Storey is the man of the moment
Rice Design Alliance gala applauds "Progressive Art"
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
Photo by Eric Hester
More than 1,000 members of the city's architecture, engineering and construction communities filled the Hilton Americas - Houston hotel to toast Art Storey, executive director of the Harris County Public Infrastructure Department, at the annual Rice Design Alliance gala, "Progressive Art: Infrastructure, Greenspaces, and Waterways."
Much of the recent revamping of Houston's waterways can be credited to Storey, who has also implemented LEED standards and emphasized historic preservation, such as the renovation of the 1910 courthouse, in his position with the county.
Fundraising chair Doug Combes boasted reining in over $500,000 to fund RDA programs, despite the challenging economic times. A silent auction with literary and artistic offerings assembled by Beth Woiccak stole the spotlight before guests entered a series of waterway-inspired gates into the hotel's ballroom, curated by David Andrews with Las Vegas associate Ron Singer. The environment evoked the city's only recently appreciated waterways, while also nodding to Christo and Jeanne-Claudes' iconic saffron-hued Central Park work, "The Gates."
Following an introduction by gala chairs David and Norma George, Storey humbly accepted applause from supporters, including Rice president David Leebron and Y. Ping Sun, Harris County Judge Ed Emmett and Rice School of Architecture dean Sarah Whiting.
Other guests included Larry and Charlotte Whaley, whose daughter, KHOU reporter Katherine Whaley, served as emcee, along with David Harvey and Mikki Hebl, David and John Spaw, Edwin Friedrichs and Darlene Clark, Tad and Sherry Lewis, Susie and Sanford Criner and RDA executive director Linda Sylvan.
