07 Jan Textiles + Activism: 2022 Project Threadways Symposium

Founded in 2019 by Alabama Chanin founder and creative director Natalie Chanin, Project Threadways explores, studies, and records the history of textiles as material culture. Our mission is to understand the impact of textiles and their creation, from raw material to finished goods, on the local community, and then connect that to the region, the nation, and across the world.

Today we announce our annual symposium, Textiles and Activism, which will take place on April 21 – 23, 2022. The symposium will explore how textiles are used as a vehicle for expression, how the act of making supports community organization, and how material culture documents activism and movements throughout history. The symposium offers in-person and virtual experiences. In addition to the presentations, in-person guests will experience the local community—steeped in textile history—through food, drink, conversation, a workshop, and off-site events.

Join us as we explore how textiles are used as a vehicle for expression, how the act of making supports community organization, and how material culture documents activism and movements throughout history.

The list of speakers includes Carrie Barske-Crawford, Director of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, Jessamyn Hatcher and Thuy Lin Tu, professors of Global Studies at New York University, Janneken Smucker, professor and historian at West Chester University, singer-songwriter and musician Rosanne Cash, artist Diana Weymar of Tiny Pricks Project, and designer Barbara de Vries. 

This event is in partnership with the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, the Center for the Study of Southern Culture, and Alabama Chanin. 

All ticket sales will go to 501(c)(3) certified Project Threadways.

SAFETY PROTOCOLS

Project Threadways is committed to making our symposium safe. Ticket holders must provide proof of vaccination no later than two weeks prior to the event or negative PCHR test within 48 hours of the event to attend the symposium. Our team will be in contact to receive this documentation. Masks will be required at events held at indoor venues. We are following national guidance from the CDC to create the safest possible environment for symposium guests. We are grateful for our guests’ cooperation with all procedures.

Visit here to register and find the details below. 

TICKET TIERS

VIP
Cost: $1100
This ticket provides access to all events—Thursday’s dinner with Whitney Otawka and all presentations and programming on Friday and Saturday. The experience includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktail hour on both days, a tour of The Factory—Alabama Chanin’s production and manufacturing facility, Alabama Chanin’s 21 Years Celebration exhibit opening at the Kennedy-Douglass Center in downtown Florence, a making workshop, inspiring and engaging conversation, and digital access to the lectures after the event. 

Friday and Saturday All-Access
Cost: $875
This ticket provides access to all presentations and programming on Friday and Saturday. The experience includes includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktail hour on both days, a tour of The Factory—Alabama Chanin’s production and manufacturing facility, Alabama Chanin’s 21 Years Celebration exhibit opening at the Kennedy-Douglass Center in downtown Florence, a making workshop, inspiring and engaging conversation, and digital access to the lectures after the event. 

Friday Access
Cost: $440
This ticket provides access to all presentations and programming on Friday. The experience includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktail hour, Alabama Chanin’s 21 Years Celebration exhibit opening at the Kennedy-Douglass Center in downtown Florence, inspiring and engaging conversation, and access to all lectures and talks after the event.   

Saturday Access
Cost: $440
This ticket provides access to all presentations and programming on Saturday. The experience includes breakfast, lunch, and cocktail hour, a tour of The Factory—Alabama Chanin’s production and manufacturing facility, a making workshop, off-site presentations and experiences in downtown Florence, inspiring and engaging conversation, and access to all lectures and talks after the event.   

Virtual Access (Friday and Saturday)
Cost: $65
This ticket provides virtual live access to presentations on Friday and Saturday, including the making workshop on Saturday. Materials not provided. 

Virtual Access (Friday)
Cost: $35
This ticket provides virtual live access to presentations on Friday and access to all lectures and talks after the event.   

Virtual Access (Saturday)
Cost: $35
This ticket provides virtual live access to presentations on Saturday, including the making workshop. Materials not provided.

Virtual Pay as you Wish (Open to students with proof of enrollment)
Cost: You Choose (Recommended $35)
Pay as you wish and receive virtual access to Friday and Saturday presentations. 

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

Please note all times are CST.
All events take place at Alabama Chanin’s The Factory unless otherwise noted.
Events at Kennedy-Douglass Center Southall-Moore House are open to the public and unavailable for virtual streaming.

Thursday, April 21, 2022
5:30 Registration and Cocktails
7:00pm Project Threadways Dinner with chef Whitney Otawka 

Friday, April 22, 2022
9:00am Breakfast
9:30am Welcome and Introduction
10:00am Presentation by Jessamyn Hatcher and Thuy Linh Tu
11:00am Presentation by Janneken Smucker
12:00pm Presentation details to come
1:00pm Lunch
2:00pm Presentation by Diana Weymar
3:00pm Presentation by Rosanne Cash
4:00pm Panel Discussion
5:00pm Cocktail Hour, Downtown Florence
6:00pm “Alabama Chanin: Celebrating 21 Years of Community, Making, and Textiles” Exhibit Opening at the Kennedy-Douglass Center Southall-Moore House in Downtown Florence

Saturday, April 23, 2022
9:00am Breakfast
9:30am The Factory Tour
10:00am Welcome
10:30am Presentation by Barbara de Vries
11:30am Workshop..details to come

1:00 Outdoor lunch at Pope’s Tavern, Downtown Florence
2:30pm Oral Presentation by Carrie-Barske Crawford and Katie Kooper, Kennedy-Douglass Center Southall-Moore House in Downtown Florence
3:30pm Panel Conversation Kennedy-Douglass Center Southall-Moore House in Downtown Florence
4:30pm Cocktail Hour and Closing Remarks, Downtown Florence

Contact think@projectthreadways.org with questions or for more information.

This event and exhibition are supported through funding provided by the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area. Any views, findings, conclusions, or recommendations expressed in this exhibition do not necessarily represent those of the Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area.