The Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries present “Ruth E. Carter: Interweaving Tradition & Imagination Through Costume Design" -- March 20.
Wednesday, March 20, 7 p.m.
Presented by the Rock Island and Silvis Public Libraries
Appearing in a special March 20 program offered by Illinois Libraries Present, a two-time Oscar winner will reflect on her remarkable career in the virtual conversation Ruth E. Carter: Interweaving Tradition & Imagination Through Costume Design, this creative force behind Black Panther and its follow-up Wakanda Forever noted for being the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category, as well as the first costume designer to win for a first film and its sequel.
Carter was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, in 1960, and using her mother's sewing machine as a child, she learned from the local Boys & Girls Club how to read and design simplicity patterns. She graduated in 1978 from Springfield's Technical High School, and in 1982, Carter graduated from Hampton Institute (later renamed Hampton University) with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts. After graduating, Carter returned to her hometown, working as an intern for City Stage's costume department and then the Santa Fe Opera. In 1986, she moved to Los Angeles to work at the city's Theater Center, and while employed there, Carter met director Spike Lee, who hired her for his second film, 1988's School Daze. Carter continued working on Lee's subsequent films including Do the Right Thing (1989), Mo' Better Blues (1990), Jungle Fever (1991), and Malcolm X (1992), and also designed costumes for Steven Spielberg's 1997 drama Amistad and several of Oscar nominee John Singleton's films, such as 1997's Rosewood and 2001's Baby Boy.
Deriving from Afrofuturism, Carter's costumes for the 2018 Marvel smash Black Panther were inspired by many traditional African garments, including those of the Maasai and Ndebele people. She traveled to southern Africa to draw aesthetic inspirations and received permission to incorporate traditional Lesotho designs into the film's costumes. At the 91st Academy Awards, she won the Academy Award for Best Costume Design, making her the first Black woman to win the Academy Award in the category. In 2021, Carter received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and two years later, Carter won her second Academy Award for Best Costume Design for Black Panther: Wakanda Forever. During her acceptance speech, Carter dedicated her win to her mother, who had died during the prior week at the age of 101. Also in 2023, the North Carolina Museum of Art hosted an exhibit displaying more than 60 of Carter's original garments, and Carter has become revered for her research and diligence to the craft of costume design, specifically for her work for period ensemble films such as Lee Daniels’ The Butler, Selma, and Marshall.
During her virtual presentation on March 20, Carter will be joined in conversation with Aisha Harris, co-host of NPR’s Pop Culture Happy Hour and author of Wannabe. This virtual event is made possible by Illinois Libraries Present, a statewide collaboration among public libraries offering premier events. ILP is funded in part by a grant awarded by the Illinois State Library, a department of the Office of Secretary of State, using funds provided by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services, under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA).
Ruth E. Carter: Interweaving Tradition & Imagination Through Costume Design will begin on March 20 at 7 p.m., participation in the virtual event is free, and more information is available by calling (309)732-7323 and visiting RockIslandLibrary.org, and calling (309)755-3393 and visiting SilvisLibrary.org.
