June 22, 2011

THE TEXTILE SOCIETY OF AMERICA ANNOUNCES:

Traditional and Contemporary Textiles in South Korea

A STUDY TOUR, SEPTEMBER 15-26, 2011
Registration deadline July 1, 2011

The Textile Society of America Inc. offers study tours and professional development opportunities focused on textiles. This year's Study Tour to South Korea offers a rich mix of traditional textiles and contemporary textile art, along with a unique cultural experience. The tour, led by Karen Searle, will highlight the contrast between ancient and contemporary that can be seen throughout the country, as well as the ways in which Korean artists look to tradition for their contemporary inspiration. The tour will be based in Seoul with visits to the cities of Cheongju, Seochon, and Damyang.

Visits are planned to the National Folk Art Museum and to several specialized museums in Seoul and environs dedicated to preserving aspects of the country’s textile heritage, such as embroidery, straw sandal making, horsehair hat making, papermaking, ramie processing, and the traditional patchwork used for wrapping cloths called bojagi. Visits are also planned to the studios of several Korean fiber artists and to Heyri Artists Village, a unique studio/residence settlement of some of South Korea’s finest artists, craftspeople, and architects. Another highlight will be the Dongdaemun market, a large market district in Seoul containing a huge fabric and notions market. Our hotel will be located near Insa Dong, an area famous for its charming shops and galleries.

The centerpiece of the tour will be attending the opening of the Cheongju International Craft Biennale exhibition and its symposium. The Biennale shows the work of approximately 200 invited artists in its invitational exhibition, and its international juried exhibition attracts as many as 1,500 artists from all over the world. Finland, as invited guest country will also mount an exhibition. A home-stay experience will be provided for the TSA group by the Biennale organizers.

For those who wish to stay longer, a tour extension is planned with additional activities in Seoul and a visit to Daegu and the museums for natural dyes and silk flower-making.

Tour Leader. Fiber artist and author Karen Searle has traveled frequently to Korea over the past 14 years. She has participated in international textile art exhibitions held in Daegu, Korea, as both an invited artist and an exhibition juror. She exhibited work in the First Cheongju International Craft Biennale exhibition in 1999 and has traveled throughout the country visiting universities, museums, fiber artists’ studios, and observing textile production on all levels, from cottage industry to mega-industry. She will be joined by some well-known Korean artists on parts of the tour.

More information and registration materials are available on the TSA website, www.textilesociety.org/tours
or contact Karen Searle, 651-642-9897, ksearleart@gmail.com.

For further information, contact
Michele Hardy, mhardy@ucalgary.ca
TSA Director of External Relations