TAASA Review Issues

Jackie Menzies

Two crucial contributors to the success of TAASA since its lance some three years ago have been the first President, Carl Andrew, and the Editor, Heleanor Feltham. For various reasons, both feel they can no longer maintain the time and commitment to TAASA which they have demonstrated to date. Fortunately they will both stay on the Committee: Carl as Vice-President and Heleanor as a committee member.

Carl was a prime instigator of TAASA and has worked hard at the development of the membership, the Review and the programme of events. His enthusiasm – and his conviviality – are contagious and have been a significant factor in the success of TAASA. Similarly Heleanor’s efforts at editing the Review – of which this is the eleventh issue – have been Herculean: she has devoted time and energy to a task which has required an encyclopaedic knowledge of the regions and arts of Asia. Other members of the Committee, and all TAASA members, are greatly indebted to both of them.

When enthusiastic and responsible members feel obliged to reduce their commitments, it does prompt a reassessment of the mechanisms for ensuring the continued strength, relevance and growth of TAASA. Fortunately the future direction of TAASA is being indicated – most appropriately – by its own members.

The launch of the Textile Focus Group on Wednesday 3 August was a great success and it could provide the model for further individual groups defined by specific collecting interest. Already there are plans to launch another group on jewellery and fine metal under the guidance of scholar/jeweller Wendy Parker.

Members seem to have different preferences for the format of our meetings. The Textile Group is keen on “hands-on” sessions and will hold regular study meetings before our monthly Wednesday Powerhouse lectures which still continue to be popular. Other members prefer the half or full day conference that allows a concentrated immersion into the focussed realms of the aficionado, while still others only want an all-night knees-up at a specified Asian restaurant, or a night eating and drinking under a full moon. Certainly we will endeavour to cater to these different tastes.

The Japanese architect Kishi Kurokawa in his book “Intercultural Architecture: The Philisophy of Symbiosis”, expounded a concept of dynamic pluralism wherein the whole is a system not organized in either a vertical or horizontal hierarchy but comprised of nodes of activity which interest and interact. The different nodes flourish in symbiosis linked by an interest in new information, cultural difference and the resultant creativity. Something similar is perhaps the future model for TAASA, and the way it does seem to be developing.

Dick Richards, TAASA’s South Australia representative, will be organizing an all day seminar next year on Trade Ceramics, and there is talk of a Ceramics Focus Groups (interested members please organize!). Fiona Leibrick in the Northern Territory sent us the textile photo on the cover while the last Newsletter recorded the extent of activity in the Territory. The Committee is organizing future joint events with other societies whose interests overlap with ours. Thus there is evolving a network of complementary activities and exchanges similar to the model of Kurokawa’s symbiotic society.

In its present structure TAASA offers the opportunity for information exchange and access to diverse venues. To enhance the vitality and viability of TAASA, we need continuing input and initiatives from our members, similar to those outlined above.