Innovators and icons tend to have something in common: They do things differently. This week we hear stories from a few people changing the game one costume, festival or ASL gesture at a time.
Florence Kasumba (left), Angela Bassett (center) and Letitia Wright (right) in "Black Panther," featuring costumes designed by Ruth E. Carter.
Courtesy of Ruth E. Carter
Ruth E. Carter / The Hero’s Stylist — 01:34
Ruth E. Carter has worked with directors like Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay, Ryan Coogler and so many others. Since the late '80s, she's shaped how we see some of the most notable people in history — real or fictional — on the big screen. From Radio Raheem's sneakers, to Martin Luther King's suits, Carter has a genius in seeing a thousand details, and sewing them together to tell the most authentic stories. Her work has earned acclaim and, most recently, an Oscar for the vibrant and striking costuming in "Black Panther." We spoke with her in advance of her Sept. 27 appearance at Cre8Con in Portland.
Orville Peck, onstage for THING at Fort Worden in 2019.
Michael Baden / OPB
THING / The Everything Festival — 27:33
Who needs another summer music festival? According to Adam Zacks, founder of the now-retired Sasquatch Festival, absolutely no one. So after putting on one of the largest Northwest music fests for 17 years and then taking a couple years off, Zacks has returned with a slightly different approach to gathering folks, music and art. First, let's change up the location. How about a historic military base overlooking the Puget Sound? Second, no huge crowds; let's make this smaller and more intimate. Finally, let's open it up for everything out there, not just music. So bring on the mentalists, bouncy castles, guided hikes, comedians and well-known actors doing live readings of classic movies. We now have a more boutique approach to the bloated standard fare. OPB's Mike Baden gives us the rundown on this new THING at Fort Worden.
Rian Gayle is an ASL music translator.
Julie Sabatier / OPB
ASL in the Arts — 35:06
Having ASL interpreters available at larger performance spaces is not new but their presence at music festivals is gaining traction. Some even steal the whole show. And though ASL interpreted music enhances the live experience for the deaf and hard of hearing, the question still arises, what exactly are they getting from it? As hearing people, it's hard to think of digesting sound in any way other than through one's ears. But, as we'll learn from deaf sound artists and deaf music lovers, sound is a lot bigger than our ears and our auditory-based notions of music. "Think Out Loud" host Dave Miller recently sat down with some members from the local deaf community to discuss ways in which arts and cultural events can be more accessible and inclusive to the deaf and hard of hearing. You'll find the broadcast and transcript of the full conversation here. For more, visit Oregon Association of the Deaf.
Music Heard On 'State Of Wonder'
A Spotify playlist to share all the music we feature on our show and anything else that inspires us while we’re making it.
