Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/221571
Surreal Eve Konstantin Dimopoulos' cerulean-hued arbols An Enchanting Night Under The Blue Trees CATHERINE D. ANSPON TAKES NOTES FROM THE SYLVAN GLEN. PHOTOGRAPHY ALEXANDER'S FINE PORTRAIT DESIGN AND SMILEBOOTH. Groves Gone Wild It was a surreal evening under the stars in a surprising, wooded setting when a swell set of young professional public art supporters came together with senior stalwarts to raise funds for the Houston Arts Alliance and the (ahem) branch of its programming devoted to temporary public art. The perfectly enchanting setting? Aussie artist Konstantin Dimopoulos' hypnotic site-specific installation The Blue Trees, which adds a touch of the unexpected for joggers and motorists as it transforms stands of crepe myrtle along Waugh Drive rimmed by Memorial and Allen Parkway. Chair foursome Divya and Chris Brown and Kate and Will Stukenberg created the perfect pop-up party, a fête amidst the cerulean-hued arbols transformed by Dimopoulos' (and scores of volunteers') paintbrushes earlier this year. When was the last time you clinked cocktails in an azure grove and did it for a good cause? Adding to the artful and culinary nature Jonathon of this inventive soirée were performances by Glus high-voltage strings Divisi Amped and Frame Dance Productions' otherworldly numbers in the trees; bites by A La Carte Catering; shuttle rides provided by the Wave; perfect sound mixes concocted by DJ Lucy Wrubel; and Smilebooth party pics that captured all the sylvan excitement. How to top this indigo night? There's already talk of Blue Trees Two next fall — stay tuned! Chairman Chris Brown Chairman Divya Brown Chairman Kate Stukenberg Chairman Will Stukenberg See Who Was IN THE SMILEBOOTH Andrew Karnavas Judy Nyquist Alton LaDay Grace Rodriguez Jason Kaminsky Kristin Kaminsky Katie Flaherty Paulina Shybut Theo Shybut Philamena Baird SMILEBOOTH Kathleen Jennings Ting Bresnahan Audrey Cochran Arthur Baird SMILEBOOTH Kenny Tsai Sarah Bray Burt Chao Mike Persia Dawn Persia Lexie Boudreaux Aaron Boudreaux Diana Rivera Marisa Cormier Janae Tsai Tracy Dieterich Alessandra Richetta Meghan Miller Valerie PalmquistDieterich Blue Bloods Under the Blue Trees Houston Arts Alliance CEO Jonathon Glus and Alton LaDay Collector and patroness Judy Nyquist Dealer doyenne Barbara Davis New gallerists to town: The Mission's Natalia Ferreyra and Evan Rottet Audrey and Brandon Cochran Cindy Clifford Sarah Bray Past HAA board chair Fabené Welch Susie and Sanford Criner Philamena and Arthur Baird Ting and John Bresnahan Jen and Steve Dolman (set to chair the Art League Houston Gala) Francine Ballard Kathleen and James Jennings Peter Brown Elin and Tommy Jackson Jenny and Mark Johnson Grace Rodriguez Asia Society director John Bradshaw Jr. SMILEBOOTH Kenny Tsai Divya Brown Jonathan Beitler Catherine D. Anspon Mark Johnson Ted Bowen Aimee Woodall Jenny Johnson Claire Cormier Thielke Peter Brown Janae Tsai SMILEBOOTH What's the craziest thing you've done out of the blue? On a whim, I flew to Portland and spent days shopping my heart out at all the kitschy independent stores in The Pearl. — John Bradshaw Jr. Tommy Jackson Viet Hoang Elin Jackson Barbara Davis I quit my job in New York and moved to the South to marry my husband, who is from New Orleans. But he'd be the first to tell you I'm all about the crazy. — Francine Ballard Not being the spontaneous kind … or a cook ... I decided to invent a flavored hot coffee drink using my soon-to-berotten (well, overly ripe, I should say) organic blueberries that I'd paid a small fortune for. A taste disaster — but, coincidentally, blue! — Judy Nyquist In 2006, I left on a week's notice to hike 2,200 miles across 14 states on the Appalachian Trail. The journey lasted five months and eight days and introduced me to some of the most interesting people I've ever met. — Aimee Woodall John Bradshaw Jr. Seth Vaughan Chris Brown Travis Jenner Thuy Tran Angel Quesada John Clark Lucia Clark When my husband was at a Texans game last year, I painted the inside of our fireplace hot pink! — Claire Cormier Thielke