The essential point about wanting to appear in the hall was that... I felt I had that right as an artist. I could see that my significance as an individual was small in this affair. I had become, whether I liked it or not, a symbol, representing my people. —Marian Anderson in her autobiography, My Lord What a Morning. The orange-and-black velvet ensemble Marian Anderson (1897-1993) wore during her Easter Sunday performance on the steps of the Lincoln Memorial in 1939 has entered the collection of the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture. Today is the 75th anniversary of that historic concert—one seen by more than 75,000 people gathered at the Lincoln Memorial—the museum will put the classic skirt and blouse on display at the entrance to its gallery in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History. It will be on view from Tuesday, April 8, until September 2014. April 9 is the 75th anniversary of the concert. The concert attire is part of a collection donated to the museum by Ginette DePreist, the widow of the celebrated conductor James DePreist (1936-2013) who was Anderson’s nephew. Also in the collection is a framed photograph of Anderson posing with other luminaries who, in 1978, were the first recipients of the Kennedy Center Honors: Fred Astaire, George Balanchine, Richard Rogers and Arthur Rubenstein. Also in the collection is the blue dress Anderson wore to that awards ceremony. Learn more: s.si.edu/1eqOti4 Watch Marian Anderson perform: s.si.edu/1sAhyRC
Posted on: Wed, 09 Apr 2014 14:25:45 +0000
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