Opening this weekend, Reflections: The Mary Wilson Supreme Legacy Collection, originally organized by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, is this summer’s must see event at EMP. And, to add some whipped creme on top of your sundae, Ms Wilson herself is in town this weekend to open the show and to be a part of the Oral History Live! series with a talk at the JBL Theater at EMP, tomorrow, Saturday June 12 at 2pm. For tickets, head to the website.
The lady herself is only here for the weekend, but the collection of gowns is on display now through September 6 and it’s a must see for fans of the Mo-town sound as well as fashion queens in love with sequins and rhinestones. The exhibit includes:
The collection includes the first gowns purchased by Wilson, Diana Ross and Florence Ballard when they were still known as the Primettes; a set of black velvet Bob Mackie gowns worn on the GIT on Broadway television special in 1969; outfits worn on the Supremes’ television specials and featured on album covers; and those from their 1977 Farewell Performance. One set of dresses includes a loose-fitting maternity outfit worn by Wilson while she was pregnant.
Make no mistake, though — despite the sequins, these are work clothes, in which the Supremes led the charge for Motown’s domination of the American music scene. EMP’s presentation of the exhibition will incorporate a soundtrack specific to the collection, featuring highlights from the trio’s chart-topping hits to rarely heard alternate and live performances. EMP will also screen performances from the Supremes on the Ed Sullivan Show from 1964-1970, appearances that feature gowns included in the exhibit. By doing so, EMP strives to demonstrate the connection between these iconic fashion images with the Supremes’ music, their influence on society in a bygone era, and how their style continues to resonate in American culture today.
-Michael Strangeways
About the Author: Michael Strangeways
