Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/126234
{Art} Blue Bloods at the Blanton Nancy Nichols Marking a 50th Anniversary Milestone at One of America's Foremost University Museums Stephen Ames Jennifer Carnes CATHERINE D. ANSPON SURVEYS THE CANVAS. PHOTOGRAPHY AMELIA TARBET, JOSH BAKER. Cindy Schwartz Armond 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; 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 fellow hometown notables including son Eddy Blanton and daughterin-law Kelli, Cornelia and Meredith Long, Cynthia Toles, Sara Dodd-Spickelmier, gallerist David Shelton, Susan Garwood and George Peterkin, and Michael Landrum and Pepper Paratore. Kelli Blanton Eddy Blanton Charles Tate Chairman Jeanne Klein Judy Tate Chairman Mickey Klein Chairman James Huffines 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 Top Notes Lynda Chin Ronald DePinho Jazzing it Up With the Moores School and a Symphonic Soirée at Bottega Veneta MEGAN PRUITT WINDER AND BRIANNA MILLS HAVE THEIR EARS TO THE SCENE. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL, KIM COFFMAN. Honoree Catherine D. Anspon at Moores Kelli Cohen Fein at Moores T Bobby he Moores School of Music Tudor at Bottega Society's All That Jazz Brunch Phoebe Tudor at filled the Houston Country Club Bottega with the musical stylings of the U of H school's Jazz and Seraphim Quartets, setting the tone for an engaging New Orleans-themed afternoon, complete with second-line dancing between the tables of HCC. Chair Eleanor Connan and co-chairs Marie LeNotre, and Jeanne Sims presented awards to six recipients: Lilly Andress, Outstanding Leader in Community Honoree Lilly Service; PaperCity's Catherine D. Anspon, Andress at Kathi Outstanding Leader in the Arts; Marie Moores Rovere at Bosarge, Outstanding Leader in Philanthropy; Moores Sally and Norman Reynolds, the Immanuel and Helen Olshan Award for Vision, Leadership and Commitment; and Moores' Cullen Distinguished Professor pianist Abbey Simon, in from Geneva, for Lifetime Achievement. All jazzed up: emcee Deborah Duncan, the Moores School director David Ashley White, Society prez Kathi Rovere, and honorary Diane Diane chairs Phyllis Williams and Diane Gendel. Lokey Lokey Farb at Farb at The high notes continued at Bottega Veneta as Bottega Bottega philanthropic swan Phoebe Tudor presided over an evening of clinking glasses and shopping for a cause: the glittering Houston Symphony Ball, which she and husband Bobby Tudor would chair weeks later at Rice's Shepherd School. Melodious ones: Diane Lokey Farb, Audrey and Brandon Cochran, Karina Barbieri, Bobbie and John Nau, Sherry and Jim Smith, Mary Ann and David McKeithan, Jane Ann and Jasper Welch, Nancy and Robert Peiser, Lindley Arnoldy, and the man at the top of the Symphony, Mark Hanson. Standing ovation: Bottega Veneta donated 15 percent of the week's sales to the ball, which went on to break all previous gala records. John Nau at Bottega Bobbie Bobbie Nau at Nau at Bottega Bottega Patricia Cooper at Moores Deborah Duncan at Moores Honoree Marie Bosarge at Moores Co-chairman Marie LeNotre at Moores Betsy Norman at Bottega Jason Volz at Bottega Sharin Norman at Bottega Co-chairman Jeanne Sims at Moores Rachael Volz at Bottega Honoree Sally Reynolds at Moores Chairman Eleanor Connan at Moores Brandon Cochran at Bottega Mark Hanson at Bottega Honorary chair Phyllis Williams at Moores Lindley Arnoldy at Bottega Honoree Abbey Simon at Moores MAY | PAGE 14 | 2013 David Ashley White at Moores Honorary chair Diane Gendel at Moores Audrey Cochran at Bottega