The 70s and 80s corresponded with a craft revival. There was a lot of weaving going on and some people crossed over between this and lace. Also, macrame was very popular. I think the multi element nature of macrame helped set the stage for lacemaking. Many of the vendors that have been active in the last generation, Kaethe Kliot, Robin Lewis Wild, Robbin & Russ, Holly Van Sciver, were young then and entered the field of vending. I think that we are seeing the end of a movement that began in the 1970s. We were also going through the bi-centennial which gave a lot of opportunity to demonstrate lace, but with an emphasis on the historical aspect. However, we may be in another craft revival. I see young people doing a lot of knitting and other craft work. I am quite interested in the exhibition and symposium for young lacemakers that is to be held in Pavia next fall. Textile Support is a school that teaches fiber arts in Pavia. It is run by Anharad Rixon, the young scholar who wrote about her research into the composition of lace thread during the 17th century. I think this website is very inviting to young fiber artist types. _http://www.textilesupport.it/index_en.html_ (http://www.textilesupport.it/index_en.html) Apparently there is no shortage of young lacemakers (under 35) in Europe. After looking at the Textile Support site, my boss at the MMA went on the internet and found several places that seem to have the same kind of set up in New York. _http://www.makeworkshop.com/content/classes/classes_general.html_ (http://www.makeworkshop.com/content/classes/classes_general.html) _http://www.textileartscenter.com/immersion_vacation_ (http://www.textileartscenter.com/immersion_vacation) _http://lenacorwinstudio.blogspot.com/_ (http://lenacorwinstudio.blogspot.com/) Unfortunately, what I think is really needed to connect to young lacemakers is a young teacher with lots of energy who can tune in on what young people would find interesting about lace. Devon In a message dated 10/13/2011 7:28:28 P.M. Eastern Daylight Time, lynrbai...@desupernet.net writes:
Dear Clay, et al, Any lacemaker worth his/her salt is concerned about having suppliers in the future. Part of it is tied to whether or not a lace supplier can make a comfortable profit, whether the trip to a lace day is worth the effort in terms of amount of sales. This then is a function of the number of lace makers at lace days and there to buy supplies from, at a distance. If you check the membership numbers of IOLI, for example, the numbers have gone down over the last 10 years. Significantly. There was a point in the last century, (wow, doesn't that sound long ago?) when the number of lace makers jumped, or at least rose strongly. I remember writing to all the suppliers listed at the back of the books I had, for catalogs, in 1991, and finding that there were a number who were not really there. But no worry, because there were plenty of others. And then there was the online sales revolution. But that does not seem to have increased the number of lacemakers. An ancillary issue is the number of those wanting to buy supplies. The number increased greatly. I'd like to know why. For example, I've lived long enough to know that the number of fabric stores increases in times of poor economics, and decreases in times of plenty, over the last 40 years. Will that continue? What was happening in the '70's and '80's that increased the number of lacemakers, and can we do that again? We have been very fortunate in our vendors in the past, because among them have been, and are, people passionate about the art, seemingly willing to work hard merely for the love of lace, and these stalwarts have done immeasurable things to the benefit of lace as it is now. But in a hard reality, we will have more lace suppliers if there is a greater demand. The situation concerning vendors is merely a symptom of a greater problem, in my opinion. If there were an easy fix, it would have been done. Lyn in Lancaster, where it has been rainy and cloudy all day. But the weather was great in Ithaca, making camping during the Ithaca Lace Days a great pleasure. -----Original Message----- >From: Clay Blackwell <clayblackw...@comcast.net> >Sent: Oct 13, 2011 6:10 PM >To: ARACHNE <lace@arachne.com> >Subject: [lace] Sign of the times - call for action? > >Dear Lacemakers - > >In the past ten days we have learned of not one but two of our trusted >and faithful lace vendors who have decided it is time to close shop. >Lacy Susan has sold her business to someone in Colorado, and Tracy >Jackson is hoping to sell "The Lacemaker". That leaves only Holly >VanSciver on the East coast who has historically traveled to lace days >and also provided a web business for our convenience. I'm afraid that >the demise of these other two vendors may put Holly "over the edge"!! > >I think it is time for those of us in the US to acknowledge that we have >had it "very good" for a long, long time. I wonder if anyone can take >over - or start up - business in this field today with any hope of >profits which justify the amount of work done? > >So my real question today is, "How can lace supply businesses provide >the ongoing support needed by a (shrinking) lacemaking community? > >As a starter for questions to be considered... > > Would we expect these vendors to be available for every lace day we >have? > Would it be necessary for vendors to have their entire stock at >every show? > Should sponsoring organizations expect to pay at least a portion of >travel and accommodation expenses for vendors? > If we do not have vendors available for lace days and special >events, will lacemakers choose not to attend? > >I'm very concerned about this latest development in the decline of >interest in the world of lacemaking - at least in the US. I'm very much >looking forward to hearing positive ideas, and especially creative ideas >which might spread the burden over numerous individuals.... > >Clay > >Clay Blackwell >Lynchburg, VA, USA > >- >To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: >unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to >arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: >http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003 - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003 - To unsubscribe send email to majord...@arachne.com containing the line: unsubscribe lace y...@address.here. For help, write to arachne.modera...@gmail.com. Photo site: http://community.webshots.com/user/arachne2003
