03/08/2012

Following The Leaders In St. Louis

by SDA Journal Editor Marci Rae McDade

Marci Rae McDade invites us to meet her in St. Louis for a recap of Innovations in Textiles 9 event there last Fall. Savor her itinerary and outstanding images of innovative work in this comprehensive overview. “Follow the Leader” site-specific installation/performance by Guerra de la Paz shown at left.

SDA Europe Representative Karina van Vught recently planned & hosted a 2nd confab of SDA members at Zijdelings, her textile arts center in Tilburg, NL. Mirjam Pet-Jacobs gives an overview of the outstanding “Ecovision” 2-day program.

11/29/2011

BILP 2011: Honoring Linen Culture Quebecoise

by Surface Design Journal Editor Patricia Malarcher

The Linen Biennial, a suite of international exhibitions at heritage sites in the Portneuf region by the St. Lawrence River (June-October, 2011), honored the flax and linen culture that 17th century farmers fr0m Ulster, Ireland, brought to Quebec. Patricia Malarcher takes you on a tour of the fashion, fine art and craft that were featured this year.

Haystack Mountain School of Crafts recently celebrated 50 years of inhabiting its superbly designed buildings with a conference on design itself. Whether you’ve ever taught/taken a class at Haystack or not, let yourself be transported there by this overview of a well-designed gathering in a spectacular setting dedicated to creative expression.

Let Marci Rae McDade, former editor of Fiberarts magazine, be your guide in this first of 2 Confluence reviews she has contributed. Read & see her very positive impressions of the June event in Minneapolis and consider her insightful suggestions for the 2013 conference in San Antonio, TX.

07/21/2011

A World of Natural Dyes: The ISEND Experience

by Elaine Lipson

Experience the International Symposium and Exhibition for Natural Dyes (April in France) through the eyes and words of SDA member Elaine Lipson. An editor/writer/artist, she brought back images that capture the feeling of being there while also recapping the main issues addressed and offering some suggestions for future ISEND confabs.

05/31/2011

Symposium Review: “Trace Evidence” @NCSU/Raleigh

by Surface Design Journal Editor Patricia Malarcher

Get an overview of a small symposium that took on the big issues. See who showed up for this North Carolina State University/Raleigh meeting of makers at the Gregg Museum in March 2011. View some long shots of the exhibitions and sample Keynote Speaker Glen Adamson’s take on the art vs. craft debate.

11/05/2010

First Encounter in Costa Rica: Red Textil Iberoamericana

by SDA President Candace Edgerley

Thanks to SDA member Silvia Piza-Tandlich, I learned about the non-profit textile organization Red Textil Iberoamericana, founded in 2006 in Costa Rica. Their first ever conference, First Encounter of the Iberoamerican Textile Network, was scheduled to take place in San Jose during October 2010. Here are some highlights of my first encounter with Red Textil…

11/01/2010

SDA Members in Print: Daniella Woolf + EWaTS

by NewsBlog Editor

Find out about SDA member Daniella Woolf’s book-turned-catalogue “Encaustic With a Textile Sensibility”. She “wanted to publish something different; not a how-to book, but a gallery between pages. [She] envisioned something that would inspire artists while exploring the breadth and depth that encaustic can provide.” Also check out the stunning book design by Carol Charney.

09/23/2010

Crossing Mediums: A Dip into Wax

by Surface Design Journal Editor Patricia Malarcher

The 2010 Encaustic Conference (June 11-13) offered lots of reasons for artists working in fabric, thread, and paper to explore the medium of wax. A stimulating cluster of exhibitions, knowledgeable sessions on materials and processes, a brilliant keynote address, and an insightful panel on art and business sent participants home with heads full of information and inspiration.