What: 19th annual Art on the Avenue.
Where: Winter Street Studios.
The scoop: The Heights-area venue was Art Central as nearly 600 supporters turned out to bid on 545 paintings and jewelry created by 285 artist and 35 student artists, with proceeds benefiting Avenue CDC, which builds affordable housing for artists, seniors and low-income families. A couple of days earlier, 250 guests attended a preview party, where they got an early opportunity to bid on the art and heard Mayor Annise Parker speak on the importance of Avenue CDC's mission.
The offerings ranged from paintings by Earle Staley, Kermit Eisenhut and Marlo Saucedo to an amazing hat and bejeweled leggings designed by Violet Peacock's Lindsay Halpin and wearable art jewelry created by Kelly Buckner. Graffiti artistGONZO247 created a special piece of artwork live for the occasion.
The two evenings raised more than $200,000 for the non-profit.
Who: Avenue CDC executive director Mary Lawler, preview party host Dianne Webb, Janet and Paul Hobby, William Griffin, Minette Boesel, David Adickes, Joseph Havel, Steve Kirkland, Beth Wolff, Jon Deal, Leisa Holland-Nelson, Sandra Porter, Shari Koziel, and Lauren Fisher, who jetted in from Washington, D.C., for the weekend.
Also in the crowd: Sandi Seltzer Bryant, Kathryn and Richard Rabinow (Kathryn's digital artwork was in the show), David and Lesley Work, Jamie and Kacey Bryant, and Bob and Cynthia Card.
Model Stephanie Long shows off Violet Peacock's hat and clothing designs while posing with Dianne Webb.
