With psychedelic lighting projections, Courrège lunettes and a canopy of polychromatic umbrellas, there was no mistaking the modernist zeitgeist that invaded the Blaffer Art Museum for its British-inspired hipster blitz.
"Ready. Steady. Go!," so titled after the 1960s television program with which music-loving Brits started their weekend, roused some 275 of the city's art cognoscenti to make a dandified entrance. Chicks came styling such fashions as go-go boots, jumper dresses and pillbox hats and studs arrived in black suits with mop-top dos in the manner of The Beatles.
While nibbling on light bites and polishing off plenty of bubbly, guests admired the remarkable collection of art that represented past, present and future exhibiting artists at the innovative gallery. Up for grabs via the silent auction were a series of fab four prints by Jo Ann Fleischhauer after her public art installation What Time Is It?, a stunning photograph by Anton Ginzburg and an ornate porcelain piece by Francesca DiMattio.
The vintage Volkswagen slug bug bus restored as a photo booth? Now that's outta sight.
You could say that party chairs Cullen Geiselman, Ryan Gordon and Leslie and Mark Hull set a mood fitting to honor Joanne Guest Wilson and Welcome Wilson Sr. for their tireless support of the museum and the University of Houston community.
The seated dinner catered by City Kitchen (the heirloom tomato tartar with basil sorbet was a standout) offered a respite from the bidding that, with the generosity of sponsors such as Ballard Exploration Co., McGovern Foundation, Gensler, Saint Cloud, Saks Fifth Avenue, Bentley Mills and ACS Flooring Group, tallied upwards of $300,000.
Partying with director and chief curator Claudia Schmuckli were Renu and Suresh Khator, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Beth Madison, Kathrine G. McGovern, Sallie Morian and Michael Clark, Beth Robertson, Dean Putterman, Lillie T. Robertson, Louisa Stude Sarofim, Jo and Jim Furr, Meredith and Travis Hedemann, Katherine and Rick Chambers, Emily Church, Heidi Gerger, Kim and Richard Lucas and Billy and Christy McCartney.
Meredith and Travis Hedemann, from left, Beverly Barrett and Michelle Mendenhall.
