International Contemporary Tapestry
Symposium, workshops and exhibitions at National University of Ireland, Galway, GB
22. - 24.05.2020

International Contemporary Tapestry, Galway 2020

INTERCONNECTIONS - International Tapestry, Joan Baxter 'White Boat Anto's Wash', Detail. Photo Credits: European Congress of Sheep Farming & Associated Traditions

The International Contemporary Tapestry celebration at National University of Ireland, Galway, 22-24 May 2020, includes Exhibitions, a Symposium and three Master Workshops. It is part of the  PROJECT BAA BAA, a unique programme celebrating the cultural, economic and environmental contribution of sheep in Ireland and Europe.

The Symposium | Experience, Growth and Renewal, combines a panel of International Speakers who will present the wealth of talent and creativity in contemporary tapestry on Saturday 23 May. Comprising Prof. Lesley Millar MBE - UK, Anet Brusgaard - Denmark, Prof. Włodzimierz Cygan - Poland, Thoma Ewen - Canada, Valerie Kirk - Australia, Marie Thumette Brichard - France and Yasuko Fujino - Japan supported by EU Japan Fest, the panel of artists, curators, critics and academics consider ‘What is Tapestry?’ and its future as a creative medium in contemporary art practice. This Symposium offers the opportunity to listen, share knowledge and debate. This event is of interest to the general public as well as those studying and practising.
 
The three Master Workshops on Sunday 24 May are provided by Line Dufour - Canada, John Brennan & Elizabeth Radcliffe and Joan Baxter - Scotland.

The weekend starts on Friday 23 evening with the opening of three international tapestry exhibitions; Tapestry 20/20 by the international speakers, INTERCONNECTIONS by Joan Baxter, John Brennan, Clare Coyle and Elizabeth Radcliffe from Scotland and Frances Crowe, Mary Cuthbert, Terry Dunne and Angela Forte from Ireland and TIMELINES on the Edge, a collaborative tapestry project by Catherine Ryan, Frances Crowe, Frances Leach, Heather Underwood, Joan Baxter, Lorna Donlon, Muriel Beckett, Pascale de Coninck, Terry Dunne and Tish Canniffe supported by Weavers Bazaar, UK, Ceadogan Rugs, Wexford and Connemara based, The Dixon Carpet Company.

Venue: Human Biology Building, National University of Ireland, Galway

Date: 22,23,24 May – 19 Jun 2020

Time: Opening 22/05 6pm, Symposium 23/05 9-5pm, Master Workshops 24/05 9-5pm

Information on speakers:

Professor Lesley Millar MBEDirector of the International Textile Research Centre, University for the Creative Arts, Farnham UK, ran her own weave studio for over 20 years before becoming an exhibition curator specialising in textiles. She has been responsible for many international textile exhibitions since 1996 including two contemporary tapestry exhibitions: 'Here & Now: contemporary tapestry' (2016-17) and 'Weaving New Worlds' (2018).   Her current exhibition: 'Fabric: touch and identity' (2020) is a collaboration with textile artist Alice Kettle developed from the book they co-edited: 'Erotic Cloth' for Bloomsbury Academic (2018). She will launch the international tapestry weekend on Friday evening 22 May 2020 at the Human Biology Building, NUI Galway and is main guest speaker at opening of the Symposium | Experience, Growth and Renewal.

Anet Brusgaard, Director of the European Tapestry Network, Denmark. Established the European Tapestry Forum. In 2005 launched the first triennial exhibition ARTAPESTRY in KUNSTEN, Aalborg Denmark which toured to Textilemuseum Krefeld and Musée Jean Lurcat, Angers, and Artapestry 2-3-4-5 has been touring Europe since. Now preparing Artapestry 6, launching in ArtCenter Silkeborg Bad, Denmark in January 2021 which will also tour Europe.

Professor Włodzimierz Cygan, Strzeminski Academy of Fine Art, Łódź, and Łódź University of Technology, Poland. Awards: Laureate of the International Wool Secretariat award, Winner of the Grand Prix at the 12th International Textile Triennial in Łódź in 2007., Medal winner, 6th International Fiber Art Exhibition, "From Lausanne to Beijing", Henan Art Museum, Zhengzhou, China in 2010. Juror of international competitions and the author of many publications. 2009 – “My unique way of warping” w Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe, nr 4/2009, 2011 – “Materials and Techniques Used by Artists – Participants of the International Triennial of Tapestry in Lodz” Fibres & Textiles in Eastern Europe 1’2011, 2011 - Fiberarts, Spring, Monique Lehman I Elizabeth Michel “Object of conscious creation”.

Thoma Ewen, Curator of the exhibition “Woven by Hand” and manager of The Moon Rain Centre, Toronto, Canada. Thoma Ewen is a Canadian tapestry artist who has been designing and weaving tapestries for 45 years, working from her studio at Moon Rain Centre in the Gatineau Hills of West Quebec, in the national capital region of Canada.  She has exhibited her light-filled tapestries in solo and group exhibitions in Canada, United States, Mexico, England, France, Poland, Guatemala, Venezuela and China. Her tapestries are a visual exploration of the forces or energies that move through everything on and beyond the planet, communicating a sense of harmony and movement in the universe.

Valerie Kirk, Artist and Tapestry Weaver, The Australian National University, Senior Fellow of the Higher Education Academy, Australia. Valerie Kirk studied art and design at Edinburgh College of Art, where she discovered woven tapestry. As a graduate she went to Australia and worked in the Victorian (now Australian) Tapestry Workshop and travelled the country to teach in communities and colleges, work as an artist-in-residence, exhibit and lead community tapestry projects and textile tours.

Marie Thumette Brichard, Tapestry weaver, she run her own studio in Lorient and Isle of Groix in the West of France. Her high-lice tapestries are mainly inspired by the maritime surrounding where she lives. She is a member of L'Art et la Manière à Aubusson, British Tapestry Group, European Tapestry Forum, American Tapestry Alliance et World Textile Art Organisation, France.

Yasuko Fugino, Artist and Tapestry Weaver, she was selected as a CORDIS Prize shortlist exhibitor in 2019. Large scale works, incorporating the significence of the story, cartoon and weaving. Professor of Dyeing and Weaving at Kyoto City University of Arts, Japan.

More information: www.projectbaabaa.com

Here&Now 067 Full Size by E Egg 5ds_0216. Photo Credits: European Congress of Sheep Farming & Associated Traditions

2020 International Tapestry Exhibition YAMATO RIVER Closeup, Yasuko Fugino. Photo Credits: European Congress of Sheep Farming & Associated Traditions

European Congress of Sheep Farming & Associated Traditions
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www.projectbaabaa.com

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