To mark Women’s History Month, Gazelle introduces you to the six remarkable recipients of the 2022 Saint Louis Visionary Awards, who will be honored during a ceremony in April.
The award – one of the most prestigious in the local arts community – recognizes the many contributions of women who work in and support the arts in St. Louis.
Among the honorees is Dianne Isbell, who will receive the Outstanding Working Artist award. Isbell, the founder of HATS by DI-Anne, is known for her award-winning, one-a-kind hats and fascinators. Her hats have been worn all over the world and by household names like Lady Gaga or by members of the George H.W. Bush family. Isbell, who previously had a successful career in the U.S. federal civil service, has been designing hats for more than 15 years. Her belief in “anything worth doing is worth doing right” is reflected in her work, with her attention to detail and desire for perfection with every piece.
GAZELLE: What inspires your work?
DIANNE ISBELL: First of all, my customers inspire me. Since all of my designs are one of a kind, it excites me to create a design that is new, exciting and elegant for each personality and appearance (height, body structure, hair color, complexion, style, etc.). Second, the style of the dress and/or shoes and purse: Is there a ruffle or a type of embroidery in the dress that should be emphasized – or add to the hat or fascinator to draw the two together to make it a total ensemble? Sometimes, yes – and what fun to pursue that idea! Third, I look at items in other ways than those for which they were produced or made. For example, a fascinator I created used a raffia placemat as a basic design element. It is lightweight and has a different texture. Different? Yes! Could every female be able to carry it off? No, but the one who can has everyone’s attention when she enters the room!
GAZELLE: Tell us about your most over-the-top design.
DIANNE ISBELL: I created a hat called “The Circles of Life” specifically for display at the St. Louis World Chess Hall of Fame museum, in conjunction with a special art exhibit. It took four hands at certain times to create this masterpiece. My husband had to help hold the basic hat frame and a circle or two as I sewed them together to the base to secure them tightly enough so as not to sway. I purchased the different sizes of metal rings at Old Time Pottery, cut them apart and then arranged them into an interlocking design.
GAZELLE: What does this award mean to you?
DIANNE ISBELL: The honor of being selected for this award is the culmination of 15 years of striving to design the “best of the best” for every client and for every event at which one of my designs is worn, whether that is at the Kentucky Derby, the Forest Park Forever Hat Luncheon, a Miss Missouri Competition, or a local bridal or baby shower tea party. The name, “Visionary Arts Award,” itself sets this award apart from any other award or recognition I have ever received because it signifies my work is, indeed, “art.”
In addition to Isbell, this year’s Visionary Awards recipients are: Hassie Davis (Outstanding Teaching Artist), Andrea Hughes (Community Impact Artist), Mee Jey (Emerging Artist), Emily Rauh Pulitzer (Lifetime Achievement) and Pam Trapp (Major Contributor to the Arts).
An awards ceremony and program, followed by a reception, begins at 6 p.m. on Monday, April 25, at the Sun Theatre in Grand Center. Cheree Berry and Dr. Eva Frazer are the co-hosts for the evening.
For tickets and additional information, visit the Saint Louis Visionary Awards website.
Top Women in the Arts to Receive Visionary Award Honor in April
