Textiles & Politics, the 15th Biennial Symposium Call for Papers
Sponsor: The Textile Society of America
Theme: Cross Current – Land, Labor and the Port
Symposium Dates: October 19-23, 2016
Place: Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), Savannah, Georgia
the Hyatt Regency Hotel.
Website with guidelines: http://tinyurl.com/ntd2jyq
Call for Submissions: 2016-Symposium-CFP-FINAL1
Deadlines:
October 1, 2015: abstract submission deadline
December 15, 2015: notifications of acceptance to presenters
January 7, 2016: submit need-based fee-waiver applications
March 15, 2016: Confirm participation
May 16, 2016:  Registration Opens
June 15, 2016: Deadline for presenters to register
December 1, 2016: Deadline for publication manuscript submission

The theme of the symposium: Crosscurrents: Land, Labor, and the Port.  We invite participants to explore the ways in which textiles shape, and are shaped by historical, geographical, technological and economic aspects of colonialization and/or globalization. How and why have textile practices moved around? As they travel, how have they been translated, modified, or used within acts of compliance or resistance? What impact have different regimes of labor, consumption, aesthetic valuation, or political/social economy had on textile production, use, and circulation? These questions may apply to contemporary or historical fine art, utilitarian, or ethnographic textiles, which may be addressed through scholarship or creative practice.

Due to its location and history, the southern United States is an ideal place to examine the interaction between local practices and global markets. We encourage contributions that explore textile practice in the broader contexts of agriculture, labor, innovation, or exchange. We welcome historic or contemporary perspectives on the role of technology and alternative economies in shaping design, production, circulation, consumption, exhibition, collection, valuation, interpretation and use of textiles.

TSA seeks presentation proposals from all textile-related disciplines and interdisciplinary areas, including but not limited to history, anthropology, archaeology, art, conservation, geography, design, economics, ethnic studies, history, linguistics, marketing, material culture studies, mathematics, science, political science, sociology, and theater, among others. Participation of international and U.S. scholars, researchers, artists, curators, museum professionals, and others is welcome. Submission of abstracts is open to TSA members.

In addition to our usual submission categories (papers, organized sessions, roundtables, films and other media), we are extending a call for poster sessions and for curated exhibitions. The review committee will select submissions that cogently and directly address the theme of the symposium.

All persons submitting proposals for participation in the 2014 symposium must be TSA members in good standing for 2015 at the time of submission. Non-member applicants may join TSA at the time of proposal submission.

Note from LaceNews:  Please consider submitting lace-related research to this event. In the academic realm, this is an excellent forum for publications and to communicate with the professional community. I gave a paper at the 2012 symposium in Washington DC.