September 29, 2023 • 10 mins
Guest host Vanesse Lloyd-Sgambati, interviews Elizabeth Way is guest curator of Ann Lowe: American Couturier at Winterthur Museum, Garden & Library and editor of the accompanying book Ann Lowe: American Couturier. Anne Lowe was a brilliant couturier who designed Jacqueline Kennedy’s wedding dress when she married then Senator John F. Kennedy. Way discusses the retrospective exhibit featuring many of Lowe’s stunning gowns.
https://www.winterthur.org/ann-lowe-american-couturier/
For her monthly feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” Vanesse speaks to Kimberly Garrison, Project Coordinator for the Read Baby Read Program at the Free Library of Philadelphia which provides tools and activities to start infants on the path to literacy. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/read-baby-read/
https://www.winterthur.org/ann-lowe-american-couturier/
For her monthly feature “What is Philadelphia Reading?” Vanesse speaks to Kimberly Garrison, Project Coordinator for the Read Baby Read Program at the Free Library of Philadelphia which provides tools and activities to start infants on the path to literacy. https://libwww.freelibrary.org/programs/read-baby-read/
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
(00:00):
Good morning, and welcome to Insight. I show about empowering our community.
I'm Lorraine Ballot tomorrow, and aswe do once a month, every month,
we have the fabulous Vaness Lloyd's Gumbody, the founder of the African American
Children's Bookfair, the Literary and oneof the great world travelers. You are
my role model. Good to seeyou, Vanesque. Well, you know
(00:21):
I'm going to be on the roadagain because I cannot let any dust go
under my feet. But you celebratedyour birthday. So what did you do?
I did. Oh, it's likealmost like a several week birthday celebration.
My girlfriends took me out to dinner, and my husband took me out
to dinner. I got a massagewith my girlfriend. I mean, it
was just a fabulous week of celebration. Well, you know, I'm getting
(00:42):
in gear for my birthday. Yourmonth long celebration in december's coming coming,
It's coming. You know. I'mthe only person who had a baby on
December, the first to kick offher birthday long, and then had a
granddaughter on December of the thirty if. Oh, timing is everything, But
you and I got an honor recentlyfrom the Philadelphia Tribune. And every year
(01:03):
the Philolphia Tribune gives a list ofmovers and shakers and most influential and I'm
so honored to be a part ofthat list. And you are one of
the few journalists. I think there'sonly one other journalists that's on that list.
Well, it is a great honor, and it's a wonderful opportunity to
see black brilliance in effect. It'sa wonderful celebration. Kudos and thank you
(01:25):
to the Philadelphia Tribune for presenting uswith that honor, and for all of
those who were receiving that honor receivedthat honor this week. Congratulations to you,
and a special thanks to mister Bogoland IRV Randolph and Donna Clark who
all helped to make it possible.So go out on your news stands,
pick up the Philolphia Tribune and theSunday Tribune and there's an insert and you
(01:46):
can see what we all look like. Although my picture is about ten years
old, so I need to havethem update. We got to get a
photographer in the city to do likea mass photo shoot. But this morning
I am so excited it to I'mtaking you on the road again. Last
month, we went up to Brooklynand now we're going down to Wilmington,
Delaware, and there's a wonderful exhibitabout and Low. She was a fashion
(02:10):
designer, a black fashion designer ina period when most black people didn't do
that kind of work. Not manyof you know that. I used to
be a fashion journalist in Rome,Italy for ten years. I covered the
ready to wear a couture collection,you know, I know Valentino Armani and
a host of other designers. Andone of the things that I always loved
(02:31):
about fashion was the uniqueness and thequality and just something that was special about
European design. So when I discoveredand Low, I was on it.
And fortunately we have the opportunity tosee her clothing live and in person at
the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. And my guest this morning is Elizabeth
(02:54):
Way. She's the Associate Curator ofCostume at the Museum at the Fashion inste
of Technology, where she has cocurated black fashion designers, fabrics and fashions.
And also this is one of myfavorites, fabulous fifty years of Hip
Hop stag. Gotta get that book, Gotta get that book you just missed.
