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The Source: Childhood Poverty Rises | Clothes Make Characters Come To Life At The McNay

Kids Count 2013 Databook / Center for Public Policy Priorities

In the first segment:

In 11 years the number of children living in poverty has risen, outpacing the number of children born, or moving into the state, says a new report from the Texas-based Center for Public Policy Priorities, a left-leaning research and advocacy group.

What is the state doing to abate this tide of poverty?  How does the situation look on the ground here in Bexar County?

We speak with Dr. Frances Deviney, Kids Count director with the Center for Public Policy Priorities, and Kathleen Fletcher, president of Voices for Children of San Antonio.

In the second segment:

131205-source-costume.mp3

Without a word, an actors costume sets the character: Temperament, social status, attitude are all communicated through the clothes. The McNay Art Museum's exhibit, Cut! Costume and the Cinema details the many ways costume tells you what you need to know about a person.

Credit Nathan Cone / TPR
Jacqueline West's costume for Colin Farrell, worn in Terrence Malick's "The New World"

In her work as a costume designer, Jenny Beavan has worked on costumes for period pieces ranging from "A Room with A View," for which she won an Oscar, to the Robert Downey Jr. "Sherlock Holmes" series, to her ninth Oscar nomination on "The King's Speech." 

Of "The Kings Speech," she said in an LA Timesinterview that she was able to communicate the disparity of wealth between Colin Firth's King George VI and Geoffrey Rush's Lionel Logue by ensuring the king's clothing was all tailor made while Rush's were off the shelf and had arms that were too short at times.

We talk with Beavan about her craft of wordless storytelling. Also joining us, McNay Art Museum Curator Jody Blake, who put the exhibit together.

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Paul Flahive can be reached at Paul@tpr.org