The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History is proud to present the next installment of the President’s Lecture Series featuring Academy Award winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter
On Thursday, March 23rd The Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History with feature the second, in a series of the President & CEO of the museum’s lecture series. The 2023 President’s Lecture Series is a curated collection of events featuring dynamic speakers chosen by the President of the Charles H. Wright Museum, Neil A. Barclay. Dedicated to bringing insightful and robust conversation to the Detroit community, the series addresses critical topics in the areas of civic engagement, art, history, and culture.
The March lecture features Ruth E. Carter. Academy Award-winning costume designer Ruth E. Carter is an expert storyteller who harnesses the power of visual communication to share narratives of culture, race, and politics. Creating costumes for generation-defining films, she brings vibrancy, nuance, color, and texture to each of her culture-shifting characters. “Her costume designs are exceptional, and inspiring to everyone who sees them, and Ms. Carter brings an exciting voice to the entertainment industry, Afrofuturism and beyond,” said The Wright Museum’s President & CEO Neil A. Barclay.
Ruth Carter describes Afrofuturism as the “African culture and diaspora using technology and intertwining it with imagination, self-expression, and an entrepreneurial spirit.” Often the word technology is used to describe something that is “high-tech,” but it means the application of knowledge. Carter’s process is rooted in research, which she then applies to the design and creation of costumes, making all her work highly Afrofuturistic. She credits the success of her designs to her research, which she describes as a “slow and patient process which cannot be rushed.” Beyond studying images, Carter also consults other sources. She includes time in her research process for “reading about a time period, speaking to historians, studying the way the mind thought and body moved, and learning about innovative or ancient design techniques that can enhance the costume.”
Afrofuturism in Costume Design features unforgettable designs from nearly four decades of Carter’s career within an Afrofuturistic installation incorporating original artwork by SCAD alum Brandon Sadler, whose murals were prominently featured in Black Panther. Inspired by African masks and Nigerian textiles, Sadler’s work for the exhibition connects Carter’s celebrated costume designs across various time periods and themes within the overarching concept of Afrofuturism.
Additionally, Afrofuturism is a cultural aesthetic that combines science fiction, history, and fantasy to explore the Black experience and connect those from the African Diaspora with their lost ancestry. Carter defines Afrofuturism as “using technology and intertwining it with imagination, self-expression, and an entrepreneurial spirit, promoting a philosophy for Black Americans, Africans, and Indigenous people to believe and create without the limiting construct of slavery and colonialism.”
Due to Ms. Carter’s filming schedule, and ongoing concerns with Covid, the Museum would like to make sure that everyone is safe and has access to see this important event and will offer two options to see this event. Participants can either view this lecture series via a live-stream ticket or if they choose to visit the museum in person where there are two requirements: Proof of COVID vaccination and proof of a negative COVID test taken within 48 hours, both to be shown to attend in person. “We are excited about the President’s lecture Series and hope these measures will provide a safe and healthy environment for everyone to experience The Wright,” said Barclay.
PRESIDENT’S LECTURE SERIES | 5 PM - 6 PM
Sponsored by Detroit Public Television
Tickets for the President’s Lecture Series go on sale on Friday, March 10th. Members will receive a discount for these events.
Media Contact:
Kelly Miner, Marketing & Communications Manager
Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History
315 E. Warren Avenue, Michigan 48201
kminer@thewright.org or call 313.494.5865