(03:14):
Fabulous, so welcome and thank youfor taking time out of your busy
day. But let me tell yousomething that exhibit it makes you one a
week. I wanted to take offeverything and try it on. And Dawn
Davis, whose gown is curated,is actually a friend of mine. So
let's get started. Who was AnneLow? An Low was a phenomenal American
(03:36):
fashion designer. She was born atthe end of the nineteenth century and her
career lasted from the nineteen tens throughnineteen seventy two. She was a couturier,
so you know, most American designersworked and ready to wear, which
meant you could go into a storeand buy things off the rack in your
size. She made custom pieces forelite American women, for white women and
so, and I don't mean thatin a derogatory way, but she was
(03:58):
at the top of the food chain. In fact, you know what's fascinating
is that she would make clothing forthey would go to Saxforth Avenue to order
their clothing, and then somebody elsewould put their label on the clothing that
she designed. But she dispersevered.So Anlow had a very tumultuous career for
very long time. You know,business was not her interest. It was
(04:20):
really creative design, and so sheworked under many different labels, sometimes her
own, sometimes others. So shewas the head of the custom salon at
Saxmith Avenue, and when she wasthere from nineteen sixty to nineteen sixty two,
the labels of her dresses said SaxmithAvenue. Tell us why the museum
decided to do this exhibit? SoAlow American Quatorier opened at winter Term Museum,
(04:41):
Garden and Library on September ninth,twenty twenty three, and we will
be open until January seventh, twentytwenty four. So why should someone go
all the way to Delaware to seethis exhibit? Anlow's work is exemplary.
It is gorgeous. To be ableto stand in the gallery surrounded by over
forty of her works is really atruly special experience. But she also had
(05:01):
a really interesting biography. She wasa black woman who was working at a
very skilled, very high level infashion when the vast majority of black women
worked in agriculture or domestic service.Working in heagriculture requires a lot of skills
and a lot of knowledge. Butyes, they were relegated to work that
mainstream society thought was fitting for them, and and low and her family broke
(05:25):
out of those stereotypes. Her grandmotherhad been enslaved but work as a very
high level as a dressmaker. Shegot her freedom from her husband, who
purchased her freedom in eighteen sixty.And Lowe's mother was also trained by her
grandmother as a dressmaker, and theyestablished a dressmaking shop on Montgomery, Alabama,
during the reconstruction period during the JimCrow South. One of the other
(05:46):
fascinating things is that she design andso the dress Jackal and Kennedy. At
that time her husband was a senator. What's even more fascinating is that she
had a flood the Dabby like aweek before for the wedding and she was
able to recreate that. Tell usthe dates again and the times that we
can go to the museum. Weare open through January seven, twenty twenty
(06:09):
four. The museum hours will beon wincheturs website, but the exhibition will
be up but through the holidays,and if you'd like to know more,
please visit winchetur dot org. Well, thank you so much. It was
a really wonderful experience and the giftshop. It's awesome, great books to
purchase there even a couple of children'sbooks. Thank you. And that was
Elizabeth Way, who's the guest curatorof Anglo American Courtier at the wintertur Museum,
(06:34):
Garden and Library that's in Wilmington,Delaware. Please people go down there.
It's a wonderful exhibit. I alsowant to give a shout out to
my granddaughter who started to do gymnasticbecause she wanted medals around her neck.
She got four. She was numbertwo overall in the medal count So Juliana
Isabella look out some own bars.We comment. We've come to the favorite
(07:02):
part of this segment and that iswhat is Philadelphia Reading? And this morning
we have Kimberly Garrison Read Baby ReadProject coordinator at the Philadelphia Free Library.
So Kimberly briefly tell us what didis you do? Okay, well,
good morning and thank you for havingme. I am so excited in honor
to be on your show to sharea little bit about the Philadelphia Free Library's
(07:25):
Rebaby Read program, which is ourflagship early literacy program to increase the availability
of early education to Philadelphia families.The ultimate goal is to significantly narrow the
opportunity gap by empowering and supporting thechild's first teacher, our parents. The
(07:46):
program is interactive. It's a storytime, so that mean's just going to
be live and in person, andwe're going to be reading stories that are
appropriate for our youngest learners. We'regoing to be singing songs, we're gonna
be dancing. It's going to bea really fun yet educational experience for everybody
involved, including our parents. That'sawesome. And how can people get more
(08:11):
information? People can get more informationby visiting the Free Library of Philadelphia's website,
which would be Free Library of Philadelphiadot org. We're also on Twitter,
we're also on x and we're alsoon Instagram. While you're in twenty
six libraries, correct, we'll checkit out. And you don't have to
have a baby to participate in theprogram. So we've come to one of
(08:31):
my favorite part as I mentioned ofthis segment. First book you read,
Eagle Tripping Nicki Giovanni. Best bookyou've read, Autobiography of Malcolm X by
Alex Haley and Malcolm X. Worstbook you've read, The Bell Curve Charles
Murray. You'll go to author BaldwinBuyer, A Barra Buyer. What books
(08:52):
should everyone have in their library?Rich day a Portia fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction? You have a literary dinnernamed three people from the literary community.
