*** Apologies for Cross-Posting ***


> the space between  textiles_art_design_fashion  conference
>
> News up-date and deadline reminder
>
> 1. Deadline for Submission of Abstracts and Proposals: 30 September 2003
> 2. Confirmed as Plenary speaker - Marie O'Manhony, author of  "Cyborg: The
> Man-Machine" and "Sportstech" and "Technotextiles" (both with Sarah E.
> Braddock).
> 3. Confirmed for the Exhibition - International Fashion Machines's
> "Electric
> Plaid" color change textile technology. For more details, visit
> http://www.ifmachines.com/eplaid.html
>
>
> the space between  textiles_art_design_fashion  conference
> 15 - 17 April 2004
> Perth, Western Australia
> www.thespacebetween.org.au
>
> the space between conference and associated events will centre on the new
> creative and theoretical potentialities that have emerged from the
> blurring
> of the boundaries between art, fashion, textiles and other creative/design
> disciplines. It will provide an international forum for the presentation
> of
> new ideas, current research and an in-depth exchange of ideas and
> experiences. New, hybrid kinds of practice have developed, combining
> elements from fine art, contemporary textiles, fashion and 'cybernetic'
> design embracing areas such as bio-tech, information systems and
> nano-technology. This process of interdisciplinary synthesis has given
> rise
> to modes of expression that elude the restrictions of traditional
> categorisations based on medium or technique.
>
> the space between provides an opportunity for the presentation and debate
> of
> the many issues confronting artists, designers, writers, academics and
> curators working in these new areas of practice.  Proposals for
> papers/presentation are invited that address the following themes:
>
> Since the early nineteen sixties there has been a progressive erasure of
> boundaries separating high art and popular culture, which has encouraged
> and
> legitimised the practice of artists working between art and fashion.
> Does this trend entail a positive democratisation of art practice, or a
> dangerous loss of critical distance from a 'culture industry'?
>
> References to traditional practices often play a very important part in
> areas such as contemporary textiles.
> Is this mere nostalgia, or a critical attempt to salvage forms of cultural
> expressions marginalised by Modernism?
>
> Globalisation has dramatically increased the opportunities for social and
> cultural exchange between artists from radically different cultural
> contexts.
> Is this a positive phenomenon or are there potential pitfalls?
>
> It has been argued that we live in a 'post ideological' age in which the
> confrontation between different artistic and political positions is less
> radical than in the past.
> Are contemporary artists less constrained by artistic and political
> ideologies or has the debate taken a new and less obvious form?
>
> The potential for 'new' technologies (bio, nano and digital) to deeply
> affect all aspects of our lives provokes much debate and concern, opens
> enormous creative and design possibilities, and also risks the
> fetishisation
> of technology for its own sake.
> How does this situation affect contemporary practice within
> textiles/fashion?
>
>
> Deadline for Submission of Abstracts and Proposals: 30 September 2003.
> Notification of acceptance: 15 November 2003
> Publication date for abstracts and proposals: 1 February 2004
> Final date for submission of full papers and visual documentation: 16
> February 2004
>
> Due to the nature of interdisciplinary practice, research is not always
> best
> presented in the traditional academic format. We invite interested
> participants to present their current research, relevant to the conference
> topics by:
>
> Formal paper - submission to include an abstract of approximately 300
> words.
>
> or
>
> Performance/Presentation of a small body of work, representing current
> research - submission to include a proposal of approximately 300 words
> giving a brief description of work to be presented and appropriate visual
> material (eg: 4-6 slide transparencies or equivalent) illustrating your
> work.  Please include details of technical requirements for the
> presentation
> format eg: computers, projectors, software, lighting, wall space, floor
> space and any other needs.
>
> Abstracts and proposals submitted will be refereed by a panel of
> international subject experts.  For inquiries regarding submission of
> papers
> and/or presentations contact:
> Professor Suzette Worden,  [log in to unmask]
> Tel: +61 8 9266 1128
> Fax: +61 8 9266 2711
>
> For further information, newsletter subscription, registration, keynote
> speaker details, etc: visit the conference website:
>
> www.thespacebetween.org.au
>
> This significant event has been convened by the Textile Exchange Project
> in
> partnership with Curtin University of Technology.
>
> Conference convenors:  Moira Doropoulos and Anne Farren.
>
> --------message ends
>
>
>
> Andrew Hutchison is a lecturer in the Department of Design at Curtin
> University in Western Australia.
>
>