Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1455228
I was seeing red. And by that, I mean all the red dots adjacent to the paintings at the opening night of Donald Robertson's "Alcohol, A Love Story" show at Cerulean Gallery. It was akin to walking into the Gagosian gallery booth at Art Basel Miami and finding that the tech titans and seasoned collectors had already come, purchased all, and gone. Gallery owner Caroline Kneese had shot out an email to guests attending Robertson's reception that the opening had been extended by two hours, given the influx of RSVPs (nearly 300). Drawbertson (as he's known to a legion of loyal Instagram followers) has quickly garnered Dallas' heart since moving to Texas from Southern California last January. Cerulean drew a chic crowd and designer Rob Dailey was ecstatic to share that he had purchased one of the remaining paintings sans red dot. His? "V is for Vin Blanc. The story of my life" he shared. Cornelia Guest made her entrance looking chic and casual in her Levis and a yummy brown Ralph Lauren cashmere sweater under a faux fur vest by MME. Her best accessory was her adorable Great Dane puppy, Pearl. When I asked what she thought about her friend's exhibition, she replied, "Donald's talent is creating beauty and whimsy, and he captures the perfect moments in time. And I also adore him — my fellow recent Texas transplant." Max Trowbridge sauntered in, wearing a leopard Paco Rabanne blazer, alongside Capera Ryan, Joyce Goss, and Francine Ballard (in from Houston). I asked Max what she had been up to, and she summed up the evening in her mellifluous British accent: "So much for dry January; we're all intoxicated in love with Donald's book, Alcohol, A Love Story." Spotted in the queue snaking through the gallery to have their books signed were Luis Araujo; Jerry Mooty; Heath Burnett; Brooke Roberson; Allison Castillo; Alli, Cindi, and Maggie Caudle; Nick Tarantello; Liz Alley; Kyle Steed; Matt Bull; Kendall Goss; and Lisa and Wayne Moore. DRAWBERTSON'S BOOZY NIGHT AT CERULEAN GALLERY By Billy Fong. Photography Jonathan Zizzo. Jerry Mooty Gazing. Mary & Brenan Hefner Brooke Roberson Arien Canales, Caroline Kneese Joyce Goss, Capera Ryan Max Trowbridge Piper Young Rivera Jordan Hanna Rosa Collins Donald Robertson Alison Castillo 36