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40 LUCKY 71 ART LEAGUE HOUSTON'S BIG AWARDS NIGHT; MUSEUM OF FINE ARTS, HOUSTON'S EPIC $1.6 MILLION LATIN AMERICAN TO-DO CATHERINE D. ANSPON JOINS THE APPLAUSE. PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX BARBER, LAURA BURLTON. JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON, DANIEL ORTIZ. (continued on page 42) SEEING THE SPECTRUM H ouston has an abundance of galas, but none are quite like Art League Houston, which rung in 71 years this season. Diverse? Yes. Elegant? It can be. Stuffy? Never. The silent auction brims with important work by Texas artists, and the chairmen are well chosen, the honorees beloved and community connected. The speeches are meaningful, and the emcee is a stand-up comedienne whose day job is an artist. So it was when the ALH Gala went down at Hotel ZaZa. Themed Spectrum in a nod to its mission of inclusiveness, the party mirrored ZaZa's rock 'n' roll vibe. Co-chairs Arvia and Jason Few, and Julia O'Bryan Reynolds and ALH board chair Robert Daniel, joined League director Jennie Ash and banter by Emily Peacock. The evening bestowed top honors to Margarita Cabrera (Texas Artist of the Year), Anita and Gerald Smith (Patrons of the Year), and gallerist Betty Moody (Lifetime Achievement). Each received a heartfelt introduction and an artist-made sculpture as award. With a set by DJ Tee Vee, cocktails, seated dinner, brisk bidding, and late-night tunes spun by DJ Gracie Chavez, this was one for the party books. + LATIN AMERICAN FANFARE Gala chairs Elisa Stude Pye & Cris Pye at Latin American Experience Gala Bobby & Phoebe Tudor at Latin American Experience Gala Alvia Wardlaw at Art League Gala Tatiana Massey at Art League Gala Co-chairs Jason & Arvia Few, honorees Anita & Gerald Smith at Art League Gala Patrick Renner, Robert Hodge at Art League Gala Art League Gala Honoree Margarita Cabrera with sons Mateo and Alexander Bailey at Art League Gala Mari Carmen Ramírez, honoree Beatriz González Johanna & Stephen Donson at Latin American Experience Gala