Symposium wrap-up, 2024

Every CTANZ symposium is special, but we always enjoy going to a new location. We also like to swap between islands so this year the symposium headed back up north, pretty much as far as practicable, for a first ever Whangārei symposium with the theme of Social Fabric. The organising team of Angela Rowe, Catherine Davies-Colley, Cait McLennan White, Elaine Webster and Tracey Wedge put a great deal of thought into coordinating a symposium that reflected the local community and gave the CTANZ community plenty to think and talk about.

It always helps for the weather to hold; spring showed up on cue in Whangārei, with a blue sky for the pōwhiri. Thanks to those who provided this formal greeting, and to first time attendee Steven Junil Park for responding on CTANZ’s behalf. And after the offering of kai, we were off with another three very busy days of presentations, conversations and associated socialising from the centrally located venue, with a lively and engaged crowd of attendees.

Three keynote speakers set things rolling each day. On Friday, it was Maungarongo (Ron) Te Kawa speaking of Love and Rebellion, exuberantly sharing his original textile practice, complete with slides and a series of glorious quilts illustrating the story of the kuaka. (For those in Auckland over the next while, you can see The Whakapapa of Moonlight quilts at Objectspace 14 Sept-17 Nov 2024). The quilts are vibrant expressions of Te Kawa’s distinct connection to his history and culture. On Saturday, it was lacemaker Rowan Panther who revealed A lace making practice – reflections, explorations and technique. Her paper covered her 15 years of working with bobbin lace, and the technical adaptations required by working with shorter lengths of fibre, muka being the preferred medium for her intricate Pacific spin on traditional European techniques. A captivated audience had a lot of questions. Finally, on Sunday, Ruth Port took us on the journeys and mahi undertaken by Northland weaving group Te Rā Ringa Raupā in recreating Te Rā’s techniques from research to water trials of sister sails. Te Rā ko au, ko au Te Rā took us from the British Museum to the stars and back to the local harbour. Ruth’s passion for and knowledge of Te Rā captivated the audience, and we look forward to more news of further trials. If you haven’t yet been able to see Te Rā on her current trip home, the loan has been extended and the sail can be viewed at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum until Sun 17 August 2025.

Artistic practice and fibre research featured prominently throughout the next few days of presentations, with artists taking us through recent exhibitions, academics reporting on the findings of their scholarship, and curators taking us through recent collections research. The museum presentations included a panel on Te Aho Mutunga Kore, the new textile fibre knowledge exchange centre at Tāmaki Paenga Hira Auckland War Memorial Museum, which is offering new ways of museum practice. Presenters came from the length of the motu, but also from further afield, with Janice Arnold coming from the US and Donna Claypool from the UK to share their research. The single stream programme was too full for everyone to get a mention here; there will be a comprehensive report in the next Context.

It was also a very social programme. The symposium attendees filled the Hundertwasser Centre’s Aqua restaurant for the symposium dinner. Hard choices were made from a varied menu but the food was delicious. On Saturday, local boutique Collecte opened for drinks and nibbles. And if that wasn’t enough, on Sunday evening there was an informal dinner at local CTANZ member Kelly Thompson’s home to round off what had been such an engaging symposium. Thanks to Az James and the Collecte team and Kelly for the opportunities to keep talking amongst ourselves during the three days.

There was the business end too, in the form of the AGM with the election of new officers for the next committee term. Claire Regnault has taken on the presidency and Dinah Vincent the treasurer-membership secretary role – thank you and congratulations – and we are delighted to have added to the committee Andy Ross (Greymouth), Sonya Withers (Wellington) and Beth Rees (Dunedin). Natalie Smith and Stella Lange remain ex officio committee members as immediate past presidents, while Bronwyn Simes is stepping down after six years as treasurer-membership secretary with our deep gratitude and appreciation for her contribution in this demanding role.

There are many people who make a symposium, not least those attending and presenting, those who make it run smoothly especially IT support Jarred Taylor. As always, the greatest thanks at the symposium go to the organising team: Angela, Catherine, Cait, Elaine and Tracey, and our other hosts. Their thoroughness and manaakitanga were evident in every detail, like the vintage tablecloths on loan from personal collections and the the stunning spring floral arrangements from Cath Davies-Colley’s garden. (As featuring in the above photograph from Ron’s keynote.) The local costume and textile community ensured that the symposium lived up to its anticipation and concept: we left with the social fabric of the CTANZ community once more refreshed.