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40 STILL SIZZLING CONTEMPORARY ARTS MUSEUM HOUSTON CELEBRATES SEVEN DECADES. Catherine D. Anspon checks out the art action. Photography Daniel Ortiz. N ot every fundraiser toasts 70 years; even rarer are such milestones for an avant-garde arts institution. Contemporary Arts Museum Houston, however, opened October 31, 1948, making it the second-oldest non-collecting arts institution in America. So it was with considerable fanfare that the CAMH marked the finale of its 70th- year festivities with a gala that was equal parts elegance and fun. Freeze Frame, as the night was titled, was co-chaired by dynamic couples Haydeh and Ali Davoudi and Jordan and Dylan Seff. The museum was cleverly reimagined by Rebekah Johnson of Bergner & Johnson into an abstract, white-on-white mise en scène, with chandeliers cocooned in fabric. It made for an artful backdrop for the seated dinner by A Fare Extraordinaire in the Brown Foundation Gallery. Christie's auctioneer Steven Zick hammered down six lots, including works by Cheryl Donegan, Jamal Cyrus, Aaron Parazette, and Gael Stack. A por- tion of the space was theatrically curtained off, allotted to the 21 silent art auction lots; guests cocktailed, checked out the offerings, and bid by smart phone for works by McKay Otto, Thomas Glassford, Melinda Laszczynski, and more. Downstairs, Zilkha Gallery was transformed into a disco lounge for the after-party chaired by Taylor E. Landry. DJ John Tran manned the turntable, while the dance floor was packed with an intergenerational mix of patrons, collectors, and influencers. 70 at Alisha & Alex Criner Candice Taylor-Horvath Reggie & Leigh Smith Co-chairs Jordan & Dylan Seff Co-chairs Ali & Haydeh Davoudi Kimberly Lacher, James Bell Patricia Restrepo Rebecca Matalon, Dean Daderko, Jessica Phifer Sara Cain, Cali Alvarado Pettigrew, Margot Hogan, Liz Anders (continued on page 42) Christina Brungardt