Halloween weekend, the Orange Show Center for Visionary Art threw a different kind of costume party at Crowne Plaza NRG. Celebrating the non-profit’s 35th anniversary, chairs Dr. Penelope and Lester Marks hosted 500 guests, decked out to fit this year’s gala theme, "Masquerade," at the outlandishly fun event.
You know it isn't your typical black tie soiree when you enter through a forest of neon trees and make your way through a swamp shack (filled of mementos from the Orange Show's long history) and large refrigerator doors to the ballroom.
Grammy award-winning accordionist Wayne Toups and his Zydeco band provided the entertainment and proceeds from a silent auction, featuring pieces by talented artists including James Surls, Sharon Kopriva, and Kelly Moran, and a week-long stay at a hacienda in San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, added to fundraising efforts.
The annual Orange Show benefit brings together a who's who of art and culture. This year, the gala raised nearly $500,000 for the organization, which preserves, promotes and documents visionary art environments and provides opportunities for the expression of personal artistic vision.
Revelers included Orange Show founder Marilyn Oshman, artists Jermine Rogers and Michael Ray Charles, Don Mafrige, Jr., Suzy Simons, Rosie Meyers and Tony Gonzalez, Curry Glassell, Bruce Eames and Sunday Riley, Lynn Goode, Toby Kamps, Tracy and Glen Larner, Kendall and Edward Ondarza, Lane and Bob Schultz, Stuart Rosenberg, Gardner Landry, Marcus Sloan and Shannon Hall, Beth and Chip Lord, Doreen and Frank Herzog, Alvia Wardlaw, and 2016 auction chairs Helaine Lubetkin and Beverly Berry.
Mark Nguyen, Mark Sullivan.
