Meeting Announcement:

One Needle, One Thread: Miao (Hmong) Embroidery and Fabric Piecework from Guizhou, China

with

Dr. Tomoko Torimaru

at

Room 003, Basement of the Art Building

University of Washington Campus

Tuesday, October 16^th, 2007, 7:00 PM

As the saying goes: “If you meet 100 Miaos, you will see 100 costumes.” Tomoko Torimaru has done extensive fieldwork amongst the Miao people of Southern China, documenting the methods and meanings of their traditional embroidery. With no written alphabet, the Miao have long used textile making as kind of language for communicating stories down through generations.

Textile making is an integral part of everyday life for the Miao. They have established highly developed techniques and are keenly attuned to their textile practices: from growing plants, to making cloth, to dyeing, to doing decorative work. Every choice of material and technique is carefully considered.

Tomoko Torimaru has spent several years living and conducting costume research among the Miao. This presentation will be a cultural exploration of the remarkable diversity of costume and adornment within the Miao community. Ms. Torimaru will explain the materials and techniques used by the Miao, and the meaning of the design motifs and symbols.

Speaker Biography:

Tomoko Torimaru received her Ph.D. in the History and Technology of Chinese Textiles from Donghua University in Shanghai, China, in 2004. She is currently writing a book on Miao (Hmong) embroidery, and has contributed to numerous publications with articles on Miao textiles, Tibetan tablet weaving, Qing Dynasty weaving, and traditional Japanese textiles. She has made nearly 30 trips into the field to study textile making in China, Vietnam, India, Tibet, Japan and Guatemala.

Meeting Schedule:

7:00 Mix and mingle. Announcements.

7:15 Dr. Tomoko Torimaru – One Needle, One Thread: Miao (Hmong) Embroidery and Fabric Piecework from Guizhou, China

8:30 Show and tell – if you wish, please bring an interesting textile you’d like to share with the group. Hmong material would be particularly appropriate.

Please note: This meeting is free to all STARS members and UW students, $5.00 at the door for guests. As always, all are welcome.

Meeting Location:

The Art Building is best accessed via the North entrance to the UW Campus, at the corner of 45^th and 17^th. Ask to park in lot N-5. It is a short walk from the parking lot to the Art Building. Room 003 is in the basement.