It’s time to wish all CTANZ members and followers a happy new year. Despite the somewhat bumpy start, there’s still much to look forward to in 2021, including this year’s CTANZ symposium in Auckland, Friday 30 April – Sunday 2 May. Proceedings begin on Friday at 9.45am, with the symposium dinner on Friday night, and finish on Sunday around 3.45pm, in time for various flights out of Auckland. Details of the programme will be unveiled before too long, so keep an eye on the symposium page which has details of how you can register.
The symposium committee initially conceived of a theme of Vision for the 2020 event, envisaging papers which would consider the different interpretations of the act of seeing, reflecting, imagining, manifesting. Textiles are inherently visual objects, with stories and histories to tell, and lessons about past and future.
With the developments of 2020, this theme turns out to have been both prescient and somewhat ironic. The global pandemic has given people a sense of “living through history” –we are aware, now more than ever, of how those who come after us will read our lives through the material culture we leave behind. We interact with textiles at all levels of society, from the humble protest banner to high fashion – so what better medium through which to understand these histories? The delay to 2021 notwithstanding, symposium attendees can expect an exciting line-up of talks on topics relating to our theme, covering visionary fashion retailers, prolific collectors, and the intersection of convention with innovation. And of course the usual stimulating conversations with other textile and dress enthusiasts.
Meanwhile, Context arrived in CTANZ letterboxes just before Christmas with over 100 pages of articles and reviews, many of them featuring textile work created during last year’s lockdown. Thanks to all contributors and especially to the editorial team of Linda Tyler and Jennifer Matheson. Context comes with a reminder that subs are now due, and paid-up members receive a discount on the symposium registration as well as two issues of the journal each year. If you’re not a member and would like to join, check our membership page.