Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/304026
S ince its inception, the Rothko Chapel has been a symbol of spirituality and acceptance — a sanctuary for all. In 1964, Dominique and John de Menil commissioned artist Mark Rothko to create the art for the space, and Rothko worked in tandem with lead architect Philip Johnson (the designer of the chapel) to produce an atmosphere of meditative serenity. Since then, Rothko's suite of vaporous paintings, considered the summation of his career, has become a pilgrimage site for the international art world, while luminaries from Nelson Mandela and Jimmy Carter to the Whirling Dervishes have graced the chapel during its first half-century. Now, five years later, this edifice's remarkable history will be celebrated with a very important and rare evening: the black-tie Rothko Chapel Visionary Award Gala, Thursday, May 29, at a private club; the incomparable Lynn Wyatt, the chapel's cultural ambassador, takes the helm as chair. Academy Award- winning actress Tilda Swinton jets in to be honored for her dedication to ground-breaking performances, with native Houstonian/acclaimed director Wes Anderson set to bestow the accolade upon Swinton. Just in: A swell Nightcap Lounge puts the finishing flourishes on this once-in-a-lifetime evening, with after-party chairs Cullen Geiselman, Tatiana and Craig Massey and Laura and Will Robertson. PaperCity serves as media sponsor for the entire fête. To acquire tickets, contact Thuy Tran, 713.660.1405, thuy@rothkochapel.org. Erin Oppenheim in this ISSUE M AY 2 0 1 4 | S T Y L E | FA S H I O N | S O C I A L 4 , 6 , 8 P O P. C U LT U R E . G O S S I P. A s we were putting this issue together and I was reading Seth Vaughan's wonderful story about Charles James and his interaction with the de Menil women, I remembered a letter typed with a red typewriter ribbon on sky-blue, onion-skin airmail paper that William Middleton showed me as a tiny peek into his work on the epic biography of the de Menils, 10 years in the making, and due out in Fall 2015. Here is what William says about the letter, which he unearthed in the archives of Columbia University in New York: "Below is a short letter Dominique de Menil wrote to Meyer Schapiro, the important art historian at Columbia University. The letter was written in February 1951, in the midst of the first exhibition of art that she and John had organized, a Van Gogh show for the Contemporary Arts Association (which became the CAMH). It is no exaggeration to say that the exhibition was the most exciting cultural manifestation that had ever been seen in Texas. The letter is great fun, I think, and it says so much about the de Menils' sense of adventure and commitment to Houston. I thought you might enjoy it." I certainly did, and I am sharing it with you. Holly Moore Editor in Chief holly@papercitymag.com D ipping deep into the Cartier archives, and with a nod to Louis-François Cartier (who founded Cartier circa 1847) and Jeanne Toussaint (director of fine jewelry from 1933), Cartier launches two exquisite, eponymous collections. For men, the Louis Cartier Collection offers sleek leather messenger bags, document holders, briefcases, weekend bags and business portfolios. The Jeanne Toussaint Collection for her celebrates the chain bag, tote bag and an asymmetric pouch. Both collections can be made to measure. Here's how it works: Pick a bag style; select from camel, white or Bordeaux leather (or two colors); choose a clasp in red obsidian, pink quartz or silver obsidian; opt for a yellow golden, palladium or Ruthenium metallic finish; and engrave the interior mirror. "These two collections were a Maison initiative to really delve into the archives for something uniquely Cartier. While the shapes are current, the metal details and constructions have all been lifted from the archives," says Marlin Yusan, international director of leather goods. So, who's the lucky girl who already has one ordered? Dallas BagSnob blogger Tina Craig visited the Paris headquarters to customize her own bag. "I chose the Jeanne Toussaint asymmetric pouch style, and Marlin helped me select the skins and