Call for Papers: Textile Society of America’s 15th Biennial Symposium

Deadline: October 1, 2015 {ONLINE}



Call for Papers
Crosscurrents: Land, Labor, and the Port
Textile Society of America’s 15th Biennial Symposium
Organized in collaboration with Savannah College of Art and Design
Savannah, Georgia
October 19th – 23rd, 2016



The theme of TSA’s 15th Biennial Symposium is Crosscurrents: Land, Labor, and the Port. We invite participants to explore the ways in which textiles shape, and are shaped by historical, geographical, technological and economic aspects of colonialization and/or globalization. How and why have textile practices moved around? As they travel, how have they been translated, modified, or used within acts of compliance or resistance? What impact have different regimes of labor, consumption, aesthetic valuation, or political/social economy had on textile production, use, and circulation? These questions may apply to contemporary or historical fine art, utilitarian, or ethnographic textiles, which may be addressed through scholarship or creative practice.

Due to its location and history, the southern United States is an ideal place to examine the interaction between local practices and global markets. We encourage contributions that explore textile practice in the broader contexts of agriculture, labor, innovation, or exchange. We welcome historic or contemporary perspectives on the role of technology and alternative economies in shaping design, production, circulation, consumption, exhibition, collection, valuation, interpretation and use of textiles.

TSA seeks presentation proposals from all textile-related disciplines and interdisciplinary areas, including but not limited to history, anthropology, archaeology, art, conservation, geography, design, economics, ethnic studies, history, linguistics, marketing, material culture studies, mathematics, science, political science, sociology, and theater, among others. Participation of international and U.S. scholars, researchers, artists, curators, museum professionals, and others is welcome. Submission of abstracts is open to TSA members. Non-member applicants may join TSA at the time of proposal submission. Selected presenters will also be required to have an active membership at the time of the Symposium (October 2016).

In addition to our usual submission categories (papers, organized sessions, roundtables, films and other media), we are extending a call for poster sessions and for curated exhibitions. The review committee will select submissions that cogently and directly address the theme of the symposium.


All submissions should be based on original research, reflecting material not previously published. In submitting an abstract, the author explicitly authorizes its use on the TSA website and in publications including, but not limited to, the Symposium Program and Proceedings.

Individuals may complete multiple submissions.


All submissions must be made online: https://textilesociety.submittable.com/submit

Complete details available on website: textilesocietyofamerica.org/symposium2016/call-for-papers