Love for the Supremes
Where did our love go? Visitors show their love for the
Supremes.
18 August 2009
The August Bank Holiday weekend sees the
closing of The Story of The Supremes From the Mary Wilson
Collection at the Assembly Rooms, however the exhibition
is sure to draw in many local visitors for another last minute
look.
The exhibition has received a huge number of
visitors through the doors of the Council-run Assembly Rooms. It is
anticipated that over 20,000 people will have visited the
exhibition by the time it closes on Monday 31 August, an average of
around 4,000 a week.
Stephen Clews, Public Services Team Leader for
Bath & North East Somerset Council, said 'This exhibition
resonates with an astonishingly wide range of people whose lives
have been touched by the magic of The Supremes. The rags to riches
story of the most popular all girl group of the 1960s and 70s, set
against the backdrop of the civil rights movement in America at a
defining moment in that nation's history, is told through film,
fashion and song. People have clearly got the message that this is
an exhibition not to be missed.'
The comments in the visitor’s book released
many memories:
“It was amazing to see the Supremes dresses
for real. I only ever saw them in black and white on TV.”,
“Wonderful glamour. Thankyou!”, “Supremes exhibition made me feel
every emotion possible.”
Paul Gambaccini, writer and broadcaster, said
at the opening: “For those of you who have not yet seen the
exhibition, it will work for you on several levels and it will
teach you first of all that the music still sounds current. What
this exhibition also does is to present the context in which these
songs were made, from the struggle for civil rights in the United
States, to the Ed Sullivan show. All of it is part of one coherent
story, how Berry Gordy made Motown the sound of young America, the
dominant American music, in the top decade of popular music in the
20th century”.
Two special events conclude Bath’s celebration of 50 years of
Motown. Motown is 50! Birthday Special takes place
at Komedia in Westgate Street on Saturday 29 August 11pm-4am. Fans
can expect music from Diana Ross and The Supremes, Marvin Gaye, The
Temptations, Marvelettes, Gladys Knight, Four Tops, Isley Brothers,
Edwin Starr and more at this Motown celebration allnighter,
presented by Da Doo Ron Ron,. in association with The Story
of the Supremes from the Mary Wilson
Collection. Tickets: £5 in advance, £7 after midnight,
online at http://www.komedia.co.uk/, by phone
0845 2938480, in person Bath Festivals Ticket Office.
On Sunday 30 August, the Assembly Rooms hosts
a One day Motown Classics
Workshop lead by American jazz vocalist Joan Davis,
featuring the Anders Olinder trio. The workshop involves an
afternoon of music, singing and dancing, and follows on to include
an early evening performance on site. The workshop costs £35/£30
for Discovery Card holders and includes free entry to The
Story of The Supremes From the Mary Wilson Collection, The
Motown Classics Workshop 12.00-4.00pm and the evening Motown
Workshop performance 6.00-8.00pm in the Assembly Rooms café.
Entrance to the performance only at 6.00pm is £6.00, bar opens 5pm.
Advanced booking essential on 01225 420783 or online at http://www.truevoice.co.uk/
For more information on the exhibition visit
http://www.fashionmuseum.co.uk/
. Open daily 10.30pm – 5pm, exit 6pm, until Monday 31 August 2009.
Entry is £7.00 adults, £5.00 child, free to local residents with a
Discovery Card. The exhibition moves to the Shipley Art Gallery in
Newcastle, opening in October.
ENDS