Features

The Ru Report #131

Fashionably Loud
Spring is in step! And just about everyone and everything has given into being remade, re-done or made-over.

Including New York’s Brooklyn Museum of Art, which recently unveiled its dramatically redesigned and renovated front entrance and new public plaza.

Home of the second largest art collection in the United States, The Brooklyn Museum of Art also unveils the very first exhibition of the works of the late fashion designer Patrick Kelly. Drawn from the estate of the acclaimed designer, the "Retrospective" --as it is being billed--will feature more than sixty complete ensembles, along with archival material and numerous objects from Mr. Kelly's personal collection of controversial Black memorabilia.

This exhibition is organized by guest curator Thelma Golden, the brassy Deputy Director for Exhibitions and Programs at The Studio Museum in Harlem.

"I had the opportunity, a couple of years ago … to see the material," the guarded Ms. Golden offered to The RU Report. "After seeing it, we immediately began talking about the estate itself [which] was so rich and not [with] just Patrick’s designs, but also in the things that he collected, with the things he made, his own artwork and his sketches, that it seemed that it was an exhibition right there. So that’s how it came to be."

For those not familiar with the fashionably loud stylings of Mr. Kelly, his flamboyant garments was all the rage in the mid to late-1980s and were adorned by celebrities such as Cicely Tyson, Bette Davis, Madonna, Bette Midler, Grace Jones and Isabella Rosellini, amongst many, many others.

A native of Vicksburg, Mississippi, Mr. Kelly was moved to Atlanta as a young adult where he sold recycled clothes and worked without pay as a window dresser at the Yves Saint Laurent Rive Gauche Boutique.

He later lived in New York, where he attended Parsons School of Design. But it was in Paris where Mr. Kelly found his greatest success, eventually becoming the first American member of the Chambre Syndicale du Prêt-à-Porter (the governing body of the prestigious French ready-to-wear industry). He began by selling dresses on the street and working as a costumer for the nightclub LePalais. Such well-known stores as Henri Bendel, Bloomingdale's, and Bergdorf Goodman carried his Paris designs.

Although he produced collections only from 1985 until his death in 1990 at the age of 35, his exuberant, witty garments proved to be potent and original contributions to the field of fashion. Some of Mr. Kelly's most memorable garments incorporated such humble materials as masses of multicolored buttons or grosgrain ribbons clustered together. Other motifs, like the use of flamboyant hats and splashy accessories, celebrated his rural southern roots. He also created works using controversial Black images drawn from popular culture, bringing issues of racial stereotyping to the forefront.

"I am hungry to see this exhibition because every time I look around, my eyes are just dancing with colors," commented legendary supermodel Pat Cleveland, who was on hand at last Wednesday’s exclusive media preview. "I see things that bring up so much history."

The quite congenial Ms. Cleveland flew in from her home in northern Italy, with her painter son and husband in tow, to support the festivities. A regal runway regular for such houses as Chanel, Bill Blass and Oscar de la Renta, she was good pals with Mr. Kelly and in the height of his success was the centerpiece of many of his fashion shows-–wearing his Jospehine Baker-inspired designs. Some say she was his muse. "He endowed Paris with his presence," she continues. "He brought back to them what they forgot and he brought it in a way they needed. They needed some color, and definitely Patrick was about that."

The owner of a European modeling agency and one of the very first models featured in pages of Essence magazine over thirty years again, her timeless beauty predates the imagery of today’s Black supermodels like Tyra Banks and Naomi Campbell. Hers is still a face worth seeing, as she still does runway work and appears in editorial pages.

"I think with sound-bites, it’s hard to say things in two seconds," the celebrity clotheshorse continued, "They have this thing about "The Passion" now and that’s what we have is passion and that’s why people love Patrick, because he had faith and his blessings were not only for himself but for everyone around him.

"He shared his chicken, he cooked for his friends and he embraced them when they were sad. And there were no boundaries between himself and any borders. What he saw was a global unity.

"And what he did that was so special for me was that he took everyone by the hand and he prayed to God and he made you realized that: No, this is not me doing this, I am just here. I am just Patrick. But there is something bigger in this room and that brought you home to your real self."

Feel the passion for yourself.

"Patrick Kelly: A Retrospective" will be on view from April 17 through September 5.

The Gospel Truth
Gospel diva Vickie Winans is keeping up with the Joneses of the gospel industry.

The six-time Grammy nominee and self-proclaimed Hardest Working Woman In Gospel launched her very own gospel musical production, titled "Torn Between Lovers," a few weeks ago at Dallas' Majestic Theater.

