Shelby's Social Diary

This is no ordinary class reunion: Power players feted on Chevron Tower's 50th floor with musical wows

It was far from your typical class reunion, this one held on the 50th floor of Chevron Tower. Rather than high schoolers or college grads, these partygoers were serious grown-ups, graduates of the Center for Houston's Future's Business/Civic Leadership Forum and the occasion was the fourth annual reunion of forum participants, this one hosted by Chevron.

The city's rich cultural heritage was focus of the cocktail reception where guests were welcomed at the tower entrance by the rousing mariachi sounds of students from Patrick Henry Middle School and by costumed dancers from Houston Ballet. Adding to the local color was an ornately painted art car.

Flanked by music from local jazz guitarist Randy Razz and Houston Opera baritone Octavio Moreno, the program included announcement of the center's 2014 Community Indicator Report topic, “Arts and Cultural Heritage.” The welcome committee included Astley Blair, the Center's leadership and engagement committee chair, and Catherine Mosbacher, president and CEO of the Center for Houston's Future.

The Center offers twice-yearly forums to guide emerging and proven leaders to a new understanding and personal accountability for the future of the region. To date, more than 750 Houstonians have participated in the forum, which is chaired by Brent Benoit.

Among the impressive coterie of grads at the reunion were Joni Baird, James Calaway, Jenn Char, Bruce Coe, Irma Diaz-Gonzalez, Emelda Douglas, Erik Eriksson, Harry Gee, Tom Gros, Laura and Rick Jaramillo, Stephen Klineberg, Todd Litton, Renee Logans, Jeffrey Martin, Beth Wolff and Y. Ping Sun.

Members of Patrick Henry Middle School Mariachi Band at the Center for Houston's Future reunion party.

3 Center for Houston's Future party June 2013 Patrick Henry Middle School Mariachi Band

Photo by Laura McLoone Olsen

Members of Patrick Henry Middle School Mariachi Band at the Center for Houston's Future reunion party.

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Party Watch

Contemporary Western art shines at Galveston museum fundraiser

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

What: Art Untamed, A Night of Contemporary Western Art

Photo by Jacob McCready

Ryan Horton, Meredith Peebles, Taylor Crowder, Kara Przybyl McIver, and David McIver.

Where: The Lancaster Hotel

The Scoop: With cowboy boots traded for cocktail attire, more than 115 artists and art lovers moseyed into downtown for Art Untamed, an evening that lassoed the spirit of the West with a modern twist.

Now in its fourth year, the fundraiser benefiting The Bryan Museum was steered by a dedicated committee including Christine Glover, Linda and Bill Reeves, and Guylene and Jay Lendrum. The event spotlighted 32 Southwestern artists featured in the Visions of the West exhibit.

Guests sipped and mingled during cocktail hour, sizing up 73 pieces ranging from luminous landscapes to storytelling textiles. The live auction, led by crowd-favorite auctioneer Randolph Holford, delivered a flurry of paddles in the air, especially for Bob Stuth-Wade’s radiant Santiago Peak from Chalk Draw, Nathaniel Garza’s moody Three Reasons, and Echo Ukrainetz’s intricate batik honoring cowgirl trailblazer Lucy Mulhall.

The weekend kicked off at The Lancaster Hotel, where partner Jay Shinn hosted artists and VIPs at a reception in the historic property set to celebrate its centennial next year. During the festivities, museum founder JP Bryan captured the mood best.

“A collection is an expression of a soul; it speaks to where our heart is,” he said. “That is why the museum was founded, to share the important story of Texas and the American West through a world-class collection, outstanding exhibitions, and educational programming.”

The evening raised nearly $100,000 to support educational programming and outreach at The Bryan Museum.

Who: Lori Leal Wedemeyer and Barkley Wedemeyer, Sassy Stanton, Bill Pinckard, Mike Glover, Shara Fryer, Barry Silverman, Frank Rynd, Deborah and Monte Stavis, Kelly and Luis Zúñiga, Kara Przybyl McIver and David McIver, Dianne Reynolds, Stephanie and Brent Kindle, Penny and Townes Pressler, Linda and Jerry Dickson, Bob Leibrock, Paulina Padilla, Nocona Burgess, Vickie McMillan-Hayes, Ricardo Robles, and Bob Stuth-Wade.

museums fundraisers bryan museum visual-art