The Winter OIDFA bulletin was delivered some time ago, and I was hopeful someone who does not write often to Arachne would introduce this subject. The 4-page article starting on page 12 is about "100 Years of Czech Contemporary Lace", by Anna Halikova. Anyone who attended the Prague OIDFA Congress a few years ago will remember the incredible originality of modern Czech laces that were exhibited. I also remember an exhibit of their laces, maybe 25 years ago, at The Textile Museum, Washington, DC. Czech lace has had government support in the years since WWI. Now, the State Institute for Art Industry in Prague and the Atelier of Lace and Embroidery at the Academy of Applied Arts in Prague are closing! The article lists questions the international lace community should be asking. 1. What is the future of Czech lace? 2. How will professional training of lace makers continue? 3. Who will develop and design the new lace patterns? 4. Will there be enough qualified lace teachers? 5. How many art designers and lace makers will make their mark in this field? 6. Will lace become only a hobby? 7. Will lace makers stay active in handicraft? 8. Will computers help lace in its future development? Surely, we have some things to say about this development. I recommend an old web address to you - Blen - a government-sponsored virtual museum site, paid for by 4 European nations. One was the Czech Republic. When Lacemakers of Maine first discussed Blen at least 15 years ago, we talked about a virtual lace museum for America, knowing that our government would never support lace as it is done in other nations. The result was "Lace Fairy", which many of you have used. This is the address given in the OIDFA article: _http://www.blen.net/blen_11/blen_11.htm_ (http://www.blen.net/blen_11/blen_11.htm) If you would like to visit a museum in each of the 4 countries, select Museum History (on left). It will take you to Spain, Finland, Portugal, Czech Republic. Jeri Ames in Maine USA Lace and Embroidery Resource Center
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