Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184500
The Icons Come Out Cocktails & Exhibition for Artist Nestor Topchy at the August Geo. H. Lewis H.J. Bott Weihong CATHERINE D. ANSPON TAKES NOTES. PHOTOGRAPHY MIKE CHARLTON. T he invitation read: "Geo. H. Lewis & Sons and PaperCity Magazine invite you to 'Incorpus Articum,' an exhibition by Nestor Topchy." Featured on its frontispiece was a Byzantine-style double-portrait edged in gold leaf. Not every day do you get an invite to an icon opening — nor a summons to a show at a funeral directors, even one as plush as Geo. H. Lewis. So they came, more than 200 of our top art elite — collectors, artists, gallerists, trustees, curatorial types and patrons —to the very august Geo. H. Lewis & Sons Funeral Directors, known for its liveried staff and fitting farewells to Houston royalty. For this evening, that meant a sensitive intervention, removing more than 100 works of art from the chapel, drawing rooms, staterooms and foyers (sumptuously designed by Cathy Chapman), without altering a nail, replacing them with paintings and sculpture that reflected the internationally exhibited artist's career. As is traditional in the house, Elizabeth Stone catered wine and bites, while pianist Marshall Maxwell tickled the ivories. Always involved in a bit of mystery, Topchy let guests in on an insider reveal of his decade-in-the-works project: Hive, a visionary utopian community set to inhabit stacked shipping containers, sited on a 10-acre plot of land yet to be acquired. The art brigade perused Minerva Minerva plans drawn up by architect Si Dang, mingled with the Topchy Topchy intensely brilliant Topchy and partner, fellow creative Mariana Lemisoff and daughter, Minerva; Geo. H. Lewis' soon-to-be CEO John Onstott; Hive board prez Beryl Basham and husband Daryl; patroness Judy Nyquist, who hosted a Hive cocktail this spring; Enrica and Paul Gray; Janis and Paul Jarosz; Paola and Stefano Volterrani; Teta Banks; Tootsies' Chris Goins with Hiram Butler Gallery's Josh Pazda (the gallery gave Topchy his first show, in 1988); Suzanne Staley; Mary Claire Tompkins; Margaret Bott and noted artist husband H.J.; Raquel Segal; board member Pete Gershon; Donae Chramosta with pal Jennifer Krum, in from London; Suzanne Morgan; Stacey Bock; performance artist/painter Jumper Maybach; back from China Weihong and husband Paul Kronfield; Gissele and Conn Trussell; Roger Trandell; Jacqueline Smith; Nicole and Evan Ledet; Nina Jackson; and Michael Tavakoli in dialogue with Larissa Fadeyev. Nestor Topchy's Not the not empty, 2008 Nestor Topchy Margaret Bott Mariana Lemesoff Si Dang Keri CastleberryKnott Daryl Basham Beryl Basham Judy Nyquist Janis Jarosz Paola Volterrani Jennifer Crum Teta Banks Jumper Maybach Donae Cangelosi Chramosta Paul Jarosz Gissele Trussell Conn Trussell Nina Jackson Chris Goins Josh Pazda Larissa Fadeyev PaperCity's Catherine Anspon Lydia BodnarBalahutrak JUST WHAT YOU'RE LOOKING FOR A N E X C L U S I V E I N N E R L O O P G U A R D - G A T E D C O M M U N I T Y Sales Center located at 2 South Wynden Dr ive | Open Monday - Saturday 10am-6pm Sunday 12pm-6pm T. 713.598.8553 | www.audubonhollow.com EXCLUSIVE SALES & MARKETING BY