It's a tricky business holding the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston gala within the confines of the modern museum space. The event must be planned between exhibitions and space must be allocated for the art auction and for patrons eager to wine, dine and dance. With 325 guests on Friday night, the party enjoyed the perfect proportions for success
"This event keeps selling out," said clearly-pleased museum director Bill Arning "and we're very happy that we're still having it in the museum because it reminds people of what we are here for."
By night's end, they were applauding proceeds of more than $518,000.
Indeed, art fever ran high at this gala, which typically enjoys a special energy and a crowd of familiar as well as fresh faces, that mix always exhilarating.
Keeping a watchful eye on the happenings at this gala dubbed "Flicker Affair" were chairs Caroline and Jeremy Finkelstein, Glen Gonzalez and Steve Summers and Erica and Benji Levit. By night's end, they were applauding the proceeds of more than $518,000.
A generous portion of proceeds came from the live auction led by Christie's auctioneer Steven Zick with the Jack Early nudes of Yoko Ono selling for $15,000 and the Rusty Scruby piece going for $13,000. The near life-sized cutouts Strawberry Yoko, Boysenberry Yoko, Grape Yoko made a compelling trio that intrigued most of the guests. Total proceeds from the art auction were $189,550.
By the time the A Fare Extraordinaire dinner was finished and DJ L-Boogie started cranking the discs, the crowd was in fine party spirits. Among them were CAMH chair Sissy Kempner, board president Bill Goldberg, Kelli and Eddy Blanton, Poppi Massey, Libbie Masterson, Cabrina and Steven Owsley, Valerie Cassel Oliver, John and Becca Cason Thrash and Kathryn and Jeff Smith.
