HALI NEWSLETTER No. 455

[View this email in your browser]( Hosted online by the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center from 10–11 April, '[re]Think Silk' is an interdisciplinary, cross-cultural examination of silk and sericulture that explores the subject beyond traditional geographic and cultural perspectives. Join scholars, curators and specialists as they share recent research and discoveries on silk textiles from around the world. Panels will explore new developments in silk studies, including silk production in India, Italy and parts of Africa; the social and psychological appeal of silk in Mesoamerica and Northern China; and contemporary technological efforts to modify silk. Among the presenters are Zhao Feng, dean of the School of Art and Archaeology, Zhejiang University, China; textile artist and founder of Treenway Silks, Karen Selk, Canada and Elena Phipps, conservator and curator, The Met, New York (retired) and lecturer, UCLA, Los Angeles. The Cotsen Textile Traces Study Center is home to one of the world’s most significant textile study collections. Assembled by the late Lloyd Cotsen, it consists of some 4,000 fragments created around the globe and dating from antiquity to the present. '[re]Think Silk' is a project of the Center and John E. Vollmer, and is supported by the Rubin-Ladd Foundation and the Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection Endowment. Participation in the colloquium is free of charge. Please register early to reserve your space. Image: Sacred textile (detail), Italy, mid-16th century. Cotsen Textile Traces Study Collection T-0425. Photo by Bruce M. White Photography. [Find out more.]( Showing until 21 April at Japan House in London, this exhibition looks at the lives of the indigenous people of northern Japan. Celebrating the language, textiles, crafts and traditions of Ainu culture, Ainu Stories is a collaboration with the people of Biratori, located in southern Hokkaido, and is complemented by a rich events programme. The second episode of the ‘Following the Thread’ podcast has something for everyone! The HALI section features editor Ben Evans interviewing Sheila Fruman, author of Pull of the Thread, and HALI’s Rachel Meek previews the upcoming ‘Decorative Arts of Iberia’ HALI Tour with tour lecturer, Gijs van Hensbergen. Episode 2 is available to stream below. For the final chapter of our exploration of Moroccan textiles and flatweaves for [#RugFactFriday]( we will outline some defining facts about these weavings that have been discussed over the past few weeks. - Moroccan flatweaves serve a variety of purposes, from floor coverings to decorative wall hangings, tent decorations and blankets. They are also traditionally used as a part of Berber women's costumes; flatweaves known as haiks are still commonly worn as the wedding garment for Berber brides. - While there are regional variations, an immediately recognisable Moroccan haik type consists of stripes in undyed shades of wool, creating a minimalist and muted overall impression that appeals to the modern eye. - Moroccan flatweaves exhibit a diverse range of styles and techniques, each reflective of the specific cultural and geographic context in which they are produced. For example, the flatweaves crafted in the Atlas Mountains often feature bold, geometric patterns with earthy tones, while those from the Rif Mountains incorporate intricate motifs inspired by the region's flora and fauna. Image: Flatwoven kilim (hanbel), probably Beni Moussa or Ait Roboa, eastern central plains, Morocco, 1980s. Gebhart Blazek collection. Moroccan textiles and flatweaves have been discussed in great detail in past issues of HALI and throughout carpet scholarship. Buy a subscription to the magazine to keep up to date with new discoveries, and to access the HALI archive, which contains a bounty of articles on these amazing weavings. [Buy a subscription to HALI.]( [Facebook]( [Instagram]( [Website]( [LinkedIn]( Copyright © 2023 Hali Publications, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: HALI Publications 6 Sylvester Path London, Hackney E8 1EN United Kingdom Want to change how you receive these emails? You can [update your preferences]( or [unsubscribe from this list](. This email was sent to {EMAIL} [why did I get this?]( [unsubscribe from this list]( [update subscription preferences]( Hali Publications Ltd · 6 Sylvester Path · London, England E8 1EN · United Kingdom