CRAFTY CHAT: crafting new traditions symposium

This sounds super interesting, not to mention important. Stay tuned for for TCA coverage of this symposium....

Landmark symposium delves into the history and innovations of Canadian Craft
Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators + Influences Symposium
February 22 and February 23, 2008 at Harbourfront Centre


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Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators + Influences Symposium is the first time that Canada's craft practice will be explored from a historical and contemporary artistic perspective - through the minds and voices of some of Canada's most influential curators, artists and academics. This symposium includes three keynote speakers and ten respected researchers from across Canada examining the influences and accomplishments of prominent Canadian craft pioneers working in ceramics, glass, metal, textiles and wood. These presentations coincide with the launch of the book Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators and Influences - published by the Canadian Museum of Civilization (as part of their Mercury series), in collaboration with Harbourfront Centre.

Highlights of this symposium include a Friday night opening event keynote presentation by University of Toronto Professor of Philosophy Mark Kingwell (who has written for Harper's Magazine, the New York Times, Canadian Art and Azure among others). Saturday highlights include lectures and presentations by Canadian craft luminaries like Beth Alber, Sandra Alfoldy, Anne Barros, Alan C. Elder, Sandra Flood, Rachel Gotlieb, Susan Jeffries, Patty Johnson, Julia Krueger, Robin Metcalfe, Dorie Millerson, Carolyn Prowse-Fainmel and Michael Prokopow. The symposium ends with a reception to honour the pioneering work of Jean Johnson, (awarded an Order of Canada in 1993 for her contribution to Canada's craft communities) who will retire after devoting 29 years to Harbourfront Centre. For information on symposium events and presenters visit http://www.harbourfrontcentre.com/noflash/visarts/craftsymposium.php
Also view details at a Facebook page on this event via our Craft Arts at Harbourfront Centre group at http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=7799648754

Tickets prices for the all events at the Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators + Influences Symposium are $75 ($50 for students/seniors) and include a complimentary copy of the new book Crafting New Traditions: Canadian Innovators and Influences. Tickets for the Friday night keynote presentation only by Mark Kingwell are $15 ($10 for students/seniors). For more public information and to purchase tickets please call 416-973-4000 or visit www.harbourfrontcentre.com . All symposium events are located at Harbourfront Centre at 235 Queens Quay West, Toronto, Canada.

In conjunction with the symposium Crafting New Traditions is a free exhibition now running (until March 2) at Harbourfront Centre featuring Canadian original works by Jeff Goodman (glass), Sandra Noble Goss and Andrew Goss (jewellery), Walter Ostrom (ceramics), Donald Lloyd McKinley (furniture), Dorothy Caldwell (textile\fibre), Kai Chan (textile/fibre), Irene Frolic (glass) and Lois Etherington Betteridge (silversmithing) that celebrate the accomplishments and influence of early and contemporary Canadian craft trailblazers. Also, the free UPDATE craft arts exhibition nurtures an atmosphere of risk and experimentation by featuring new and original works by ten of Harbourfront Centre's current craft artists-in-residence.