Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1516370
HOUSTON ARTS ALLIANCE'S AUSPICIOUS ADD ON ART GALA By Caitlin Hsu. Photography Johnny Than. CREATIVE COLLABORATIVE F or Houston Arts Alliance's second Add On Art Gala, co-chairs Tatiana and Craig Massey and Meredith and Mason Barker, along with board chair Michele Leal Farah, welcomed more than 400 guests to the Warehouse at Silver Street Studios. The evening was full of glamour, with lighted orbs and disco balls and stilt walkers decked in pink and purple. But the focal point, of course, was the art. The evening before the gala, HAA's 20 featured artists were joined by sponsors to create collaborative Add On artworks. These were auctioned throughout the night of the gala, with emcee ABC 13 morning anchor Rita Garcia and special guest outgoing Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner, who commemorated our city's dedication to the arts. HAA CEO John Abodeely introduced the honorees: collecting couple Leigh and Reggie Smith and Multicultural Education and Counseling through the Arts (MECA) founder Alice Valdez. In all, HAA raised $583,000 toward its mission of bolstering the city's ambitious arts goals. PC Seen: Dr. Penelope Marks and Lester Marks, Ed Kachinske, Lauren Anderson and Chris Stanaway, Kelly and Nick Silvers, Divya and Chris Brown, and Katie and Jon Deal. Headlining artists included Angelbert Metoyer, Reynier Leyva Novo, Patrick Medrano, Alex Ramos and Billy Baccam of Input Output, Delita Martin, Chaney Trotter, Mark Francis, Jonathan Paul Jackson, and Janavi Mahimtura Folmsbee. Alton DuLaney Antonio Orozco Co-chairs Craig & Tatiana Massey John Abodeely Mayor Sylvester Turner Michele Leal Farah Cruz & Olivia Ortiz Colby Deal Karly Horenn Marc & Duyen Nguyen David Chao, Hope Dorsett, co-chair Meredith Barker McKay Otto, Skye Chao, co-chair Mason Barker