Textiles and Politics
Throughout human history and across the globe, whether as intimate artifacts of interpersonal relations or state-level monumental works, textiles have been imbued with political importance. Textiles can communicate and construct status, ethnicity, gender, power, taste, and wealth, and have functioned at the nexus of artistic, economic, and political achievement in human culture. As trade goods, creative medium, and social artifact, textiles have been instrumental in generating, supporting, and challenging political power. The Textile Society of America 13th Biennial Symposium, befittingly held in Washington,DC during the presidential election this fall will explore the crossroads of Textiles & Politics.