hardware," she says. "We went with sumptuous rouge (so very Cartier) pony hair, cream leather gussets, a gold chain and bold green stone clasp. Naturally, this bag is incredibly well made, representing the seamless fusion of jewels and bags; the chain itself is like a Cartier bracelet. I cannot wait to get another one!" Limited-edition men's accessories $1,550 to $46,300, women's bags $2,260 to $14,800, at the Cartier boutique. Rachael Abram Snob Appeal at Cartier Holly Moore FULTON DAVENPORT 20 12 22 14 10 Party: Bayou Breezes at the Root Ball: Palm Beach Pool Party Party: Blue bloods at Rienzi Party: Houston Symphony's first 100 years Style: The life of a scarf — Hermès' La Vie Sauvage du Texas 24 26 42 33 49 Design: On the eve of a Charles James revolution Style: The art of the patroness 52 Design: Five notables at Design Miami/Art Basel Party: Passion for Fashion Luncheon Travel: Inspiring destinations 54 56 64 Decoration: What's new in the design world 40 58 Travel: Three-day layover in San Antonio with Shannon Hall Design: At home with San Antonio artist Kelly O'Connor Art: Keeping pace with Artpace in San Antonio Style: The Giving Tree: six philanthropic souls Parties: Lawndale Art Center's Hair Ball; Hope Stone Dance's Breakfast for Dinner; Fresh Arts' The Space Ball PC House + Art Pick of the New: Fresh places to shop, gaze and graze Style: The cool factor of jewelry designer Eddie Borgo 66 Design: The perfect bath from Elegant Additions' Julie Koch 70 Party: Remembering artist Bert Long Jr. Parties: Aurora Picture Show's Award Dinner; Art League Houston Gala TINA CRAIG Parties: Child Advocates' Angels of Hope Luncheon, Love's in Fashion at Tootsies for Dec My Room, Night Circus with Babette The Rothko Chapel Ramps Up for Its Half-Century Tilda Swinton Wes Anderson Meet Martin Elkort: One of my favorite stories that I've been tracking for the past year stars New York Photo League lensman Martin Elkort, a museum-collected talent who documented America's great melting pot in the 1940s and '50s. In Elkort's captivating lens are Manhattan's immigrant-rich neighborhoods and classic scenes such as a now lost Coney Island. All these he captured with optimism, sensitivity and affection for his subjects and humor. Elkort lives now in California, but his Houston-based daughter, documentary filmmaker Stefani Twyford, has turned her camera on her own dad. The resulting feature, Martin Elkort: An American Mirror, screens Sunday, May 18, 5 pm, at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston. Concurrently, Colquitt's Catherine Couturier Gallery presents a solo for Elkort's insider take on bygone America (May 3 – 31). Gallery Boom: New spaces are proliferating rapidly. The best part: These are galleries of vision that truly advance the art dialogue. Stay tuned next month for the scoop on the Mariago Collective, setting up shop in an award-winning repurposed interior designed by architect David Tsai. Up now at the Mariago, sculptor Tim Glover's gleaming metal abstractions in an avant-garde group view along with works by Kia Neill, Katherine Veneman and more, curated by Techang (May 3 – 31) … We're checking out The Cherryhurst House (1603 Cherryhurst), also freshly minted. Its inaugural show is the fascinating San Francisco collaborative Project B (artists Barbara Levine and Paige Ramey); this duo salvages forgotten vintage pics, re-photographs them, then shows the resulting images to great effect. Reviving the vernacular from the 19th and early 20th centuries, Project B also headlines at Raven Grill (through May 4; Cherryhurst through May 28 by appointment, contact Barbara Levine, 415.272.8548). Light + New Landscape: More to see: light man Jay Shinn, who divides his time between Dallas, Berlin and Manhattan, at Barbara Davis Gallery (through May 24) and new conceptual wry landscape paintings by Will Henry at Hiram Butler Gallery in "Picture Plein" (May 3 – June 28). Catherine D. Anspon Art Notes Martin Elkort's Merry Go Round, 1951 COURTESY THE ARTIST, STEFANI TWYFORD AND CATHERINE COUTURIER GALLERY COURTESY THE ARTIST AND HIRAM BUTLER GALLERY Will Henry's Landscape in Peril, 2014, at Hiram Butler Gallery