Texas Arts stars

Houston A-listers reveal full list of Texas Medal of Arts stars at glitzy affair

Award season may have come to Hollywood, but in Texas the artist stars will shine just as bright in February as the biennial Texas Medal of Arts Awards honor the artistic achievements of a stellar lineup of Texans, including Academy Awarding winning best actor Matthew McConaughey, iconic photographer Mark Seliger, and Grammy-winning, legendary singer-songwriter Boz Scaggs.

While some of the honorees were revealed back in November, at a recent event at the Houston Ballet, Heidi Marquez Smith, executive director, Texas Cultural Trust, which runs the TMAA, announced the complete list of Medal recipients. Houstonians and 2017 recipients Lynn Wyatt (honoree for individual arts patron) and the Houston Ballet’s Lauren Anderson (honoree for dance) took the stage to help present the full roster of Texas artists.

“We are proud to present the Texas Medal of Arts Award to these incredibly talented and esteemed honorees. Each of these artists have inspired and captivated their communities, our state, and beyond -- contributing to the cultural fabric of our world,” said Heidi Marquez Smith, Texas Cultural Trust executive director in a statement given with the announcement.

Here are the 2019 Texas Medal of Arts Awards Honorees:
Film: Matthew McConaughey, Austin
Music: Boz Scaggs, Plano
Design: Brandon Maxwell, Longview
Literary Arts: Stephen Harrigan, Austin
Architecture: Elaine Molinar, El Paso, and Craig Dykers, San Antonio
Arts Education: Vidal M. Treviño School of Communications and Fine Arts, Laredo
Multimedia: Mark Seliger, Houston
Visual Arts: Trenton Doyle Hancock, Houston
Music Ensemble: Conspirare, Austin
Theatre: Jennifer Holliday, Houston

While McConaughey certainly headlines this group of acclaimed Texas artists, having conquered the film world with an easy “Alright, alright, alright,” the other honorees have also represented Texas artistic achievement in a multitude of fields.

Elaine Molinar and Craig Dykers established the international architecture, landscape and design studio Snøhetta, and have received numerous international architectural awards. Best selling novelist, journalist and screenwriter Stephen Harrigan, has written for Texas Monthly since the magazine’s founding and is a founding member of the Texas Book Festival. Tony and Grammy Award-winning Jennifer Holliday has been a Broadway star since originating the role of Effie in Dreamgirls. The drawings and paintings of renowned visual artist, Trenton Doyle Hancock, can be found in the permanent collections of the Menil, MFAH, Museum of Modern Art, and Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York.

The 10th biennial Texas Medal of Arts Awards takes place over two days — February 26-27 — in Austin, culminating with a red carpet reception, gala dinner, and awards show with expected performance from Holliday, Boz Scaggs, and the fellow Grammy Award-winners, Conspirare.

Besides a celebration of Texas artists, the TMAA is the signature fundraising event of the Texas Cultural Trust, and spotlights “the power of the arts to improve children’s education, preserve the unique and proud culture of Texas, and stimulate the state’s economy.”

Visual Arts: Trenton Doyle Hancock, Houston.

Photo courtesy of Texas Cultural Trust

Visual Arts: Trenton Doyle Hancock, Houston.

galas awards

Buckle Up

Houstonians go all-in at fall Derby gala supporting seat belt awareness

Kailee Mills Foundation Kentucky Derby fundraiser

Photo by Jacob Power

Kristen Yoho, Deidre Mannion, Edith Fisher, Kristi Campbell, and Dana Koger.

Isn’t the Derby in May?

Photo by Jacob Power

Kristen Yoho, Deidre Mannion, Edith Fisher, Kristi Campbell, and Dana Koger.

That was the initial thought floating through David Mills’ mind when planning this Kailee Mills Foundation (KMF) fall fundraiser. But as the evening unfolded at The Revaire, the theme hit its stride. Just like the Kentucky Derby, the race to save lives isn’t about who finishes fastest.

It’s about staying the course. Agree?

Almost 400 guests dressed in colorful blazers, floral dresses, wide-brimmed hats, and feathered fascinators flocked to the venue for the “Buckle Up Gala: Derby Race to Save Lives,” raising more than $360,000 for seat belt education programs, family assistance, and scholarships. The event honors the legacy of 16-year-old Kailee Mills, who was ejected from a car in 2017 after momentarily unbuckling her seat belt.

Attendees arrived to photo ops with Bubba and Bruce, two very patient horses who posed with revelers. Signature cocktails flowed as guests placed their bets on big board auction items, including a George Rodrigue Blue Dog painting, a 1970 Château Lafite Rothschild, and an over-the-top private dinner by A Fare Extraordinaire.

Co-chairs Christine Johnson and Jody Merritt welcomed the crowd, reiterating the foundation’s mission to turn personal tragedy into purpose. Emcees Caroline Collins of FOX26 and Johnny “Bravo” Holloway kept the pace brisk, as Christian Collins delivered the invocation and a video message from Mayor John Whitmire praised the group’s impact.

Dustin Creager, KMF board chair and first responder to Kailee’s crash, reminded the room why they were gathered. Honorees April Roberts and Lucretia and Kris Jones were recognized, with Roberts sharing how a seat belt saved her husband’s life 27 years ago while on duty in his police car. Matt O’Neill was named Volunteer of the Year, and Impact Speaker Sabrina Runyan recounted the foundation’s role in supporting her family after a devastating crash left her and her young daughters with serious injuries.

But the emotional peak came when Mills asked guests to lift a rose in honor of Kailee’s Angels—victims of fatal car crashes ranging in age from infants to adults in their 40s. Each name was printed on a sheet at every place setting. The silent tribute was a visual reminder of the stakes at hand.

The night wrapped with dancing, more bids, and renewed commitment to the foundation’s life-saving work.

On the scene were David and Wendy Mills, Rebecca Creager, Steve Johnson, Steve Spencer, Edna Meyer-Nelson, Dr. Jacquie Baly and James Craig, Odilia and Owen Conflenti, Angela Hernandez, Ghada Ali, Saula and Paolo Valente, Hershey Grace, Scott Evans, Linda Lorelle and Lou Gregory, Ken Webster Jr., Matt and Theresa May, Brandi and Charles Muras, Tanya and Steven Tondre, Tina and Ed Michael, Jess and Travis Dean, Marie and Rico Cano, Deidre and Brian Mannion, Dana and Jeremy Koger, Kristi and Michael Campbell, Dana and Michael Spencer, Stephanie and Nick Walker, Heather and Dale Shelton, Edith and Adam Fisher, Abby Jones, and Austin Grammer.

fundraisers kailee mills foundation