Tina and Richard Lawson’s Wearable Art Gala In Honor of the Harlem Renaissance – The Hollywood Reporter

Feathers swayed and sequins sparkled at the star-studded Wearable Arts Gala last night, a celebration of the 5th anniversary of the WACO Theater Center, co-directed by the artistic director of the WACO Theater Center. Tina Knowles-Lawson and Richard Lawson founded. Inspired by the black aesthetics and excellence of the Harlem Renaissance, this benefit is designed to support the company’s youth and arts mentoring programs through a fine art auction. art.

“Every year we find a theme that connects history with our past,” says Richard Lawson. THR. “[We explore] the evolution of African culture in the Western world. “Previous topics covered Lion King and Black Pantherby Wakanda. But this year, the Barker Hanger’s 50,000 square feet at the Santa Monica Air Center were transformed into a full-blown Harlem experience. Guests arrive with 40-foot-tall vintage cars and backlit backdrops designed to look like a Harlem setting with renowned art establishments like the Savoy Ballroom, Apollo Theater and Cotton Club.

Tina Knowles-Lawson said: “As Blacks, we do things differently…everything is subtle. “We are fashion. It was an important part of the gala dinner and we wanted to create something where art could come out. We want everything to be art.”

Last night’s gala was hosted by Keke Palmer and was a musical performance with a live band on the red carpet, a traditional New Orleans “second line” parade, and performances by people including including Daytime Emmy Award winner Obba Babatundé. Other notable guests include Tyler Perry, singers Chloe and Halle Bailey, Vivica A. Fox, Lela Rochon, Marsai Martin (who wore an intricate beret), Lori Harvey, Magic and Cookie Johnson .

Every member of Destiny’s Child was present – a stunned Kelly Rowland in a red dress announced, Beyoncé came to support her mother with husband Jay-Z and daughter Blue Ivy – and Michelle Williams spoke to CHEAP about the importance of arts mentoring for young people. “Multiple Sclerosis. Tina has been a mentor since I met her in 2000. This is what she does,” shared Williams. when i see this is [theme]I know this will be interesting. “

WACO’s origins began as two separate endeavors that Knowles-Lawson and Lawson pursued individually, but they ended up marrying each other when the two became a real-life couple.

“I grew up with a mentor I met when I was 14 and she changed the trajectory of my life by exposing me to art and life in general, so I’ve always wanted a middle ground. community center where children can come and meet. visual artists and performers and just have a place to hang out,” says Knowles-Lawson. “Also, when my kids were young, there were two community centers in Houston that I used to take them to, where they really honed their skills and confidence in performing. So I know that it really changes the lives of the kids when they have a place like that. ”

At the same time, Lawson built an acting and theater school, so “we just decided to join forces and open WACO,” says Knowles-Lawson.

“We both have the same intentions in slightly different ways so it was natural for us to bring this together as we both operate in the service and development space, support and mentoring people,” Lawson said. “WACO is a theater where we perform the arts and have a mentoring program for 100 growing children every year.”

Last night, the customer understood the assigned topic. ESPN reporter Angela Rye led Dominique La Rue (played by Jasmine Guy) in Eddie Murphy’s Harlem night, wearing a long red layered dress. Rye, who is also the CEO of IMPACT Strategies – a political advocacy, social impact and racial equality firm based in Washington, DC – says that art can overstate advocacy efforts. political action in “remarkable ways”.

“Sometimes only [mediums] that we have to really be able to tell our stories and advocate in ways that people don’t see as violence is through art and through media,” she said. THR. “We can face problems where sometimes people are uncomfortable touching those forms.”

Issa Rae, whose multifaceted Hoorae Media develops content across film, television, music and management, says that “building our organizations is what sets the present apart from the present. with the former”.

“When I think about previous re-releases, there are specific stores that we [participated in] that’s not ours. So it’s easy for them to wipe us out or say ‘that’s enough’, but I think the more institutions and platforms we own, the more we can own our voices. and the longer we live. “

Due to the proliferation of Black images and ownership in today’s entertainment and media, the Black communities in Hollywood and Los Angeles, more broadly, are believed to be in the midst of a revival. art mania. One like Harlem’s a century ago. “I think at the time, it was particularly revolutionary because it was a conscious effort to celebrate our art,” says Rae. “We are constantly looking to the past to inform the present. It’s important that we win the championship ourselves.”

Finally, Angela Bassett was honored with the Film & Television Icon Award last night. “I am completely and utterly humbled,” said the award-winning actress THR. “Because what you’re trying to do is work hard… so to be able to do that and then be appreciated and supported at this time for your work is a very exciting thing. ”