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Houstonians toast Buffalo Bayou Park's birthday with picnic under the stars

What: The 2020 Buffalo Bayou Partnership Picnic

Where: The Water Works at Buffalo Bayou Park

The scoop: More than 200 Houstonians gathered locally and virtually to toast the beloved Buffalo Bayou Park’s fifth anniversary at an elegant picnic. Guests enjoyed a socially distanced, intimate, and elegant picnic al fresco replete with picnic baskets by A Fare Extraordinaire and garden lights beaming under the stars. Music came courtesy of the jazzy José-Miguel Yamal Phase One.

Bergner & Johnson provided the outdoor setting with colorful wildflower centerpieces. Jo’s Mini Mobile Bar served up the event’s signature cocktail, a blood orange margarita dubbed “Buffalo Rita.”

Mayor Sylvester Turner praised BBP and awarded Anne Olson a proclamation announcing the day as Anne Olson Day. The proclamation celebrated Anne’s 25-year anniversary as BBP president and recognized her leadership of Buffalo Bayou Partnership and commitment to making Houston a greener and greater city. Nancy and Rich Kinder, who could not attend,were also recognized for their contributions towards BBP and the enhancement of Buffalo Bayou.

Meanwhile, attendees were treated to a performance by ROCO to showcase the orchestra’s musical scavenger hunt, currently installed throughout Buffalo Bayou Park through the end of the year. The special piece that was originally written for the heroes of Harvey, Anthony DiLorenzo’s “Anthem of Hope: Houston Strong” was recently recommissioned to celebrate our frontline COVID workers.

The evening, chaired by Winifred and Carleton Riser and Leslie and Shannon Sasser, raised nearly $350,000 for Buffalo Bayou Partnership’s (BBP) operating support and will allow the non-profit organization to continue revitalizing, maintaining, and activating Buffalo Bayou.

Who: Sis and Hasty Johnson, Gaynell Floyd Drexler, Lisa Helfman and Lee Haverman, Kelly and John Mooz, Alisha Nathoo, Bo Fraga, Gayle and Bob Eury, Wendy and Shawn Cloonan, Anne Whitlock and Michael Skelly, Geraldina Wise, and Mike Garver.

Diandra Breen, Frances Lummis, Anna Marie Soza, and Chase Musslewhite.

Photo by Jenny Antill

Diandra Breen, Frances Lummis, Anna Marie Soza, and Chase Musslewhite.

fundraisers

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