Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/126231
{Art} Blue Bloods at the Blanton Marking a 50th Anniversary Milestone at One of America's Foremost University Museums Nancy Nichols Stephen Ames Jennifer Carnes CATHERINE D. ANSPON SURVEYS THE CANVAS. PHOTOGRAPHY AMELIA TARBET, JOSH BAKER. Armond Schwartz Cindy Schwartz Kate Sheerin Going for Gold T he University of Texas' Blanton Museum of Art in Austin is a bastion of important collections spanning American holdings (including the Michener bequest), significant Latin American modern and contemporary, Old Master Italian Renaissance and Baroque treasures, and an expansive trove of prints and drawings. The museum celebrated its first 50 years this spring — and only an exhibition paired with a million-dollar-raising party would do. So they came, more than 550 affluent influentials, from every culture capital of Texas. In the crowd were Houston-based Judy Tate, who chairs the Blanton Museum Council, with her husband Charles; museum director Simone Wicha; the evening's honorary chairs, retired UT Prez Larry Faulkner and former Blanton director Jessie Hite (this duo shaped the reborn Blanton's $83.5 million building, unveiled 2006); 22 regional chairs, including top collectors supreme Cindy and Howard Rachofsky; fellow Dallas denizens Patty and James Huffines; Nancy and Jim Gordon of Houston; former Houstonians Jeanne and Mickey Klein, now of Austin and Santa Fe; and Austin-based Suzanne Deal Booth, whose largesse has resulted in the new Turrell Skyspace at Rice University. Cocktails and the Gold a Go-Go-themed after-party both took place in the Blanton's arcaded Rapoport Atrium with its compelling Teresita Fernández mural that resembles ocean waves. The masterful seated black-tie dinner was across the street at the Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum, where celebrants enjoyed an artful repast devised by Four Seasons Austin's top toque Elmar Prambs. At the centerpiece of the evening was a viewing of "Through the Eyes of Texas," an exhibition of nearly 200 extraordinary offerings culled from the walls of UT alumni from across the country and organized by long-time Blanton curator Annette DiMeo Carlozzi. On hand was museum namesake patron Jack Blanton, in from Houston with wife Ginger, toasting Dallas notables including Margaret McDermott, Mary McDermott Cook, Capera Ryan, Marlene Nathan Meyerson, Cindy and Armond Schwartz, and Janie and Cappy McGarr. Kelli Blanton Eddy Blanton Charles Tate Chairman Jeanne Klein Chairman James Huffines Judy Tate Chairman Mickey Klein Chairman Patty Huffines Richard Mithoff Chairmen Nancy Gordon Ginni Mithoff Simone Wicha Chairman Chairman Howard Howard Rachofsky Rachovsky Chairmen Jim Gordon Ginger Blanton Jack Blanton Chairman Cindy Rachofsky Stuart Stedman Eliza Stedman Chandler Booth Chairman Suzanne Deal Booth McKay Otto Keith Coffee Lynda Chin Ronald DePinho Sterling Qualities Shining Brightly During the Dallas Museum of Art's Silver Supper BY BILLY FONG. PHOTOGRAPHY BRUNO. W hen Ann Hobson throws a party, I'm always eager to see the results of her chic eye. So when she and Melissa Fetter joined creative forces to Tom co-chair The Dallas Museum Karol of Art's annual Silver Supper fund-raiser for the DMA's delicious Decorative Arts program, a smashing evening honoring Margot Perot ensued. Reminiscent of an old-world salon (perhaps they were channeling their love of Downton Abbey), a gorgeous room was filled with a perfect mix of the established Dallas social set and the new guard. After the snoozefest Jennifer Karol that was the Oscars, I was thrilled to see a parade of glamour. Stealing the show were Ann Hobson in plum Christian Dior; Jennifer Eagle and Mason Custard, both in Lela Rose; Melinda Knowles in Badgley Mischka; and Abigail Sinwell in Prada. Other works of art: former DMA director Bonnie Pitman, Cindy Schwartz, Rebecca and Barron Fletcher, Carrie and Steven Carl Becker, Margaret McDermott, Marguerite Webb Hoffman, Ann and Trey Fielder, Catherine Elizabeth Webb and Will Rose, and Caren Prothro. For those of you who might recall, I vowed to pose a party question at each event this season. As I drove over from Fort Worth that evening, I came up with: "If you were a Ewing, which one would you want to be?" My answer, of course, is Val from the Knots Landing offshoot, since she got to sleep with Gary and Mark would get drunk during the day and then slip Knowles on some thigh-high boots for carpooling. Most Maxwell of the men in attendance wanted to be J.R., Anderson since the concept of getting to be a royal ass seemed like fun. As expected, a few girls went with Sue Ellen, since she was the original cougar and got to sleep with John Ross' swim coach, the young Christopher Atkins. After gathering my responses, I have to say that Abigail and Andrew Sinwell are the perfect Pam and Bobby. And, hands down, the quintessential Miss Ellie (the one who really ran the Ewing posse) is Ann Hobson. Kevin Tucker Co-chair Melissa Fetter Co-chair Ann Hobson John Eagle Tiffany & Co. humidor Jeremy Halbreich Andrew Sinwell Honoree Margot Perot Jennifer Jennifer Eagle Eagle Nancy Halbreich Rod Jones Nancy Nancy Perot Perot Abigail Sinwell Caroline Hunt Robert Robert Brackbill Brackbill Marguerite Hoffman Gerald Ford Eric Reeves Nelda Pickens Katherine Reeves Jeff Rich Jan Rich Kelli Kelli Ford Ford Scene stealer: a vintage ice bowl, part of the DMA's American silver collection Melinda Knowles Cindy Schwartz Ed Hawes Julie Hawes MAY | PAGE 34 | 2013 Merry Vose