Cloth Cultures is an international conference to explore the material culture of textiles through the work and legacies of Dorothy K. Burnham (1911-2004), internationally renowned textile scholar, curator and member of the Order of Canada (1985). Burnham helped pioneer invaluable scholarly research in textiles and costume, and demonstrated that many layers of meaning could be revealed through object-centered research in both Indigenous and Western cultures.
This conference will examine Burnham’s legacy in a number of fields (academia, fine art and design, anthropology, sociology, history, economics, aesthetics, museology, weaving, spinning and fibre art – at least) and dig deeper into the diverse stories and influence imbued in global textiles and clothing.
This two-day event will feature 35 speakers from ten countries speaking on a variety of subjects, all related to how Dorothy Burnham has impacted their research, life and practice. Keynote speakers: Dr. Adrienne Hood (University of Toronto), Dr. Ruth Phillips (Carleton University, Ottawa) and Dr. Timo Rissanen (Parsons School of Design, NYC)
Registration for Cloth Cultures will open June 1, 2017
The great white north. Where winters are long and snowy, and summers short and buggy. Canada has its own unique weaving traditions adapted to its people and geography. Acadians, French-Canadian community weaving centers, overshot coverlets, immigrant traditions, Chilkat Dancing blankets, Hudson Bay Blankets, old and contemporary functioning Jacquard looms. Delve into the incredible diversity of current Canadian weaving styles.
FREE
In partnership with the Etobicoke Handweavers and Spinners
MONTHLY GUILD MEETINGS Beginning April 2023 we will resume holding in-person meetings at Riverdale Farm. We will continue to hold some meetings virtually. Our Member’s Meetings are held from September-June, with a break for the summer. Check out the Calendar for up-to-date information. If you are interested in spinning or weaving, you are welcome to join us as a guest at one of our monthly meetings. When: 2nd Wednesday of the month, 7:30 – 9:00 pm for in-person meetings; 7:00 – 8:30 pm for virtual meetings Where: In-person meetings are held in the Meeting House at Riverdale Farm- come in the gate and keep going past the sheep.
IN THE COMMUNITY
The Guild generally participates in the following Riverdale Farm events , demonstrating fibre processing, spinning, weaving, and other textile skills to the public. After a hiatus during the pandemic, we look forward to resuming these events this Spring.
FAMILY DAY Riverdale Farm is a great place to spend Family Day, with lots of fun activities taking place, including weaving and spinning demonstrations and activities that the whole family can enjoy.
SHEEP CELEBRATION Riverdale Farm opens its doors with the farm’s popular Spring Festival at which Guild members use the fleece shorn from the farm sheep to demonstrate the skills needed to wash the wool, prepare it for spinning, make yarn, dye it, and weave it into cloth. Come and watch the process, from sheep shearing on!
FALL FESTIVALS See the Guild in action on the second weekend in September at the Riverdale Farm Fall Festival, and at the Cabbagetown Festival too!