Experimental Studio 2024

> Photo Gallery Experimental Studio 2022

Friday, February 23 - Wednesday, February 28, 2024

Primary textile techniques are archaic processes that do not require complicated technical aids and for which one needs at most simple tools to produce partly complex textile structures. In the various cultures of the earth, a wonderful wealth of refined structures, processes and knowledge of materials and resources has developed over the millennia, some of which today hang by a thread.
In the course of industrialisation, the diversity of textile techniques was lost over long distances and some of the so-called "historical textile techniques", such as sprang, netting, occhi, board weaving or also various braiding techniques are today often only known among textile experts, basket weavers, ethnologists or archaeologists. However, they hold great potential and provide information about craft skills as well as ways of thinking and living in different times and regions of the world.
The special exhibition "beflügelt" (Winged) is currently on display at the Textile Centre in Haslach. It features objects by the German textile didactician Marianne Flügel, who spent her life travelling and collecting a wide variety of everyday textile objects such as baskets, belts or bags in order to analyse how they were made and to document their backgrounds. The collection was given to the Textile Centre Haslach and is now available here for teaching and research purposes.
The aim of the experimental studio is to bring together people who want to study these techniques in depth and use the Flügel collection as a resource for their own research or artistic work in exchange with others. The experimental studio does not have a classical course character, but creates an open space for autonomous work. After an introduction to the collection and the presentation of the participants' main areas of work, the focus is on the individual and collaborative penetration of textile structures.
The focus is not primarily on the production of finished consumer products, but on basic research into the nature of textile systems. As a result of the week, publication contributions, new course formats, collaborations or other forms of use of the collection can be envisaged, which are to be developed together.

Participants: all who are interested in professional exchange and would like to conduct craft-artistic research on the basis of a collection .
Prerequisites: sound previous knowledge in sub-areas of primary textile techniques, curiosity, spirit of research and the willingness to share one's own knowledge with others
Number of participants: max. 10 persons
Application: If you are interested, please send us a short informal application with CV and some information and photos about your work in the field of primary textile techniques by 31 December 2023 (The application deadline has been extended). We will contact you and let you know by early 2024 if you can participate in the experimental studio.
Course times: individual
Course fee: Participation is free of charge. Only the cost of materials will be charged. Participants must pay for their own accommodation and travel costs.

Course leader: CHRISTINA LEITNER, Austria
Born in Linz in 1976, studied textile design and psychology/philosophy in Salzburg and Linz, practical and theoretical work with paper textiles, training course in museology in Graz, working for the Textile Centre Haslach since 2007, teaching weaving at the Mozarteum Salzburg and at the Art University Linz, on the board of the European Textile Network ETN since 2020.
More info: www.textiles-zentrum-haslach.at, www.textile-kultur-haslach.at, www.etn-net.org