Described as a hilarious tale of one woman's inner struggle with the vow she's made to God as a nun and the Pentecostal pastor she has suddenly fallen in love with, Ms. Winans says the play will "make you laugh, it will make you cry and it will make you dance"

"I was going through some struggles of my own about 15 years ago with my marriage and losing a baby," Miss Winans tells The Ru Report. "I was depressed with all of that and that's when I started to write the play. The whole thing is that it's a story going from struggle to triumph, that's the message of the play.

The show boasts a fifteen-member cast of veteran actors with score by Rudolph Hawkins and direction by Weyman Thompson. It's booked in several major cities throughout late June.

Ms. Winans--who was married to the popular gospel dynasty's twin son Marvin Winans for 17 years, and is the mother of hip-hop producer/singer/songwriter Mario Winans--has been making people dance for quite some time with her Good News rhythm and blues music. Her latest album, Bringing It All Together has been a mainstay on the Billboard Gospel charts since being released last year and has spurred the toe-tapping, roof-raising, inspirational anthem "Shake Yourself Loose."

The gospel musical play business has become quite a lucrative for some; independent theater czar David Talbert recently used his marketing savvy to transform his talents into novel form with a Simon & Schuster hardcover book titled, Baggage Claim. A movie project of the book has been proposed. And New York Times best-selling author E. Lynn Harris' "Not A Day Goes By" is currently a stage show starring TV sitcom veteran Jackee Harry and "American Idol" contestant Trenyce, playing to sell-out crowds across the country. Another diva of gospel, Dottie Peebles, is currently appearing in the traveling stage play, "What Men Don't Tell," starring Kenny Latimore and Chante Moore.

"In a media driven world of manufactured reality, the soul theater movement continues to ring true as an authentic voice of Black America," Mr. Talbert tells The Ru Report. "It's one of the last bastions of artistic expressions where we complete the circle of creation, presentation, and distribution."

"You don't ever know what's next until it happens," Ms. Winans says of the limitless expansion possibilities in the gospel musical arena.

Taking it to the next level, the recently, re-married diva (her third marriage was to Detroit-based entrepreneur Joe McLemore, last November in Sin City and made a quite a splash in the media) is putting the finishing touches on a Vickie Winans doll that dances and sings. Musically, she will release a two-disc set Woman To Woman: Songs Of Survival and will collaborate with her sons Skeeter (Mario) and Coconut (Marvin) on a set called From My Sons' Point Of View.

And speaking of Winans, the multiple-award winning daughter/sister of the bunch CeCe Winans will be inducted into the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum, in Detroit on October 23. Gospel music superstar Donnie McClurkin and Savoy Records Executive Director Rev. Milton Biggham, will also be inducted along with the late Anna Crockett Ford, Dr. Albert J. Lewis, Jr., Bill Moss & The Celestials, the O'Neal Twins and Joseph Niles. The 2004 inductees were recently announced by Hall of Fame founder David Gough. Founded in 1995 as a non-profit organization, the Hall of Fame boasts nearly 100 previous inductees including Della Reese, The Dixie Hummingbirds, The Caravans, Dr. Bobby Jones and the Mississippi Mass Choir. Nominees to the International Gospel Music Hall of Fame and Museum must have been involved in gospel music activities for at least 25 years and can include individuals, groups, choirs, quartets, broadcast personalities and promoters.

Power talent agency The William Morris Agency is representing celebrated gospel music star Kirk Franklin as a lecturer and speaker for churches, conferences and other like-events. Apparently in a savvy dash-for-the-cash, the multi-platinum music performer will be accepting speaking-only dates between now and the end of the year William Morris agent Valerie Summers says of this newly-implemented strategy, "This is an opportunity for those churches and conferences to experience the ministry of Kirk Franklin that wouldn't otherwise be able to due to the expense and maintenance of accommodating the band and choir, etc...You get to hear straight from Kirk's heart."

Catch phenomenal background vocalist Yolanda Wyns step out in the spotlight on BET's "Bobby Jones' Gospel" on April 18. The New York City-based singer--who has backed up the likes of Patti Labelle, Stephanie Mills, Natalie Cole, Mariah Carey, Angie Stone, Freddie Jackson and BeBe Winans, was invited to appear on the program as part of Dr. Bobby Jones' 22^nd season celebration. She will perform the gospel classic, "God Is," which was also one of the most popular selections from her 2002 release, A Live Recording of Praise and Worship featuring Yolanda Wyns.

