Registrations are now open for this year’s annual NZ Costume and Textile Association symposium – Town & Country. The symposium is being held in Nelson, which will hopefully live up to its sunny reputation come July. To download a registration form click here.

This year the CTANZ is delighted to be hosting three speakers whose expertise will bring a truly international flavour to the annual symposium. We are thrilled to welcome Mary Kisler as a keynote. Mary Kisler is the Senior Curator at Auckland Art Gallery, and is well-known nationally through her lively conversations about art with Kim Hill on Radio New Zealand. Much to our delight, she is also working alongside the Art Team at Te Papa at present. Her infectious enthusiasm for art history and ability to decode the stories embedded within artworks is guaranteed to make for a highly entertaining and thought-provoking keynote address.

With her interest in portraiture, costume and textiles are an important part of Mary’s research as they hold many subtle hints about the character of the sitter. Her keynote address is enticingly entitled Silken Slippers, Wooden Shoes and is inspired by this portrait of Louise de Kéroualle, King Charles II’s mistress. Of Louise’s appearance, Mary mysteriously comments ‘sometimes signs and symbols are not what they seem’.

From 17th century intrigue, we hit the road with  Ann-Maree Reaneyand Jill Kinnear, who will be presenting their collaborative textile/art project American Road Trip.

Ann-Maree is a practicing visual artist based in Brisbane, where she has had a considerable career both as an artist and an educator.  Jill is a textile designer and artist currently based in Savannah, Georgia, where she holds the position of Professor of Fibers at Savannah College of Art and Design. In American Road Trip, the pair have created a collaborative series of printed textile forms that are wearable, as well as contextual photographs and videos, which capture the essence of travel.  Using textile, structure and digital pattern, these collaborative works reflect an abiding interest in other cultures, experiences and the unique perspective of a journey. They will come to us fresh from a research trip to India.

These are just two of the 20 presentations that will make up the two-day symposium. For a full programme keep an eye out on the Costume and Textile Association blog. The symposium is open to members and non-members alike, and newcomers are always warmly welcomed.