April 2011; Sieboldthuis, Leiden/NL (July - August 2011), Linz Castle Museum (Schlossmuseum, Dec. 2011 - March 2012) and probably the Paris Bibliothèque Forney (April - July 2012). At a time when the life of a child could be short, families, and mothers in particular, transferred all their love and care to their children's clothing, which they either commissioned or made with their own hands. The designs painted, dyed or embroidered on the kimonos are rich in meaning, representing a desire for health and prayers for strength, grace, intelligence, wealth or beauty. Thus, typical motifs for children's kimonos are depictions of turtles, cranes, bamboo, pines, chrysanthemums and other designs symbolising those values.

COURSES AT WEST DEAN

West Dean College near Chichester, West Sussex/UK, offers special basketry courses in winter, for instance from 3rd to 6th Dec 2010, from 14th to 17th Jan 2011, from 4th to 6th Febr 2011, and from 9th to 12th May 2011. Courses in textile and leather processing will be held in parallel. Bookings may be made by telephone, email or post (http://www.westdean.org.uk/college). Accommodation and meals are arranged locally.

EMBROIDERY STITCH 011

‘Stickstich 011' is the title of the second edition of the International Design Prize Plauen/Vogtland, the theme being “Embroidered Spatial Constructs”. Entries are expected to constitute innovations in embroidery technology, and to be feasible both in functional and technical terms. Pieces must be made by machine. The organisers will put candidates in touch with suitable embroidery companies if required. The materials and techniques may be chosen freely; the emphasis is on design and innovative product ideas. Material samples and development of prototypes are admissible. The competition is open to designers and students resident in Germany or abroad. Three prizes worth Euro 1,500, 1,200 and 1,000 are envisaged; awards may be shared. Distinctions for special achievements may also be awarded. The winners' designs will be put on display at the fu- ture Lace and Embroidery Centre to be established in Plauen. The competition will be accompanied by a publication. The award ceremony and opening of the exhibition are scheduled at the Plauen Stadt-Galerie (Town Gallery) in June 2011. A competition entry fee will not be charged. Detailed conditions of entry are available on the internet in English and German. Address for entries: Verein Vogtländische Textilgeschichte Plauen e.V., Schaustickerei Plauener Spitze, z. Hd. Frau Beate Schad, Obstgartenweg 1, D-08529 Plauen; tel/fax: +49-3741/443187; email: beate.schad@stickstich-designpreis.com; http://www.stickstich-designpreis.com
Submission deadline: 28 February 2011

TISENS – FELT ART

The tourist office of Tisens-Prissian and the municipality of Tisens in Southern Tyrol, in conjunction with the region's felt and wool association, are holding a competition for felt objects that will be exhibited along a felt art hiking trail set up 10 years ago. Anyone can enter the competition free of charge. The theme is “The natural world relating to the existing landscape – the Garden of Eden”. Candidates are asked to submit a project idea, with a colour sketch, measurements, a description, details of the amount of wool required, and instructions for installation. The first three prizes comprise reimbursement of a three-day stay including breakfast, and a voucher for mountain sheep wool. Other (hononary) prizes are envisaged. Objects must be available to the organiser from 5th to 11th March 2011. The renewed felt art hiking trail will open on 16th April 2011. Registration address: Tourismusverein Tisens-Prissian, Bäcknhaus 54, I-39010 Tisens/Prissian; http://www.tisensprissian.com
Submission deadline: 15 October 2010

SIMPLY LACE

The term “lace” is usually encountered in the context of textiles. However, open work techniques are also used to craft other materials, creating objects that are “simply great”. Craftspeople working in any field who have completed their professional training or can show several years of professional experience may submit entries. Applications are expected to include a CV, three to five good quality photos (jpg files/300 dpi), a statement and information on working methods, techniques and materials, in a format not exceeding A4. All further details can be found on the Handwerksform Hannover website. Exhibition period: 11th June to 9th July 2011.
(http://www.handwerksform.de)
Application deadline: 20th January 2011

3rd INTL. COMPETITION OF TEXTILE ART ‘CONTINERE'

