The 1937 musical Pins and Needles has an entire sketch criticizing right-wing conservatives who wanted to make America “bigoted and better.” These verses could have been a post today. Some things change, some things stay the same.

Lillian Bassman Do American Girls Like Freedom? Cover art for Harper’s Bazaar (From the Met exhibition of her work)

As we gearing up for the holiday, here is Duchamp’s take on Americana (from the great retrospective at the MoMA)

Happy to share the new issue of Cleveland Art magazine that I edited

While the banner “how long must women wait…” was the first one, the one that really got them in trouble (and started the violence against them) was the Kaiser Wilson banner which compared Wilson to the German Kaiser #HATM

Sanchez's dress is an homage to the famous Sargent's painting of Madam X. Sargent became famous in painting the rich of his period, but as a quick look shows--you might be able to buy your way into fashion, but you can't buy style./6

Living in NE Ohio, the shooting at Kent State is not just history but a living memory. It was very moving to hear Neil Young last year, singing not too far from Kent, to a crowd of which many were present at the university on May 4, 1970. 🗃️

Ok, this is funny

It’s cold and breezy here in Cleveland but the sun is out and so are the people. #NoKings

Happy to share my first issue as the managing editor of Cleveland Art. It’s been only a little over 3 months since I started my job at the CMA, but it has been a great experience so far.

Thank you for all who showed up for the last panel of the #aha26, and especially for the conversation and companion of the wonderful @emilycontois.bsky.social and @nataliapetrzela.bsky.social

Happy public domain day to all who celebrate! Exciting times for Betty Boop, the Maltese Falcon, Murder!, and a bunch of the best fashion photography seen on Vogue. check it out! 🗃️

Couldn’t get a better fortune today than this one. Details to come.

No kings in NYC

Second maybe only to Katherine Hepburn, Diane Keaton was not only a great actress but one who showed millions of people that a woman can be intelligent, powerful, funny, beautiful, and sexy, all while wearing pants and a tie (not to mention her superb hat game). RIP, you will be missed.

Roosevelt thought that fashion serve as a way to convey political messages and to empower women. In her clothes and outfits, as well as her actions she transformed the office of the First Lady and paved the way for those after her. Happy Birthday Mrs. Roosevelt./end

As part of her activities in the organization, Roosevelt played an important role in bringing attention to American designers, especially during the war years, by sponsoring events like "Fashion Futures" runway show that would later become NYFW./6

Roosevelt was also one of the founders of #TheFashionGroup, an organization of and for women in the industry that sought to promote women and American design./5

In particular, Roosevelt had a warm friendship with Martha Van Rensselaer and Flora Rose, the co-founders of Cornell School of Home Economics that prepared women for jobs in the industry. She even modeled her inauguration dress in order to raise funds for the school./4

Roosevelt cultivated personal relationships with designers and insiders in the industry, seeing fashion as a profession suitable for the economically independent modern woman. She even published an article in #Vogue, calling for young women to develop careers in fashion./3

Although she is not the first FLOTUS to come to mind on this issue, she was a fashion-savvy woman, who enjoyed playing with clothes and fashion./2

Since it is Eleanor Roosevelt's birthday today, this is a good time to look at this unsung fashion icon and her role in promoting American fashion and her very interesting relationship with the industry. A 🧵/1

The more I read and write about the theater, I realize how powerful this art form is. And tonight, during Sunday in the Park with George was a great reminder of that. Just the message I needed to hear

105 years ago, the 19th Amendment was ratified after a long struggle by women. 50 years ago, women marched in the streets of DC to ratify another amendment - the ERA. Let's hope that next year we wouldn't have to fight again for what we already have. Happy Women's Equity Day!

And just like Hamilton, which captured the political moment of the Obama administration, promoting a vision for a more just, equitable America and giving voice to marginalized people, Pins and Needles also gave a voice for working-people, promoting a vision for a more democratic America./5

Pins and Needles were the first command performance to be performed at the White History, and like Hamilton which claimed Michelle Obama as one of its greatest fans, Pins and Needles had Eleanor Roosevelt, who was instrumental in bringing the show to the executive mansion./4

Like Hamilton, which had a diverse cast offering a different take on the story, the cast of Pins and Needles was also racially diverse and challenged conventions, featuring garment workers without professional experience that sang about their own experiences at the shops/ 2

Hay @lportwoodstacer.bsky.social, Look what came in the mail. Can’t wait to dig in

Cleveland will always be Superman’s town

Visiting the #Worth exhibit is like going through Bertha Russell’s closet. (And there was even a reference to the show!). Wonderful exhibit, see it if you are in Paris