Dr Keireine Canavan

PhD MDes MA RCA BA (hons)
e: kcanavan@cardiffmet.ac.uk
t: 02920 416634/7
w: alsaduweaving.wordpress.com

Specialist Subject Areas

Traditional & digital constructed textile design for fashion, interiors and exhibition;
Digital Textile surface decoration and design for fashion, interiors and exhibition;
Traditional tribal weaving techniques and textiles, specifically;
• Al Sadu ground loom weavers, Kuwait and Gulf countries, Middle East: the semiotics of the sharjarah technique with in the Gata textile;
• Iban Dayak ikat backstrap loom weaving, Malay-Indonesia;
• Patola weavers of Patan, NW Gujarat, India;
Middle East: woven camel trappings and decoration;
Museum textile collection advisor – National Museum Collection Centre, Scotland/ Sadu House: Kuwait National Museum and National Museum of Qatar Middle East;
Applications of textiles as products.

Qualifications

Jan 2003 PHD (MacFarlane Prize 2003) HERIOT-WATT UNIVERSITY

1995 – 1996 MDes + Computer Application SCOTTISH COLLEGE OF TEXTILES

1987 – 1990 Montessori Teaching Dip. LONDON SCHOOL OF MODERN MONTESSORI

1979 – 1981 MA RCA Knitted Textile Design ROYAL COLLEGE OF ART, LONDON

1976 – 1979 BA (Hons) Woven Textiles. LIVERPOOL UNIVERSITY

1975 – 1976 Foundation Studies Dip. LANCHESTER POLYTECHNIC

Biography

Dr Keireine Canavan is currently Head of Textiles and Principal Lecturer at Cardiff School of Art & Design, University of Wales Institute, Cardiff UK and Research Fellow to Al Sadu Weaving Society, Kuwait. She is a founder member and Project Director of DIGIT Textile Research group and a member of the International Super-research Group, WIRAD.

As textile educator at undergraduate and post-graduate levels, and world specialist in traditional ikat weaving and tribal weaving techniques, Dr Keireine Canavan has published her research ‘Dayak to Digital: Traditional Ikat for Contemporary Patterned Knitted Textiles’ (McFarlane Award 2003). She speaks regularly, publically and at conference, most recently at Dar al-Athar al-Islamyyiah Cultural Centre in Kuwait, Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) Summer Lecture Season Cardiff, School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) and Victoria & Albert Museum, London, and exhibits her practice work, nationally and internationally. Her passion for researching endangered and declining ancient textile techniques has taken her to Europe, the Far East and since 2004, Kuwait and the Gulf region.

Since 2005, the focus of the on-going research is on the gata or decorative woven panel that divides the men’s quarter’s from the women’s in the traditional Bedouin tent Beit al-Shaar, and in particular the semiotics of the woven patterned panel or shajarah.

Current research

Canavan’s recent nine-months sabbatical research in Kuwait (2009/10), considered the Bedouin Al Sadu weaving patterns and traditional symbolism at Sadu House, Kuwait National Museum, Kuwait and National Museums Collection Centre Scotland, Edinburgh, UK (2011).

She is currently continuing her research project, Al Sadu: Historical traditions and future prospects, and working on associated woven traditions in the Arabian Gulf region, including camel trapping decorations.

Collaboration with Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC) (Textile Dept.), PAAET (Public Authority for Applied Education and Training) and AUK (American University of Kuwait), plus Zari Kuwait (Textile Design Company) and IKEA Kuwait, involves innovative and contemporary applications to guide and perpetuate traditional Al Sadu weaving in the twenty-first century, with undergraduate and postgraduate students.

Data for a co-edited book publication, between Drs Canavan and Ali Alnajadah (PAAET) is currently being collated, supported and funded by Al Sadu Weaving Society and KFAS (Kuwait Foundation for the Advancement of Science).  Expected publication date 2012.

Canavan is currently acting as ambassador for Sadu House: Kuwait National Museum and Al Sadu Weaving Society Research Fellow, delivering a continuous lecture series in the UK and Middle Eastern at conference and public speaking events.  She is the international adviser and traditional Al Sadu textile expert at National Museum of Qatar and National Museum Collection Centre, Scotland.

Principal Publications and/or Exhibitions

• Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Lecture Season 16: Weaving in the Arabian Gulf: Historical traditions and future prospects. Apr 2011.

• Sinclaire (Prof), R., Textiles and Fashion: materials, design and technology. Canavan, K., Chapter 22. Applications of textile products. Woodhead Publications, London. 2011.

• Gulf Conference: Aspirations and Challenges in the Gulf Conference. University of Exeter. 2011.

• Kuwait Textile Arts Association: Camel Trappings and Contemporary Textiles. Apr 2011.