"I have always admired Dr. Jones, and his unique place in the gospel world," offers Ms. Wyns. "Appearing on this broadcast was an honor and a dream come true."

The program is also scheduled to re-broadcast on July 11.

Powerhouse vocal virtuouso Kim Burrell's long lost first recording, Try Me Again was recently re-released via Shanachie Entertainment, with a newly recorded bonus track, "Magnify Him." Her unrivaled bravado has drawn praise from secular folks such as P. Diddy, Beyonce and Chaka Khan, who referred to Ms. Burrell as her "biggest hero."

I can not wait to hear the eagerly-anticipated debut opus from Kierra "KiKi" Sheard--the daughter of the spiritual vocal acrobat also known the world over as Karen Clarke-Sheard. KiKi, as she is affectionately known, is the 16-year-old heiress to the Almighty Clark Sisters musical throne. Her project, titled I Owe You, is due out this summer on EMI Gospel, home to such new-school gospel greats Bishop T. D. Jakes, Smokie Norful and the Shirley Murdock.

The young Miss Sheard possess an extraordinary vocal talent that she has been honing since she was nine. She was a featured vocalist on all three of her mother's solo releases (1997's Finally Karen, 2002's Second Chance and the recently released The Heavens Are Telling). Her rousing rendition of the old-time standard, "The Will Of God" brought her a prestigious Stellar Award for Best Children's Performance.

"I really want to do my best to be an example of a young person doing what God wants them to do," Miss Sheard said in a statement. "I have a desire to minister to young people, relate to them through my experiences and let them know that God is the best thing that could ever happen to you."

With the support of her musical family, Sheard will tour extensively this spring and summer. She'll be in concert with her mother and aunt Dorinda Clark--and The Clark Sisters. Her mother will introduce Miss Sheard at all of her promotional performances for "I Owe You." The teen sensation also will make stops at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Bishop T.D. Jakes' Potter's House in Dallas, and Atlanta's Georgia Dome-MegaFest among others.

Video View
It's Killing Time again with the release of the eagerly anticipated Quentin Tarantino sequel to last fall's critically-acclaimed blockbuster, Kill Bill, Vol. 1. The new movie opens this weekend but its gory predecessor actually turned out to be one of my favorites of last year with fierce performances by Uma Thurman, Lucy Liu, Vivica A. Fox and 1980s' golden girl Darryl Hannah. Ms. Fox, who is looking her very best on the May issue of Smooth magazine, was initially shocked about blood-splattering. "I had no idea that we were going to be so bloody," she said in an interview. "Quentin kept saying, 'More blood. Spritz her!' By the end of every day I looked like black Carrie, from Carrie the movie. I just was covered in spritz and Vaseline and blood." Now the movie is on DVD, and the home video version is blazing with extras like a Behind The Scenes program featuring the aforementioned writer/director and the movie's stars, along with commentary from music producer RZA. Bonuses also include musical performances by The 5,6,7,8's and "Tarantino Trailers" for his previous efforts Reservoir Dogs, Pulp Fiction, Jackie Brown and even the bootleg trailer for Kill Bill Vol. 1.

Also on DVD, catch sectarian Academy Award winners Jack Nicholson and Diane Keaton team up for the spirited romantic comedy, Something's Gotta Give, which was written/directed by Nancy Meyers (What Women Want). The home video package features the usual behind the scenes commentary, but an added bonus is having co-star Amanda Peete host the Hamptons House Set Tour. A deleted scene with Mr. Nicholson singing Karaoke will please the pallets of many a film buff, while the Spanish, English and French subtitles are the added pizzaz.

And lastly, fans of the groundbreaking early 90's urban sketch comedy show, "In Living Color" will be pleased that the powers that be have finally released the first season on DVD. The show, which served as the launching pad to the meteoric careers of Jim Carrey, Jennifer Lopez and Damon Wayans, also help kick off the then-relatively-unknown Fox TV network. Created by Keenan Ivory Wayans and featuring a colorful cast of characters portrayed by Jamie Foxx, David Alan Grier, Tommy Davidson, Kim Wayans, with choreography by Rosie Perez, "In Living Color" changed the face of live sketch comedy television. The multi-disc set includes bonuses like various audio commentaries, featurettes and the show's original pilot.

Notable/Quotable

"Some of it is getting really distasteful--it's like giving it a bad taste, it's really exploiting women," he says. "What they're doing now it's kind of like soft porn. I saw some (stuff) the other day...I didn't even know they could do that on TV.""
--Hip hop supergroup Outkast's less outspoken, outlandish member Big Boi, regarding some of the raunchy music videos played on BET.

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