Keynote Speaker - Sigrid Piroch – Friday 7:00 pm
Textiles of Thailand and Laos: Golden Places * Smiling Faces
This program features the handwoven natural‑dyed cotton ikats and silk patterned textiles of Thailand and Laos in SE Asia, the unique methods of their preparation and production by villagers and in workshops. Come join us and meet these unforgettable people in what has often been called "the land of smiles". From royal palaces and Buddhist wats, from large cities to tiny weaving villages, handwoven textiles are an important part of everyday life, with most people still wearing them every day. Culturally significant, they represent centuries of distillation of motifs and symbols, often intimately connected with their Buddhist religion. These fabulous textiles include the use of a unique vertical heddle system to save pattern sheds, discontinuous supplementary wefts, supplementary warps, weaving in gold and silver, and more.
Consider handweaving as an art form. Consider it as a skill that can help families move out of poverty. Consider the importance of the conservation of textiles in a tropical and tropical rain forest environment. If no special care is taken, all these incredibly beautiful and complex silk and ikat textiles will be lost within decades!
The keynote speech will be followed by a dessert and beverage reception.
Closing Speaker - Sheila O’Hara – Sunday 2:00 pm
Loom with a View – The Weavings of Sheila O’HaraEnjoy an informative and entertaining slide lecture about the development of Sheila O’Hara’s career as a weaver since 1976, from 8 shaft looms to hand jacquard looms. She will discuss her years of experience including inspiration and commissions. Her work has been exhibited internationally and is in the collections of many museums and corporations. The imaginary landscapes she weaves depict ideas about life and reality in a slightly altered state. Dinosaurs play ring toss on the San Francisco Pyramid. Dogs ponder flying saucers overhead and the Flockettes dance through the Seasons.
& Area Map |
||
3 day 1 day |
||