For me, and I believe for many others, what stays with one after an experience is a combination of the experience itself and what was taken away.  In the case of the Inspired Design conference in Hendersonville, North Carolina, this past January, [which was organized by the Center for Craft, Creativity and Design] the experience and what was taken away was beyond good. That others share this view is evident in the reviews of the conference that have arrived:   

“Every one knew they were sharing an extraordinary moment in the recent history of jacquard weaving” Beatrijs Sterk: editor Textile Forum [TF1/2009 March]

“I loved having so many students there. It was encouraging to meet and talk with a keen “next generation” of textile artists” Robin Muller: associate professor NSCAD (Nova Scotia College of Art and Design)

“ …there were so many people there whose names I had only read in books, or whose work I've studied to inspire my pieces- I guess I was "star struck". Jenna M. Eason: student conference assistant from North Carolina State University.

“…it was the cool people that were there that made it truly enjoyable.” Megan Coyan: artist/designer/maker Columbus, Ohio

 

 

 

In January, I had the opportunity to attend the conference Inspired Design: Jacquard & Entrepreneurial Textiles, which accompanied the textile exhibit of the same name, organized by The Center for Craft, Creativity & Design in Hendersonville, North Carolina.  As a self-employed artist and designer, I went there with a primary interest in the entrepreneurial side of Jacquard weaving.

 

 

In December 2007, I graduated from North Carolina State University’s Anni Albers Program with two degrees: BS in Textile Technology and BA in Art and Design.  In January 2008, I began graduate studies at the NCSU College of Textiles in the Textile Technology and Management master’s degree program.  My focus is in Automotive Textiles and Design, conducting research with Professor Nancy Powell.

 

To support my studies, I spent the summer of 2008 at Nagoya University in Japan, taking a course in Advanced Technology and Tasks in Automotive Engineering and participating in global lectures and company visits hosted by Toyota, Mitsubishi, Honda, Nissan, Denso, Yamaha, Koito, and JARI.

 

 

[grey & gold cloth woven on 8 Harness Dobby loom, photo by Jenna Eason]

According to the exhibition catalogue for Inspired Design exhibition " Barbara Layne, from Montreal, is Professor, Concordia University, and a member of Hexagram; the Institute for Research and Creation in Media Arts and Technologies researching Interactive Textiles and wearable computers. She designs performative textiles for costume and stage, dance and other performance events."

 

Barbara Layne is also the maker of this dress. Though not the piece that was in the exhibition it is part of the same series of pieces she has been working on using the photographs of  Nebraska storm-chaser, Mike Hollingshead.

 

Tornado Dress. 2007

The fabric of the Tornado Dress features a mimaki print of a tornado. A funnel cloud and lightening bolts are printed on linen fabric. The lining has been embroidered with conductive threads and electronic components including super-bright white LEDs. Three small photocells were stitched to the outside of the dress and detect ambient light. Depending on the quantity of light that is sensed, different flashing patterns are triggered in the LED display, reminiscent of lightning effects that can accompany severe weather situations.

 Tornado Photographer Mike Hollingshead work can be seen at his website 

www.extremeinstability.com

 

 In this section we are presenting designer/ makers producing textiles with which to make their own products.

We profile Designers Virginia Johnson who works with a textile screen printing factory to produce yardage for her line of garments and fashion accessories, Judy Black a team of sisters who print out of their own studio.

 This issues finishing School are two OCAD graduates who used digital printing in their thesis projects.

Two hand weavers have contributed stories: Bure Leon from Montreal produce a line of interior design products, while Rilla Marshall from the east coast printers interviews herself on Process.

Lastly Montreal based knitwear designer and teacher Lysanne Latulippe talks about coming to knitwear and developing a relationship with a local knitting mill.