TSA SYMPOSIUM 2020
More Info here: https://textilesocietyofamerica.org/tsa_symposium/symposium-2020/
Hidden Stories/Human Lives
Textile Society of America 17th Biennial Symposium
Boston, Massachusetts – October 14-18, 2020
Online submission process opens May 30, 2019
Deadline for submissions October 1, 2019
Deadline for financial aid applications February 15, 2020
Deadline for entries to Members’ Exhibition April 1, 2020
All submissions must be made online at https://textilesociety.submittable.com/submit
Emailed, mailed, and faxed submissions will not be considered.
The 2020 Textile Society of America Symposium will take place in Boston, Massachusetts, at the Park Plaza Hotel. To maximize scholarly interchange, the Symposium will consist of multiple, concurrent sessions, plenary and keynote speakers, “Warp speed” presentations, an afternoon of site seminars at local museums, showrooms, galleries, and exhibitions that intersect with the scholarly program. Please see below for more information. In addition to the Symposium sessions and exhibitions, there will be a series of stimulating pre- and post-conference workshops and study tours to local and regional institutions, special programs, receptions, and an awards ceremony. The timing of these will be announced at a later date.
The theme Hidden Stories/Human Lives presents opportunities to reveal complex and hidden stories of global textile making and coincides with the 100th anniversary of the 19thAmendment to the U.S. Constitution. Yet, just as the voices of women of color, marginalized by the suffrage movement, are only now being recognized, the stories of the many human lives that have contributed – directly and indirectly – to textile making, including enslaved people, immigrant entrepreneurs, and industrial laborers, remain untold. With this Symposium, we hope to get “behind the curtain” to explore the wider human network engaged in textile production, bringing to light hidden stories and excluded voices of all kinds, genders, and colors.
Hidden Stories/Human Lives is a flexible theme that can accommodate a range of presentations and artist talks, from focused papers on or by individual makers and/or objects, to broader subjects that examine peoples, systems, and societies involved in global textile making.
TSA seeks proposals for individual papers/presentations, artist talks, organized panels, roundtable discussions, film/digital media, and “Warp Speed” lightning talks from all textile-related disciplines and interdisciplinary areas, including but not limited to anthropology, archaeology, art history, conservation, craft, design, economics, ethnic studies, geography, history, linguistics, marketing, material culture studies, mathematics, political science, science, sociology, studio art, technology, theater, and others. We encourage and desire original submissions from individuals from the widest variety of backgrounds and heritages. In addition, for Boston, we are encouraging the submission of complete organized panels and/or roundtable discussions. For all submission categories, the peer review committee will select submissions that cogently and directly address the theme of the Symposium and present new research or work.
Drawing on the theme Hidden Stories/Human Lives, a Member’s Exhibition is planned. All art should reflect the Symposium mission of inclusion and diversity. The submission process will open February 1, 2020 with a deadline for on-line submissions of April 1, 2020. Additional submission details and display venue will be announced.
We look forward to receiving your submissions and seeing everyone in Boston.
Lisa L. Kriner
TSA President, 2018-2020
PROGRAM CO-CHAIRS
Pamela A. Parmal
Chair and David and Roberta Logie Curator of Textile and Fashion Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Lauren Whitley,
Senior Curator of Textile and Fashion Arts, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
EXHIBITION CHAIR
Karen Hampton
Assistant Professor of Fine Arts, 3D, Massachusetts College of Art
PROCEEDINGS EDITOR
Lynn Tinley
Adjunct Professor, American History, Oglethorpe University
About the Textile Society of America
The Textile Society of America is a United States 501(c)3 nonprofit that provides an international forum for the exchange and dissemination of textile knowledge from artistic, cultural, economic, historic, political, social, and technical perspectives. Established in 1987, TSA is governed by a Board of Directors made up of scholars and professionals including museum staff and university faculty located in North America. Our 800 members worldwide include curators and conservators, scholars and educators, artists, designers, makers, collectors, and others interested in textiles.
Our Focus on Diversity: Vision Statement
The Textile Society of America, an international organization, recognizes the profound global reach of textiles. We are committed to developing leadership initiatives, membership, and programming rooted in the plurality of textile histories, producers, and purposes. With an eye toward expanding our voices and audience, we will focus on inclusion of underrepresented groups, and advocacy for robust diversity of our personal and professional viewpoints.
Our aim is to be a truly inclusive organization with those involved in it to be as diverse as the textile communities that are served. This is fundamental to the future success of TSA and our ability to contribute to culture and society in the USA and internationally. The range of perspectives and experience diversity brings is an asset to our organization and we want to create an inclusive, welcoming environment for all those who work with us, attend our events, conferences, and workshops, and those who contribute to our journal and publications. We particularly encourage people from all groups currently under-represented in the cultural sector and in public discourse about textiles, social identities, and the creative process to be part of TSA’s future. While recognizing that forms of English have predominated in our organization, we foster and promote dialogue about textiles enriched by diverse languages and ways of thinking about the world, and seek to create or connect with forums in other local, regional, or global languages.
To download the Call For Submissions as a PDF, click here.
