Paris Lectures with Deborah Briggs

For the final Paris Lectures event of 2016, we were excited to host our friend and inspiring Paris neighbour, Deborah Briggs, the crazy talented master weaver behind 2 Fetlar Weavers and a world-renowned rabies specialist who has helped curb the disease around the world. Debbie shared her fascinating transition from the field of science to art and how both have informed each other in her life and in her textiles.

Transcript

1. Rabies and Weaving DEBORAH J BRIGGS TIME WARP STUDIO
2. WHAT IN THE WORLD WERE YOU THINKING BRIGGS!? OKAY, CALM DOWN… TAKE A LOOK BACK AT WHAT HAS BEEN ACCOMPLISHED OMG! MY APPROACH HAS BEEN THE SAME IN BOTH FIELDS OF ENDEAVOUR WHEW…
3. • Virologist – Specialty in Rabies – Human rabies vaccines • Professor Kansas State University • International consultant for rabies prevention and control • World Health Organization – Expert Committee on Rabies
6. Key facts Ebola Rabies Cases (2014-2015) 28 603 118 000 Cases (1976-2013) 1716 > 2000 000 Case fatality rate 50% (avg.) ≈100% Deaths (‘14-2015) 11 311 > 96 000 Cost of control efforts (‘14-2015) $ 1.62 billion (World Bank Funding) $2.2 billion (All control efforts worldwide) Economic impact (‘14-2015) $0.5 – 6.2 billion $17.2 billion
7. Up to 60% of rabies victims are children and millions 
 of dogs are killed.
8. Global Rabies Situation ONE PERSON DIES OF RABIES EVERY 10 MINUTES >95% OF ALL DEATHS RESULT FROM CONTACT WITH RABID DOGS IN AFRICA AND ASIA ALL OF THESE DEATHS CAN BE PREVENTED 
 BY VACCINATION OF HUMANS AND OF DOGS
9. Lack of awareness on all levels about Responsible pet ownership – vaccinating pets Need for post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) Primary wound care Rabies immunoglobulin (RIG) not available Rabies vaccines not available Travel Increased risk of rabies onset Rabies vaccines are too expensive Likelihood of giving up Delays because of need to raise money Why do people still die of rabies?
10. What does it take 
 to change the world? CREATIVITY INSPIRATION COURAGE
11. BETTER EDUCATION Inspire local communities 
 to get involved IMPROVE COMMUNICATION Get the message out to the billions of people speaking different languages; different cultures INITIATE COLLABORATION Encourage ‘dysfunctional’ rabies stakeholders to work together CHANGE THE WORLD OF RABIES FOR THOSE AT HIGHEST RISK Children, Poor, Where dog rabies 
 is most prevalent: Asia and Africa INSPIRATION
12. What if we created a “World Rabies Day”? CREATIVITY
13. CLASSROOM EDUCATION IN IRAQ VACCINATION CLINIC IN MOZAMBIQUE World Rabies Day Impact
14. What if we created a global group of stakeholders? INSPIRATION PARTNERS 
 FOR RABIES PREVENTION EST. 2008
15. Partners for Rabies Prevention Improved communication & collaboration between industry & academia From top down to incorporating bottom up activities Created several new tools for global rabies prevention Changed the face of rabies forever Impact
16. INSPIRATION What if we created a global program that could be funded?
17. Funding enabled the development of integrated community- led models
18. Integrated community-led rabies control
19. Integrate simple messages into primary education curriculum INSPIRATION What if we created a new type 
 of educational platform? Create a “Rabies education certificate” program for one or more persons in a village to be the rabies expert Use webinar to connect local rabies professionals in remote regions/countries to talk ‘in real time’ about what is happening in their own country
20. > CURRICULUM INTEGRATION > OUT OF SCHOOL YOUTH > EARLY CHILDHOOD INTERVENTIONS > RABIES EDUCATION CERTIFICATE Education Initiatives Up to 60% of all rabies victims are under the age of 15 (developed in the Philippines & being rolled out in South Africa and India)
21. Every rabies death 
 is avoidable
22. Rabies expert 
 to Rabid weaver
23. HTTP://WWW.TOPTENZ.NET/10-OLDEST-PIECES-CLOTHING-ACCESSORIES-WORLD.PHP 4,500 year old purse found near Leipzig Germany, covered in more than 100 dog’s teeth
24. Oldest skirt on record. 5,900 years old. Discovered in Armenian cave. Woven from reeds Oldest dress on record. 5,000 years old. Discovered in Egypt. Woven from linen. Note the pleats on shoulder. 3000 year old trousers. Woven in 3 pieces. Discovered in Yanghai tombs in China. Weaving: As ancient as rabies?
25. Woven underwear from archaeological finds from 14th – 16th Century in Lengberg Castle, East Tyrol, Austria and in Germany
26. Personal approach to weaving CREATIVITY INSPIRATION COURAGE
28. NUMBERED THREADING SEQUENCE FORMULA FOR TREADLE TIE-UP ORDERED LIFT SEQUENCE Weaving is scientific in its design
29. Autumn colours and the action of falling leaves INSPIRATION
30. What if 
 I weave this same pattern 
 in different colours? INSPIRATION
31. INSPIRATION
32. HOLLY O: ARTIST EXTRAORDINAIRE
34. COPPER LEAF SILVER BROOCH DESIGNED WITH BACKSTRAP LOOM AND WOVEN FEATHER PATTERN What if 
 I wanted to design 
 woven jewelry? KAREN WETTLÄUFER
 FOUND STUDIO INSPIRATION
35. MARGUERITE LARMAND: SIX DIRECTIONS STUDIO, SIMCOE Stretching the boundaries together
36. Looking toward the future
37. Weaving doesn’t have to be “square”
38. Thanks to all of you! Thank you Jane & Jury for all that you do for our community!