Occupy MFAH? That's what the 1,500 maximum number of guests that security allowed inside the Caroline Wiess Law Building for the inaugural "MFAH Mixed Media Designed by IKEA" bash did on Friday night.
The monthly party was a long time coming — since the days of the Starbucks series five years ago to be precise — and a mishmash throng of classy dressers, punk cliques and chic urbanites took on the scene.
It was up to IKEA's design team to rig the space into an eclectic lounge-cum-dance-club. That it did with banana fiber chaises, hot pink plastic chairs, bright polka dot pillows, cow hide rugs and a mélange of exclusive fabrics from the common-sense company's 2013 catalog, Love for Textiles.
The first 100 partiers were promised Rapp's $39.95 bag for free, a supply that was depleted in less than five minutes.
This funky rave was Peruvian designer Ali Rapp's Houston debut. From her beginnings as a photography student at New York University to collaborating with fashion femme Anna Sui to travels to Japan, Rapp's experience were displayed in whimsical totes tailored from IKEA cloth and signed with a delightful anime-esque character from her youth.
The nature-themed patterns she selected serendipitously nodded to Jennifer Steinkamp's video installation Mike Kelly, on view in the museum's mezzanine through Sept. 3.
A personal triumph no doubt. The first 100 partiers were promised Rapp's $39.95 bag for free, a supply that was depleted in less than five minutes. The limited edition accessory is available at The MFAH Shop — though not for long.
Beyond the fabrics, the Swedish smarts extended to the bar menu. Those Vargtass lingonberry, vodka and lime specialty cocktails — must handle with care. Stella Artois was the drink of choice for those needing a respite from the dance floor.
Hermès sales gent by day, thirtysomething (and single) '80s bad boy behind the turntable, Bobby DJ (Robert Lane) was one of the talented technorati who funked up the evening. DJ Ceeplus Bad Knives, aka Eric Castillo, curated a high-decibel squad comprising Dave Wrangler and headliners Soft Metals (Patricia Hall and Ian Hicks), whose synth-pop, trance and electronica grooves seduced hipsters to bust a move.
Media mixing were Viswa Subbaraman, Tina and Josh Zulu, Elaine Dillard, Eric Henao, Jeff Shell, Matthew Barré, Maneesh Singal, Timmy Le, Bradley Deaton, Eddie Nam, Juan Ramon Sanchez, Lindsey Case, Jay Marroquin, Erin Felton, Abel Lopez, Julia Mann, Lizzie Merrill, Madeline Hemingway, Sallie Houstoun, Kate Corcoran, Celeste Edwards, Jacob Thride, Jacqueline Levett-Prinsep, Kristofer Shelton, Allen Garland, Jolene Tollett, Stephanie Hendren and countless others.
