Of course, creativity is at the heart of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Glassell School of Art and the annual fundraising event held each spring is a colorful mashup of creative talents and zany fun. But never has it been more eclectic and entertaining than Friday night when the party moved to the Texas Medical Center Accelerator or TMCx.
The Glassell School is currently surrounded by road construction, so what better place to hold the "Glassell Gone Gonzo!" themed event than a former Nabisco cookie factory that now provides hip industrial space for medical start-ups.
Chairs Melissa and Albert Grobmyer oversaw the partying that found most of the 300-plus guests dressed in their disco best. Psychedelic chic seemed to be the driving fashion force behind the bold colors and giant floral prints. New York's DJ Kiss provided the spins that had guests dancing amid the disco club setting created by Bergner & Johnson. Think neon light projections, seated lounge areas and vibrant and multicolored floral arrangements.
Focal point of the decor was a 12-foot "disco shark" floating above the DJ, the big fish created for the party by TX/RX Labs.
Adding to the kitty, which by night's end totaled more than $376,000, was the silent auction of 50 artworks contributed by local and nationwide artists and 36 works by Glassell students.
A Fare Extraordinaire provided the party food with a serious buffet including basil roasted salmon, smoked duck confit cigars, smashed potato bar, tie dye deviled eggs and seaweed salad. For the true hipsters in the mix, the munchies bar offerd chili Frito pies, firecracker-encrusted chicken and seasoned curly fries. Rounding out the party fare were mint herbed brownies, butterscotch haystacks, psychedelic Jello shots, lime basil bars and chocolate pretzel pie wedges.
Disco queens and kings included Alfred Glassell III and Marli Andrade, Leslie and Brad Bucher, Betty and Stephen Newton, Kathy and John Orton, Hiram Butler, Susan Young, Judy and Scott Nyquist, Nancy Powell Moore, Clare and Doug Ankenman, Jereann Chaney and Kathy and Marty Goossen.
Glassell School director Joe Havel, left, with chairs Melissa and Albert Grobmyer.
