Wool conference (ENG)

The broader aim of the international wool conference was to lead attention to researching and developing traditional crafts. Local craft resources and materials have crutial importance in that, offering a solution to an approaching environmental crisis. A more specific aim was to broaden the understanding of usage options of local wool, to understand it’s true value. Nowadays, nearly 85-90% of the wool produced in Estonia, is being destroyed.
The conference took place in Viljandi, Estonian Traditional Music Centre.
Here’s the gallery of the conference.

1st day, November 17th 2022 – guest speakers from abroad

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE 1ST DAY AT UTTV

‘Sheep, Woolcraft and Regenerative Land-use’ by Patrick Dillon (Emeritus Professor, College of Social Sciences and International Studies, University of Exeter, UK)

‘The Ecological Entanglements of Estonian Native Wool’ by Mathilde Lind (spinner and ethnologist, USA)

‘British Wool, from Farm to Product’ by Haldi Kranich-Wood (wool expert and product manager at British Wool, UK)

‘The Wool Value Chain in Norway – From Sheep to Textile. Use to Conserve – the Grey Gold of the Old Sheep’ by Ingvild Svorkmo Espelien (project manager at Selbu wool mill, Norway)

‘Ullkontoret – a Small but Large Scale Wool Scouring Line in Sweden’ by Hans Bulthuis (Ullkontoret, local wool activist, Visby, Sweden)

‘How to Take Off – Three Wool Projects on Gotland Led to a Co-working Factory’ by Jenny Andersson (Ullkontoret, Gotland Grey GUTI, local wool activist, Visby, Sweden)

‘WOOLDAYS/3 Years on Local Wool, Introduction and Networking for Artists, Designers and Architects’ by Anne Baasgaard (textile artist, leader of the Trondheim wool network, Norway)

1Estonia-Norway wool cooperation project overview (Ave Matsin, Ingvild Svorkmo Espelien, Eli Wendelbo, Lee Reinula, Diana Tuulik, Merje Beilmann)

2nd day, November 18th – speakers from Estonia

CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS FROM THE 2ND DAY AT UTTV (with English translation)

Opening speech by Anu Raud (textile artist, Emeritus Professor)

‘Activities at UT VCA Vilma Wool Mill 2016-2022’ by Astri Kaljus (UT Viljandi Culture Academy native textile lecturer and hostess of the wool mill)

‘Applied Research in Pallas: Local Sheep Wool in the Design Process’ by Liisi Tamm (Tartu Art College)

‘Evaluation and Quality of Wool’ by Kaie Ahlskog (animal husbandry specialist, ProAgria Etelä-Suomi ry)

‘Using Wastewool to Replace Bubblewrap’ by Kert Jalakas (Woola LLC)

‘Wool User’s Perspective on the Example of MÄÄ Wool Pellet Production’ by Mihkel Peedimaa (development manager, Villatoode LLC)

‘From Local Wool to High-quality Carpet – Enthusiasm or Enterpreunership?’ by Aivi Valliste (carpet master at Tekero floor company, Kihnu Native sheep farmer)

The day ended with the following activities:
Cooperation fair for finding partners
Pop-up exhibitions
Wool sorting workshop (Ingvild Svorkmo Espelien, Selbu Spinner Ltd.)
Spinning competition (Julika Roos, Hea Villa Selts)
Tour of Vilma building wool mill
Announcing Anu Raud’s scholarship and presentation of the new issue of Studia Vernacula

The conference is subsidized by Tartu University, Estonian Cultural Endowment and EEA/Norway Cooperation in Higher Education programmes.