trailblazin' ladies

Rowdy rodeo bash tips a hat to Houston's trailblazing ladies

What: Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo Trailblazer Awards

Where: Hilton Americas-Houston

The scoop: A rowdy crowd of 1,400 Houstonians packed the Hilton Americas-Houston for the 21st Annual Trailblazer Awards Luncheon and Fashion Show. The popular event, which serves as a stylish run-up to rodeo season, honors outstanding female Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo volunteers.

This year’s honorees — dubbed “Sweethearts of the Rodeo” — included Ginger Brown, Debi Gan, Gretchen Gilliam, Pamela Logsdon, and Patti Wilburn. Each honoree was gifted a custom-designed bracelet by local designer Christina Greene.

The five honorees (many clad in fab cowboy boots) walked the runway to cheers of an adoring crowd. Each honoree is chosen because they reflect the well-known rodeo volunteer spirit, and have shown dedication to the organization through their time, talent, and generosity, according to a press release. Each woman also serves on multiple committees over a span of at least 10 years.

After the honorees rocked the runway, Tootsies style guru Fady Armanious unleashed a sizzling spring 2020 fashion show. With a special nod to the rodeo, models sashayed down the runway in shades of soft blue. In addition to the rodeo nod, bold in-bloom patterns and sparkle could also be seen on the runway, as glittering high heels stole the hearts of many already well-heeled women. The fashion show wrapped up with eveningwear, where sweet florals and dotted designs were key trends.

All throughout the show, a massive marketplace greeted eager shoppers. At the show’s end, guests were invited to boot scoot and boogie to the sounds of the Black Cat Choir in the Lovers Lounge.

Who: HLSR chairman of the board, Jim Winne, and wife, Lynda; HLSR president and CEO Joel Cowley and wife, Tammy; Ray Hinsley and wife, Arlene; J.P. “Hap” Hunnicutt; Pat Mann Phillips; Chris Richardson and wife, Anne; Charles R. “Butch” Robinson and wife, Paula; R. H. “Steve” Stevenson; Wayne Hollis and wife, Peggy; and Ed McMahon.

Trailblazer honorees Debi Gan, Gretchen Gilliam, Pamela Logsdon, Ginger Brown, and Patti Wilburn.

Photo by Michael Saavedra

Trailblazer honorees Debi Gan, Gretchen Gilliam, Pamela Logsdon, Ginger Brown, and Patti Wilburn.

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