Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/184605
Where the Girls {and Boys} Were Heidi Gerger at CAMH Host Janet Hobby, chair Karol Barnhart Chair Carson Seeligson at CAMH Leading Ladies and Dashing Gents at Two Big Art Nights in November Marcy Taub Wessel Sara Dodd-Spickelmier at CAMH CATHERINE D. ANSPON TAKES NOTES ON THE TREASURE HUNT. PHOTOGRAPHY PHYLLIS HAND, PETE BAATZ. Lively to August Evenings for a Pair of Our Favorite Museums While luncheons no longer Jereann Chaney Letty Loya at CAMH belong exclusively to the ladies, one evening totally and completely does — with a corresponding night bookended for the gents. Not coincidentally, these strictly boys- and girls-only social occasions both happen in late fall: respectively, One Great Night in November and Another Great Night in November. The former, a black-tie smoker for the big boys, benefits the coffers of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, while the latter, filled with femmes in designer frocks pursuing art-related clues, is one of the biggest benefits of the year for the Contemporary Arts Museum Houston. Lynn Wyatt, Karen Watkins at CAMH Valerie Cassel Oliver, Bill Arning Lauren Silverstein at CAMH CAMH Wow Our tale of two parties begins at the gracious, spacious home of Another Great Night in November host Janet Hobby, whose day job is a partner in the firm MKG Art Management. Hobby's abode made a lovely backdrop for the always tightly contested annual Treasure Hunt. The ante was high this year: sleek clutches donated by retail sponsor Dior for the Susie Criner victorious table. (Would you have been close in at CAMH the contest? Check out a few actual questions on this page.) The sold-out evening, chaired by Carson Seeligson and Karol Barnhart, soared off the charts: The 325 guests raised $245,000 for the museum's contemporary mission. Who were the lucky ladies who captured the Dior bounty? The art-smartest ones in the room included Sissy Kempner (when hasn't she won?), Susie Criner, Liz Crowell, Fresh Arts Coalition founder Marita Fairbanks, Cece Fowler, Marley Shushana Castle Lott, Evelyn Nolen, Christie's Jessica at CAMH Phifer, Beverly Robinson and architect Lauren Rottet. For those whose hopes were dashed, study up on your art homework. There's always 2012! CAMH Social Sculpture Senior curator Valerie Cassel Oliver Director Bill Arning, dropping by during cocktail hour Chair daughter Kelly Garwood Diane Lokey Farb Heidi Gerger at CAMH Lynn Wyatt Jereann Chaney Letty Loya Dior brass Karen Watkins, Lauren Silverstein and Dior store director Liz Marsh Gallerist Kerry Inman Nancy Littlejohn Henrietta Alexander Poppi Massey Tatiana Massey Nancy Abendshein Sara Dodd-Spickelmier Cabrina Owsley Phoebe Tudor Nathan Avery, Bill Hill at MFAH Puff, Puff for MFAH Two weeks later, Tatiana Massey, Poppi Massey at CAMH Kelly Garwood at MFAH Chair gents Will Mathis Wally Wilson at MFAH it was the boys' night out over at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston — the big boys, that is. Father-son duo Wally Wilson and Will Mathis chaired the heftyticket, black-tie benefit where Jackson and Company did catering honors, Bentleys were parked outside and Davidoff cigars provided the grand finale in the Alice Pratt Brown Garden. The night's total mirrored the prominence of the guests: 320 attended, $1.236 million was raised. To add to the energy of the evening, famed twin antiquarians Leigh Keno and Leslie Keno came in to serve as master of ceremonies, overseeing the presentation of new art acquisitions for the MFAH's permanent collection, including the top vote getter: Constant Mayer's 1865 canvas Recognition: North and South, which poignantly depicts the Civil War's impact. Another bequest to the museum made that evening was an Ancestral Suspension Hook from New Guinea, gifted by the chairs in honor of Isabel Brown Wilson, Wally Wilson's wife and Mathis' mother. MFAH Grand Canvas Les Ballard Brad Bucher Alfred Glassell Jr. Bobby Tudor Jim Flores Albert Chao Nancy Littlejohn at CAMH Bill Hill Reed Morian Pete Coneway Berdon Lawrence Tom Glanville Herman Stude Meredith Long Fayez Sarofim Michael Linn Lenoir Josey Jerry Finger Bob McNair Pilar de la Garza, Astrid Van Dyke Gabriela Dror at CAMH Cullen Geiselman at CAMH Berdon Lawrence, Meredith Long, John Knotts at MFAH Ann Wolf at CAMH Phoebe Tudor, Kelli Blanton at CAMH Leigh Keno, Leslie Keno at MFAH Kerry Inman Lea Weingarten at CAMH Treasure Hunt Questions 1. While deputy director of the Walker Art Center, this Cabrina Owsley, Lisa Mathis at CAMH Marley Lott Nancy Abendshein at CAMH Phillip Sarofim, Andrew Sarofim Fayez Sarofim, Christopher Sarofim at MFAH David Ott, chair Wally Wilson Corbin Robertson at MFAH Bobby Tudor, Pete Coneway Bob McNair at MFAH APRIL | PAGE 10 | 2012 French-born curator organized the exhibition "How Latitudes Become Forms: Art in a Global Age," which was on view at the CAMH in 2004. 2. The above curator was named director of the Dia Art Foundation in 2008. Dia was originally founded in 1974 by the German art dealer Heiner Friedrich with his wife, the art patron Philippa __________ and Helen __________, a Houston art historian. 3. Who is the editor of The New York Times puzzle featured in the documentary film Wordplay? 4. The above New York Times editor is the only known person to have a received a degree in _______________, the study of puzzles. ANSWERS: 1. Phillipe Vergne. 2. de Menil, Winkler. 3. Will Shortz. 4. Enigmatology.