You must have Sandy Doherty, HakimOlessi and ti Amanda Adici. Those are
some really big names. If youwrote a book about your life, what
(09:13):
would be the title books Bikini's andBurgenstocks. You know what I had to
go on pause. Thank you somuch, Kimberly Garrison. Check out the
program at the Free Library. ReadBaby Read and has always continued to read
by able and have a blessed day. I'm Vaness Lloyd's combody and this has
been VLS journeys and add Lorraine BallardMorrow. We'll have more insight after these
(09:35):
messages. The
Good morning, and welcome to Insight. I show about empowering our community.
I'm Lorraine Ballot tomorrow, and aswe do once a month, every month,
we have the fabulous Vaness Lloyd's Gumbody, the founder of the African American
Children's Bookfair, the Literary and oneof the great world travelers. You are
my role model. Good to seeyou, Vanesque. Well, you know
(00:21):
I'm going to be on the roadagain because I cannot let any dust go
under my feet. But you celebratedyour birthday. So what did you do?
I did. Oh, it's likealmost like a several week birthday celebration.
My girlfriends took me out to dinner, and my husband took me out
to dinner. I got a massagewith my girlfriend. I mean, it
was just a fabulous week of celebration. Well, you know, I'm getting
(00:42):
in gear for my birthday. Yourmonth long celebration in december's coming coming,
It's coming. You know. I'mthe only person who had a baby on
December, the first to kick offher birthday long, and then had a
granddaughter on December of the thirty if. Oh, timing is everything, But
you and I got an honor recentlyfrom the Philadelphia Tribune. And every year
(01:03):
the Philolphia Tribune gives a list ofmovers and shakers and most influential and I'm
so honored to be a part ofthat list. And you are one of
the few journalists. I think there'sonly one other journalists that's on that list.
Well, it is a great honor, and it's a wonderful opportunity to
see black brilliance in effect. It'sa wonderful celebration. Kudos and thank you
(01:25):
to the Philadelphia Tribune for presenting uswith that honor, and for all of
those who were receiving that honor receivedthat honor this week. Congratulations to you,
and a special thanks to mister Bogoland IRV Randolph and Donna Clark who
all helped to make it possible.So go out on your news stands,
pick up the Philolphia Tribune and theSunday Tribune and there's an insert and you
(01:46):
can see what we all look like. Although my picture is about ten years
old, so I need to havethem update. We got to get a
photographer in the city to do likea mass photo shoot. But this morning
I am so excited it to I'mtaking you on the road again. Last
month, we went up to Brooklynand now we're going down to Wilmington,
Delaware, and there's a wonderful exhibitabout and Low. She was a fashion
(02:10):
designer, a black fashion designer ina period when most black people didn't do
that kind of work. Not manyof you know that. I used to
be a fashion journalist in Rome,Italy for ten years. I covered the
ready to wear a couture collection,you know, I know Valentino Armani and
a host of other designers. Andone of the things that I always loved
(02:31):
about fashion was the uniqueness and thequality and just something that was special about
European design. So when I discoveredand Low, I was on it.
And fortunately we have the opportunity tosee her clothing live and in person at
the Winterthur Museum, Garden and Library. And my guest this morning is Elizabeth
(02:54):
Way. She's the Associate Curator ofCostume at the Museum at the Fashion inste
of Technology, where she has cocurated black fashion designers, fabrics and fashions.
And also this is one of myfavorites, fabulous fifty years of Hip
Hop stag. Gotta get that book, Gotta get that book you just missed.
(03:14):
Fabulous, so welcome and thank youfor taking time out of your busy
day. But let me tell yousomething that exhibit it makes you one a
week. I wanted to take offeverything and try it on. And Dawn
Davis, whose gown is curated,is actually a friend of mine. So
let's get started. Who was AnneLow? An Low was a phenomenal American
(03:36):
fashion designer. She was born atthe end of the nineteenth century and her
career lasted from the nineteen tens throughnineteen seventy two. She was a couturier,
so you know, most American designersworked and ready to wear, which
meant you could go into a storeand buy things off the rack in your
size. She made custom pieces forelite American women, for white women and
so, and I don't mean thatin a derogatory way, but she was
(03:58):
at the top of the food chain. In fact, you know what's fascinating
is that she would make clothing forthey would go to Saxforth Avenue to order
their clothing, and then somebody elsewould put their label on the clothing that
she designed. But she dispersevered.So Anlow had a very tumultuous career for
very long time. You know,business was not her interest. It was
(04:20):
really creative design, and so sheworked under many different labels, sometimes her
own, sometimes others. So shewas the head of the custom salon at
Saxmith Avenue, and when she wasthere from nineteen sixty to nineteen sixty two,
the labels of her dresses said SaxmithAvenue. Tell us why the museum
decided to do this exhibit? SoAlow American Quatorier opened at winter Term Museum,
(04:41):
Garden and Library on September ninth,twenty twenty three, and we will
be open until January seventh, twentytwenty four. So why should someone go
all the way to Delaware to seethis exhibit? Anlow's work is exemplary.
