Dear Members,
I hope you are easing into the rites of Spring.
All Cluster Meeting Report
Thank you for all who attended our last all cluster meeting on March 8th. Thank you to Shirley Ceravolo (Swarm) and Shelley Ouellet for the wonderful grant presentations of your research-creation. Shelley presented her ecocritical embroidery landscape work from her MFA thesis show, and Shirley spoke about her research-creation of cosmologies, embroidered with retro-reflective thread. Co-Director Kathleen Vaughan spoke briefly about her recent research trip to the Netherlands, collaborating with Textiel Lab in Tilberg, stay tuned for a future update. We also had two new members Alexey and Florence introduce themselves and their research. An update about cross-cluster research-grant initiatives from Co-Director Miranda Smitheram is detailed at the end of this newsletter. We will have a second all cluster meeting in April. Stay tuned!
La Guilde
There are some fantastic jacquard works by Mylène Michaud on display at La Guilde as well as textile and paper works by Chung-Im Kim in the exhibition Two by Two.
From La Guilde’s website: Deux par deux, a group exhibition featuring the work of six artists: Steven Heinemann, Linda Swanson, Chung-Im Kim, Mylène Michaud, Lizz Aston, and Eruoma Awashish. A selection of works emblematic of their respective artistic practices is presented in rotation and within multiple pairings throughout the run of the exhibition. Exploring a medium, even in all its contradictions and limitations, offers unsuspected potential for creative freedom. These artists’ devotion to materialities makes space for a complex dialogue between form and meaning.
It’s on display around the corner from Concordia at La Guilde (1356 Sherbrooke St. W.) until March 24th.
Le PARC
Le PARC cluster has shared their call for Embodied Interventions 2024!
What is performative inquiry and how does it fit within the academic context? “Embodied Interventions” is a venue for interdisciplinary experimentation, collaboration, and the sharing of performance-based works. Embodied Interventions’ (EI) intention this year is to be a platform for performance-as-research and a space to explore how performative inquiry can be used within the academic research context.
We will implement encounters for artists to create and convene with others in the process of performance. Taking place over two weeks, Embodied Interventions facilitates a laboratory-type residency incorporating shared practice, workshops, discussions, movement practices, production time and more. Whether you wish to develop work with others, bring forward work to showcase, or share your performance-based research in the form of a talk or other formats, EI is an opportunity to participate in a collective platform culminating in a weekend of performances. All students, from any Milieux cluster, are welcome to take part.
If you are interested in participating in this annual event please find the link to their call below with all the relevant information:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScAguD1zVmpySWlbv-tRtva-iISh6yWs053JhhYvmlETORilQ/viewform
Moving Mending Circle
On Tuesday, March 19 from 3-5 PM in the conference room @ Shift Centre for Social Transformation (1400 Blvd. De Maisonneuve Ouest LB 145), Molly-Claire Gillett and Pramila Choudhary invite you to join their Moving Mending Circle iteration “Fashion Fiction”. Stay in the loop and connect with them over Instagram @projecthandstitch/@making.text.and.textile
Care, Ethics, Craft: Close Reading Group
Please fill in your availability for our next meeting via the doodle form below:
https://doodle.com/meeting/participate/id/aKA3y9Rd
Student Grant Workshop
March 19, 6-7:30 @Cluster Commons EV 10.730
Our T&M student grant workshop will give an overview of the type of grants we offer as well as detailing the application and award tenure process for these grants. We strongly encourage students who are interested in applying for our grants to attend in person, or, over zoom with link below:
https://concordia-ca.zoom.us/j/87227153445
Cross Cluster Research Grants update
from Dr. Miranda Smitheram:
Research-creation project Ontologies of Kinship: remediating contested matter and place (FRQ-SC) investigates materiality of Parc Jean-Drapeau, following pathways of colonialism through displacement, soil, invasive plant species, pollutants. RA’s Saba Hor, Masha Karagan, Sita Singh (T&M new members) are currently working with Principle Investigator Miranda Smitheram on protocols and equipment trainings, with the Tajima and brother digital embroidery and Gen Moisan (T&M), cricut, crushing/grinding machinery and biocomposite materials, (MaSH Lab). We are full of anticipation and excitement for spring/summer field research.
These RA’s are also working with Miranda in collaboration with AbTec Gallery through Miranda’s participation in the Indigenous Futures Research Centre grant, Indigenous Art in Virtual Environments (FRQ-SC, PI: Jason Lewis; Co-investigator: Miranda Smitheram). We are developing a virtual artwork for the AbTec Gallery in Second Life, around the Ontologies of Kinship grant themes investigating the contested space and socio-cultural materiality of Parc Jean Drapeau.
The Remediated Matter Collaborative Research Stream at Milieux Institute (OVPRGS Facilities
Optimization Program; Role: PI: Miranda Smitheram; Co-PI: Alice Jarry BIOLAB ) has recently completed, with critical MaSH Lab and Biolab equipment and technologies purchased. These include ceramic and viscous liquid 3D printers, a suite of crushing/grinding /mashing equipment for natural materials, as well as cutting, shredding, stripping tools and equipment for reducing biological waste materials to base matter for new material compositions.
An inter-university cross-disciplinary research project Origami-inspired deployable soft robots, SSHRC- NFRF (Co-PI’s: Abdolhamid Akbarzadeh Shafaroudi (McGill University) & Alice Jarry (BIOLAB, Hexagram Concordia University, Co-applicant: Miranda Smitheram; along with RA’s Alison Dupont, Saba Hor, T&M members) is underway. This research spans the domains of art and design, engineering, material science, robotics, and AI. The Concordia team are currently leading research in bio-inspired design and biomimicry research
New Members:
If you are a new member please email textiles.materiality@concordia.ca we would love to know more about your research and how you envision participating in our research cluster.
All Members:
If you would like to program a workshop, activity, talk, or event at the cluster, we would love to help you facilitate that. Please email the cluster coordinator Morris Fox at textiles.materiality@concordia.ca
Craft Café:
Our next craft café will be held on March 29th from 3:30-5 PM, please stop by, there will be light refreshments, and this is a great informal way to chat with other cluster members and be involved with the space. Meet us at EV 10.730 (Cluster Commons).
Wishing you all my best regards,
Morris Fox (T&M Research Coordinator)
textiles + materiality research cluster 