Indeed one of the most anticipated events on Chicago’s social/cultural calendar, Black Creativity Gala presented by the Museum of Science & Industry, continually attracts some 1,000 formally attired guests from our town’s prestigious roster of
Indeed one of the most anticipated events on Chicago’s social/cultural calendar, Black Creativity Gala presented by the Museum of Science & Industry, continually attracts some 1,000 formally attired guests from our town’s prestigious roster of “who’s who.” Saturday’s event is under the guidance of the Black Creativity Council, headed by Shari Runner, executive chair; Gregory T. Hinton, fundraising chair; Anita Green, program chair; and Darlene Pierre-Louis, gala chair. The evening of a cocktail reception, MSI exhibits including the Black Creativity Commemorative Gallery and the Black Creativity Juried Art Exhibition; musical entertainment (Lynn Jordan and The Shivers, DJ Li’l John and a performance by Howard Hewitt), strolling buffet, viewing of several other MSI exhibits, a special $100 raffle (air-travel to Europe and U.S. destinations), and dessert and dancing in the Kick Back Lounge. Gala co-chairs: Frank Clark, Toni Wilson, Kim McCullough, Cheri Chapelle, Cedric Thurman, Jim Norman, Craig Gilmore and LaRue Martin. Proceeds benefit MSI’s Black Creativity exhibits and programs. Emcees: NBC’s Christian Farr and LeeAnn Trotter. Call Octavia Hooks, (773) 947-3729.
Retro Tribute ¡– Macy’s Department Stores is partnering with Johnson Publishing Co. to present a beauty, fashion and lifestyle tribute to the life of a legendary style maven. The Ebony, Fashion Fair Cosmetics & Macy’s Celebrate Eunice Johnson Retrospective debuts Thursday at Macy’s Herald Square store in New York City and continues through Feb.1. It then tours 10 Macy locations across the country during February – including Chicago, Feb. 2-7.
The tribute will showcase some haute couture designs from Eunice Johnson’s private collections that were featured in the famed Ebony Fashion Fair shows. The month-long exhibit will feature designs by some of the world’s most renowned and critically acclaimed designers, including Yves Saint Laurent, Lanvin, Vivienne Westwood, Carolina Herrera, Stephen Burrows and B. Michael. Each of the locations will feature some 10-30 signature looks, complete with information about the designer, the season in which the design first appeared and the model who wore the look.
“It is a sign of my mother’s determination, confidence and creativity,” says Linda Johnson Rice, JPC’s chair, “that more than 50 years after launching the renowned Ebony Fashion Fair show, her timeless sense of style endures as a guidepost for today’s fashion loving women. We are honored that Macy’s, a 30-year retail partner of Fashion Fair Cosmetics, selected Eunice Johnson as the anchor for these exciting exhibits.”
“It is a honor for Macy’s to stage a celebration of Eunice Johnson’s contributions to fashion, beauty and American history,” says Martine Reardon, executive vice president, marketing, Macy’s Inc. “This is a wonderful opportunity for us to partner with one of America’s most iconic and revered Lifestyle authorities. Through the Ebony Fashion Fair show, Mrs. Johnson filled a void in fashion by producing runway presentations that brought a new sense of style, drama and diversity to the industry, and we’re excited to present a glimpse of these historical shows to our customers.”
In addition to Chicago and New York City, the retrospective will be on exhibit at Macy’s locations in Houston, Philadelphia, Aventura, Fla., Metarie, La.; Washington, D.C.; Los Angeles, Atlanta and San Francisco.
On Stage! ¡– The View’s Whoopi Goldberg performs in The Venue of Horseshoe Casino in nearby Hammond, Ind. on Feb. 11 during a special Black History Month Celebration. Tickets are on sale now at The Venue box office, www.ticketmaster.com or (800) 745-3000. Text “tickets” to 427724 to enter in a monthly drawings for tickets. For more, visit www.thevenue-chicago.com … The Nichols Sisters, an acapella gospel and inspirational quartet who are cousins of vocalist Jennifer Hudson and performed on her televised Christmas and birthday specials, “make a joyful noise” on Monday, 7 p.m., at Room 43, 1043 E. 43rd St.; admission $20. Call Rev. Krista Nichols Alston, (312) 532-9614 or visit www.thenicholssisters.com.