The 7th International Triennial of Contemporary Textile Arts of Tournai, subtitled “The 5 Continents”, invites artists from the five continents to participate in the summer of 2011. It will be the third Triennial to include an open international exhibition on textile art; following “Kimonologue” and “Dialogue”, next year's theme will be “Continere” (Latin for ‘sticking together'). The organisers are asking for pieces that deal with the basic principles of weaving and the best possible interpretations in this field. Objects should measure no more than 220 x 220 x 30 cm and no less than 100 x 150 cm. Submissions must include digital photos, a paper print and a work sample. Three prizes worth Euro 5,000, Euro 2,000 and Euro 1,000 will be presented, and a catalogue with colour illustrations is envisaged. The exhibition dates are 14th June to 31st August 2011. A participation fee will not be charged. Address: 7th Intl. Triennial of Contemporary Textile Arts of Tournai, 1 Blvd. des Frères Rimbaud, B-7500 Tournai; Patricia Carliez, e-mail: Triennale.tournai@belgacom.net; http://www.triennaletournai.be
Submission deadline: 1st February 2011

THE INTL. WORLD TEXTILE ART BIENNIAL IN MEXICO IS ANNOUNCED

This sixth WTA Biennial to the theme of “AIR” will possibly become the most ambitions event of this kind in Latin America. It will take place from 16 May until 1 June 2011 at three different venues, Xalapa at the Gulf of Mexico, Mexico City and Oaxaca, a provincial capital in the centre of the isthmus between the Atlantic and the Pacific Ocean.
The organisers website features six different international competitions, each with a different focus of content, spread over the three venues:
1) Large Format Textile Art
2) Small Format Textile Art
3) Time-Based Textile Art
4) Textile Art Objects
5) Recyclability in Textile Art
The deadline for all these competitions is 15 December 2010.
Up to 3 objects per participant
at a fee of US $ 40 (for 1 object), + $ 30,- (2) + $ 20,- (3).
6) Collaborative Textile Art- Nets (no fee!)
Detailed calls for entries are published on the website www.wta-online.org. Application address (in JPG-format) to e-mail: wta.aire.mexico@gmail.com,
or bienalmexico@wta-online.org,
or by fax: +1-786/206967
Deadline: 15 February 2011
P.S.: Under the auspices of the Biennial a three-day conference themed, “Considerations between Textiles and Society: A Recapitulation” will take place in Xalapa. The organisers are asking for contributions in five fields: 1) The language of textiles, 2) Millenary traditions in contemporary life, 3) The crossings of disciplines, 4) Textiles applied – production and ingenuity, and 5) Alternative routes. The conference will be held from 16th May until 1st of June 2011 in Xalapa.

ARTAPESTRY 3

The European Tapestry Forum is calling for entries for their third Tapestry Art exhibition „Artapestry 3“ to start in March 2011. They are looking for tapestry artworks made since 2009. Tapestry is defined as “hand-woven weft-faced material with completely covered warp threads and discontinuous wefts.” The artists should come from Europe. The minimum size of the works should be one square meter, the entree fee of this artists-organised event is Euro 30,-. The names of the jury will be announced shortly. Further details on the website: http://www.tapestry.dk; e-mail: mail@tapestry.dk
Subm. deadline: 31 March 2011

“CONFLUENCE”

This is the title of the biennial SDA conference, the next edition of which is scheduled at the Textile Center of the University of Minnesota, USA, from 9th to 12th June 2011. The programme consists of a number of lectures, exhibitions, discussions, workshops, excursions to textile sights and a commercial fair. A complete programme will be published on the Surface Design Association website in the autumn of 2010. The meeting enables participants to establish extensive contacts with textile designers all over North America (http://www.surfacedesign.org).

ITALIA INVITA

Originally privately organised by Fiorella Gaggi, this textile gathering was taken over by a fair organiser some time ago; the next edition will be held in Parma from 13th to 15th May 2011 (http://www.italiainvita.it). Formerly lace-centred, the meeting increasingly includes other textile techniques, such as embroidery, knitting, weaving, patchwork and felting.

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