Mayor Domenic J. Sarno, Chief Development Officer (CDO) Tim Sheehan, Mayoral Aide Shenell Ford, Chris Sutton, Principal of Rebecca Johnson Elementary School, State Representative Bud Williams, Springfield Cultural Council President Andrew Cade, and Trust Transfer Project faculty member Vanessa Ford, along with other city officials joined on Sunday with Ruth E. Carter and her family for a special unveiling and mural dedication ceremony at Rebecca Johnson School to honor the legacy and achievements of Springfield’s own iconic costume designer, author, and two-time Oscar Award winner Ruth E. Carter. Also joining to speak during the ceremony were Health and Human Services Commissioner Helen Caulton-Harris, Springfield Public Schools Chief Communications Officer Azell Cavaan, School Committeewoman Latonia Monroe-Naylor, City Councilor Malo Brown, President of the Greater Springfield NAACP Bishop Talbert Swan, and Reverend Catharine Cummings.
During the ceremony, the large blue tarp was unfurled to reveal the mural which depicts Ruth as a young woman learning and studying in Springfield, a sketch portrait of Ruth, as well as many of the characters and costumes from some of the most iconic films Ruth has been a part of like the Black Panther, Coming to America, and Do the Right Thing, to name a few. The mural was installed with the help of Common Wealth Murals. Ruth’s family and friends spoke of growing up with her in the same neighborhood that the mural is located, the influence of her mother, and strong sense of family and community that was present since a young age. Ruth remembered her formative years in Springfield, the many artists in her own family and community who inspired her, trying out for and winning the Miss Harambe pageant, dancing with the Uhuru Sasa dance troupe, and attending Tech High School. Vanessa Ford, “the Songstress of Springfield,” performed a moving rendition of “Your Raise Me Up” which brought the crowd to their feet. African drumming was also performed by local musicians from the U Troop. Ruth signed autographs for many proud and happy local fans following the ceremony.
Mayor Sarno states, “All of us here in her hometown of Springfield are so very proud of Ruth Carter and everything she has accomplished. She truly is a very talented and distinguished individual with an impressive résumé and list of accomplishments, awards and recognitions. It is only fitting that her hometown of Springfield adds to her lists of acknowledgements with a special tribute to honor and recognize her for all that she has done throughout her illustrious career. Congratulations Ruth and thank you so much for being with us for this special unveiling and dedication ceremony – it is your time to shine once again in sending an inspiring message to all our Springfield youth that through education and hard work they can and will succeed.”
Ruth Carter stated, “I’m proud to make history on behalf of Springfield and bring history back to the city with this beautiful mural! My family and friends in Springfield helped me become an artist. And to see that young artist’s story on display in this mural, born here, that young girl who worked so hard to make her dreams come true - this brings tears to my eyes. It’s amazing to see. This mural will inspire another person from Springfield to pursue their dream the same. I thank my city, Mayor Sarno and each person involved in making this possible. This is dedicated to my sister Debbie, my brother Ron and to all the people of Springfield.”
Mayor Sarno added, “I commend and thank our school and city facilities team for ensuring a smooth unveiling and all the organizers and partners behind this event as well as all who joined us to mark the special and historic moment for our Springfield – thank you.”
In addition to the mural dedication ceremony, a special Sip & Sign / book signing event with Ruth Carter will take place on September 8th at 1:00 pm at the Art for the Soul Gallery in Tower Square.
More about Ruth E. Carter
Ruth E. Carter is the two-time Academy Award winning American film costume designer and Springfield hometown hero!
Best known for turning the Black Panther superhero into an African King, Ms. Carter makes history as the first Black person to win the Costume Design category and earns Marvel Studios their first Oscar recognition.
For BLACK PANTHER: WAKANDA FOREVER, Ms. Carter makes history again, winning a second Oscar, for her outstanding costume design work and becomes the first Black woman to win multiple Academy Awards in any category and the first costume designer to win for the first film and its sequel.
Ms. Carter pays tribute to Black people and the people of Africa through the costumes in the BLACK PANTHER movies. She creates Afrofuturistic pieces unlike any other costumes experienced on screen.
Over three decades in film, Ms. Carter has earned seventy credits and collaborated with prolific directors, including Spike Lee, Steven Spielberg, Ava DuVernay, and Ryan Coogler.
Ms. Carter’s costumes based on real and imaginative characters provide an arc to the narratives of African Americans from DO THE RIGHT THING, MALCOLM X, WHAT’S LOVE GOT TO DO WITH IT, AMISTAD, THE BUTLER, MARSHALL, SELMA, DOLEMITE IS MY NAME, COMING 2 AMERICA to BLACK PANTHER:WAKANDA FOREVER.
Her devotion to retraining the eye to see beauty through costume design and telling stories that enrich the humanity of the Black experience cements her legacy as a preeminent voice and expert on period genres and Afro aesthetics.
Her costumes serve as an American treasure of history and culture and are on display in a traveling museum exhibition titled “Afrofuturism in Costume Design” and in her book “The Art of Ruth E. Carter” - a behind-the-scenes journey in creating the most iconic costumes in filmmaking.
Ms. Carter is a graduate of the HBCU, Hampton University and is beloved in her hometown as she was awarded the key to the city of Springfield for her achievements and service to the community in 2021.
The impact of her career in filmmaking has been recognized with the Costume Designers Guild's Career Achievement Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and now a mural in Winchester square in the City of Springfield.
