Shelby's Social Diary
Young Professionals get the keys to the kingdom — and a jump start on high-profile Texas art fair
Keys to next October's Texas Contemporary Art Fair were temptingly dangled before young professionals with a flare for art when Access Contemporary officially launched on Wednesday with a special evening at DiverseWorks.
Just the ticket for budding collectors, membership in the nascent ensemble will entitle participants to behind-the-scenes opportunities during the art fair ranging from tours of private collections and studio open houses to gallery visits and an after-hours cocktail party at the fair itself.
Close to 150 art-enamored YPs joined a sprinkling of gallerists and art lovers for the evening that began with a multimedia performance piece showcasing choreography by Lydia Hance, interactive dance by Courtney D. Jones and original music by Mark Hirsch.
While discussing the mid-October art extravaganza, guests schmoozed over watermelon and cucumber cocktails, brewskies from St. Arnold Brewing Company and bites from Damian's and Eleven XI. While DJ E-Rush provided a dubstep backbeat, the art flock perused DiverseWorks’ new show L'esprit de l'escalier.
Access Contemporary host committee members Kerry Inman, Adrienne Johnson Yost, Michael Mandola and Liz Anders welcomed the art-minded crew that included Claudia Solis, Alexa Rosa, Gin Braverman, Matt Johns, Meredith Riddle, Adam Brackman, Saba Jawda, Kyler Fields, Whitney Radley, David Shelton and Barbara Davis.