Cheryl Simpson, adjunct lecturer in the School of Humanities and the Creative Arts at Flinders University, will give a lecture on the symbols and meaning in the embroidery of Epirus, next Thursday, 27 August 2015, at the Greek Centre for Contemporary Culture, as part of the Greek Community of Melbourne’s seminar series of Greek History and Culture.

In the past, all textiles produced were imbued with symbols and meanings easily identified by members of the community. These same symbols and designs are often echoed in other arts and crafts such as architecture, ceramics, and jewellery. The long and turbulent history of Greece has left a visible legacy in its embroidery designs that have been influenced by Ottoman, Venetian, Genoese and Frankish rule.

What were the influences on the textiles of the Epirus region? Textiles have historically played a significant role in the household and in the dress of Greek women and tell a story rich with heritage and meaning.

Cheryl Simpson is currently completing a doctoral thesis in the department of Modern Greek at Flinders University. Her research is on the heritage meaning of embroidery collections held by Greek/Australian and Greek women. Her field research took her to Greece in 2012, where she spent some time in Epirus. She was a lecturer in Legal Studies at Flinders University, South Australia and currently she is an adjunct lecturer in the School of Humanities and the Creative Arts at Flinders University. She has a long-standing research interest in heritage matters and has published books and articles on this topic ranging from legal issues relating to heritage to cultural heritage and its significance today.

The Greek Community of Melbourne and the organising Committee of the Seminars wish to thank the sponsors Dr Marinis & Mrs Maria Pirpiris and Mrs Panagiota Stamatopoulos.

When: Thursday, 27 August 2015, 7.00pm
Where: Greek Centre, Mezzanine Level, 168 Lonsdale Street, Melbourne
Language: English
Entry: Free