• Camel Conference SOAS: AlSadu Trappings, Decoration & the Dromedary. May 2011

• Oral History Society Conference V&A Museum: The Language of Al Sadu. July 2010

• Material Matters: DIGIT Joint textile research exhibition with C. Treadaway, P. Lawrence, H.Watkins. Howard Gardens Gallery. Oct 2010.

• The National United Arab Emerates: House & Home. Article. July 2010

• UWIC Summer Lecture Series: The Language of Bedouin AlSadu Weaving. June 2010

• Kuwait Textile Arts Association: Discovered Through Translation: Gata. Mar 2010.

• American University of Kuwait Communication & Language of Textiles. (Nov) 2009

• Roy, Chaitali B. Textiles Speak Louder than Words. Arab Times. 17 Nov 2009

• Canavan, K. Dayak 2 Digital – Traditional Ikat for Contemporary Knitted Textiles. Heriot-Watt University. MacFarlane Prize. 2003

Awards

• National Museum of Qatar: Travel Bursary Award. 2011

• Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Lecture Season 16 Travel Bursary Award. £3,000 . Kuwait Mar 2011

• Strategic Insight Programme £2,500. Awarded National Scottish Museum Collection, Edinburgh. 2011

• Al Sadu Weaving Society Research Fellowship. Awarded 2010

• 9 Month Extended Research Leave Sabbatical £10,000: To investigate the traditional AlSadu weaving techniques of Kuwait and to document traditional and modern patterns with associated symbolism, in order to preserve awareness of the declining artform. Sadu House Kuwait, Middle East. 2009 – 2010

• Al Sadu Museum Travel Bursary £500. June 2010

• DIGIT – Textile Research Group. Project Director. Collaborating with UW Newport

• WIRAD Super Research Group. Design Enhanced Human Futures. Thematic research super group of international standing. Collaboration with UWN. Awarded RAE Strategic Support Initiative Fund £10.5K. 2007- ongoing

• Material Matters Joint exhibition. Howard Garden’s Gallery, Cardiff Metropolitan University (UWIC), Cardiff. Oct 2010.

• Dar al-Athar al-Islamiyyah Kids: The Al-Sabah Collection. AlSadu Textiles. Apr 2010

• Kuwait University The Student Experience. Graphic Liberal Arts Department. 2009

• HEFCW Research Fund £4,500. Indian Patola Weavers, Patan, N/W India 2008

• Contemporary Textiles. Joint exhibition. Wales Millennium Centre. Jan-Mar 2007

Enterprise Projects and/or Industrial links

• IKEA. Annual modular project and public exhibition at IKEA Wales, Cardiff. 2004 – 2011

• Laura Ashley Foundation Maintenance Bursary – application

• IKEA Kuwait. Student exhibition. 2010

• Laura Ashley Foundation Equipment Bursary £150,000. Textile Department – equipment and student support grant (New Designers, London). 2007-10

• ZERI Kuwait £1,000 Student design project/ competition/ work placement in Kuwait (10 days) and production in India/ Laos/ UK. 2010

• UWIC Management Banner Project £1,000 Student design project. 2011

• Gilbert & Cheyne, London. Annual consultancy 2011- 2004. Student design work taken to Textile trade fairs in France and Germany. 2011

Modules Taught

TEX 101 Material Arts 1

TEX 102 Material Arts 2

TEX 104 Textiles in Context 1 (1 lecture)

ADT 201 Drawing & Markmaking: Monochrome

ADT 202 Drawing & Markmaking: Colour

ADT 203 Live ‘IKEA’ module

ADT 204 Form & Format

ADT 205 Environment

ADT 302 Competition/ Commission

ADT 303 Consultancy

ADT 304 Final Major Module and Exhibition

ADT 305 Professional Practice

Supervision of Doctoral Research (titles or broad areas of investigation)

PhD External Examiner: Carol Banks.  Achieving visual narration using photochromic dyes on a textile substrate in the style of French Impressionist films. Heriot Watt University 2011.
PhD External Examiner:  Musaed M. Alberhairi. Using the traditional textile ‘Sadu’ as an element of the ancient traditions & representing it in the development of the concept of visual culture in Kuwait. University of Wales Newport. 2010.
PhD Co-Supervisor/ Internal Examiner: Cathy Treadaway. Digital Imaging Technology on the Creative Practice of Printed Textiles and Surface Pattern Design. Cardiff School of Art & Design. UWIC. Completed Jan 2006.
MPhil Consultant/ Co-Supervisor: Heather Prosser.  Llangorse Textile Cardiff University.  2006.
External Examiner PhD: Norwani Md. Nawawi.  Investigating Patterns, Motifs and the Reproduction Techniques of Ikat Limar. Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.  Completed Nov. 2005.