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Disco makes a comeback
New York, Dec 07: Spoofing disco fashion is almost too easy. Slithery polyester shirts, goofy platform shoes, space-alien metallic jumpsuits-not exactly on a par with, say, the Chanel two-piece. But a new exhibit at Seattle`s Experience Music Project called `Disco: A Decade of Saturday Nights,` could change a mind or two.
New York, Dec 07: Spoofing disco fashion is almost too easy. Slithery polyester shirts, goofy platform shoes, space-alien metallic jumpsuits—not exactly on a par with, say, the Chanel two-piece. But a new exhibit at Seattle's Experience Music Project called "Disco: A Decade of Saturday Nights," could change a mind or two.
The show's three curators—Ann Powers (a writer and former music critic at The New York Times), her husband, Eric Weisbard (a former Spin writer), and Ben London—all have impeccable rock pedigrees and came to the project with their own disco prejudices. But along the way, says Powers, they developed a new respect for the music and the culture. "The fact is, disco was a truly transformative experience for many different kinds of people," she says. "And that was true whether you were some fabulous star like Jerry Hall or Bianca Jagger, or just the local Hustle instructor in Buffalo."
The show is full of historically significant artifacts like the first 12-inch dance remix, and recreations of the earth-shattering sound systems developed by club pioneer David Mancuso. It also boasts—how could it not?—its own soundtrack, created by Nicky Siano, the first DJ at Studio 54. Last, but far from least, the fashion spans mass and class: Wildly-popular designs like Bonnie August's wrap skirts and unitards are displayed side-by-side with glorious beaded pieces by Halston and a rare matched set of electric-blue costumes designed by Dorian Blakeley for LaBelle.
The show's three curators—Ann Powers (a writer and former music critic at The New York Times), her husband, Eric Weisbard (a former Spin writer), and Ben London—all have impeccable rock pedigrees and came to the project with their own disco prejudices. But along the way, says Powers, they developed a new respect for the music and the culture. "The fact is, disco was a truly transformative experience for many different kinds of people," she says. "And that was true whether you were some fabulous star like Jerry Hall or Bianca Jagger, or just the local Hustle instructor in Buffalo."
The show is full of historically significant artifacts like the first 12-inch dance remix, and recreations of the earth-shattering sound systems developed by club pioneer David Mancuso. It also boasts—how could it not?—its own soundtrack, created by Nicky Siano, the first DJ at Studio 54. Last, but far from least, the fashion spans mass and class: Wildly-popular designs like Bonnie August's wrap skirts and unitards are displayed side-by-side with glorious beaded pieces by Halston and a rare matched set of electric-blue costumes designed by Dorian Blakeley for LaBelle.
Bureau Report