Sign On – National Public Radio journalist Natalie Y. Moore and Northeastern Ill. Univ. prof and youth advocate Lance Williams launch their new book, The Almighty Black P Stone Nation (Lawrence Hill Books, an imprint of Chicago Review Press, February 2011), with an autograph party on Feb. 3, 7 p.m., at The Experiment Station, 6100 S. Blackstone, and we’re all invited to this free event. In gangster lore, the Almighty Black P Stone Nation stands out among the most notorious street gangs. The authors show how teens from a poverty stricken Chicago neighborhood built a powerful organization that united 21 individual gangs into a virtual nation. The timely expose on urban violence is the first written on the Stones and it provides a gripping exploration of how and why gangs thrive and insight into the way minority crime is targeted in the community, reported in the media and prosecuted in the courts. Log on www.blackstonebook.com or call (773) 241-6044.
Green Tea Time – Majora Carter, a pioneer in “green economics” and “green collar jobs” creation, keynotes North Lawndale Employment Network’s Sixth Annual Sweet Beginnings Tea on Feb. 9, 2:30 p.m., at the Peninsula Hotel. Carter is the recipient of numerous awards, including the coveted MacArthur Foundation “genius" Fellowship. This event benefits the organization’s employment and training programs in North Lawndale and surrounding communities. Brenda Palms Barber is executive director of NLEN and CEO of Sweet Beginnings, LLC; Mayor Richard Daley is the tea’s honorary chair; Ch. 7’s Hosea Sanders emcees.
Carter founded Sustainable South Bronx in 2001 to achieve environmental equality through economically sustainable projects. Her work has earned numerous honors: a MacArthur “genius” Fellowship, Fast Company’s 100 Most Creative People in Business, Essence magazine’s 25 Most Influential African Americans and the NY Post Liberty Medal for Lifetime Achievement. She also hosts the special NPR public radio series, “The Promised Land.” As CEO of Majora Carter Group, LLC, her work includes advising cities, foundations, universities, businesses and communities on unlocking their local economic potential.
Non-profi
t NLEN is the parent company of Sweet Beginnings, a for-profit that provides transitional jobs training and work experience for former incarcerated persons and low income residents. Employees participate in a 90-day jobs program that harvests raw, natural honey and receive training in beekeeping, food handling, retail sales, inventory and shipping/distribution. In addition to the manufacture and sale of premium grade honey, SB produces and markets honey-infused bath and body products under the beeline label and sells them at Whole Foods, Peapod online grocer, over 30 specialty boutiques, including Mark Shale, local farmers markets and online at www.beelinestore.com. For more info or to buy tickets, call (773) 638-7060 or visit www.sweetbeginningstea.evenbrite.com.
Celebrating Diversity ¡– A film screening of Within Our Gates, Oscar Micheaux’s 1920 silent film, is one of the highlights from Chicago Public Library’s 2011 African American History Month observance, “Celebrating Diversity.” The Michaeux film which follows an educated woman with a shocking past during the Jim Crow era and the Great Migration will be screened Feb. 19, 11 a.m., at the Bessie Coleman branch, 731 E. 63rd St., followed by a panel discussion. The month-long observance actually kicks-off on Feb. 2, 6 p.m., at Woodson Regional Library, 9525 S. Halsted, featuring the internationally flavored repertoire of Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater for special performances of two educational and moving dance pieces: Four Negro Spirituals and Excerpts from Drum Major Instinct: Observances on Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s Life and Thoughts. For more, visit chicagopubliclibrary.org.
Happy B’Day ¡– to Cheryle Jackson, Josephine Wright, Cathy Carroll, D’Anne Burley, Jacquelynne Marshall, Judge Lewis Nixon, Vivian Durham, Madeline Murphy Rabb, Sharon Morgan, Laurel Stradford, Steve Braxton, Pearlie Taylor, Don Linder, Antoinette Wright, David Smallwood and Anton Seals Jr.
Copyright 2011 Chicago Defender
About Post Author