It is gorgeous. To be ableto stand in the gallery surrounded by over
forty of her works is really atruly special experience. But she also had
(05:01):
a really interesting biography. She wasa black woman who was working at a
very skilled, very high level infashion when the vast majority of black women
worked in agriculture or domestic service.Working in heagriculture requires a lot of skills
and a lot of knowledge. Butyes, they were relegated to work that
mainstream society thought was fitting for them, and and low and her family broke
(05:25):
out of those stereotypes. Her grandmotherhad been enslaved but work as a very
high level as a dressmaker. Shegot her freedom from her husband, who
purchased her freedom in eighteen sixty.And Lowe's mother was also trained by her
grandmother as a dressmaker, and theyestablished a dressmaking shop on Montgomery, Alabama,
during the reconstruction period during the JimCrow South. One of the other
(05:46):
fascinating things is that she design andso the dress Jackal and Kennedy. At
that time her husband was a senator. What's even more fascinating is that she
had a flood the Dabby like aweek before for the wedding and she was
able to recreate that. Tell usthe dates again and the times that we
can go to the museum. Weare open through January seven, twenty twenty
(06:09):
four. The museum hours will beon wincheturs website, but the exhibition will
be up but through the holidays,and if you'd like to know more,
please visit winchetur dot org. Well, thank you so much. It was
a really wonderful experience and the giftshop. It's awesome, great books to
purchase there even a couple of children'sbooks. Thank you. And that was
Elizabeth Way, who's the guest curatorof Anglo American Courtier at the wintertur Museum,
(06:34):
Garden and Library that's in Wilmington,Delaware. Please people go down there.
It's a wonderful exhibit. I alsowant to give a shout out to
my granddaughter who started to do gymnasticbecause she wanted medals around her neck.
She got four. She was numbertwo overall in the medal count So Juliana
Isabella look out some own bars.We comment. We've come to the favorite
(07:02):
part of this segment and that iswhat is Philadelphia Reading? And this morning
we have Kimberly Garrison Read Baby ReadProject coordinator at the Philadelphia Free Library.
So Kimberly briefly tell us what didis you do? Okay, well,
good morning and thank you for havingme. I am so excited in honor
to be on your show to sharea little bit about the Philadelphia Free Library's
(07:25):
Rebaby Read program, which is ourflagship early literacy program to increase the availability
of early education to Philadelphia families.The ultimate goal is to significantly narrow the
opportunity gap by empowering and supporting thechild's first teacher, our parents. The
(07:46):
program is interactive. It's a storytime, so that mean's just going to
be live and in person, andwe're going to be reading stories that are
appropriate for our youngest learners. We'regoing to be singing songs, we're gonna
be dancing. It's going to bea really fun yet educational experience for everybody
involved, including our parents. That'sawesome. And how can people get more
(08:11):
information? People can get more informationby visiting the Free Library of Philadelphia's website,
which would be Free Library of Philadelphiadot org. We're also on Twitter,
we're also on x and we're alsoon Instagram. While you're in twenty
six libraries, correct, we'll checkit out. And you don't have to
have a baby to participate in theprogram. So we've come to one of
(08:31):
my favorite part as I mentioned ofthis segment. First book you read,
Eagle Tripping Nicki Giovanni. Best bookyou've read, Autobiography of Malcolm X by
Alex Haley and Malcolm X. Worstbook you've read, The Bell Curve Charles
Murray. You'll go to author BaldwinBuyer, A Barra Buyer. What books
(08:52):
should everyone have in their library?Rich day a Portia fiction or nonfiction?
Nonfiction? You have a literary dinnernamed three people from the literary community.
You must have Sandy Doherty, HakimOlessi and ti Amanda Adici. Those are
some really big names. If youwrote a book about your life, what
(09:13):
would be the title books Bikini's andBurgenstocks. You know what I had to
go on pause. Thank you somuch, Kimberly Garrison. Check out the
program at the Free Library. ReadBaby Read and has always continued to read
by able and have a blessed day. I'm Vaness Lloyd's combody and this has
been VLS journeys and add Lorraine BallardMorrow. We'll have more insight after these
(09:35):
messages. The
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