PaperCity Magazine

June 2014 - Houston

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Fine Print Auction Bid-A-Rama W eeks later, the Biennial was in full swing, reaching its apex with the much-anticipated International Fine Print Auction, held at the Doubletree Downtown, which functioned as de facto FotoFest HQ for a full six weeks. At the podium, Sotheby's VP and photo expert Denise Bethel wielded the gavel with authority, while the global gathering honored ardent supporters Sherry and Jim Kempner. Three hundred and eighty attendees and 60-plus live and silent lots helped raise a record-rousing $430,000 for offerings from some of the world's most celebrated artists employing the photographic media. Brisk bidding attended the top lot: Moroccan artist Lalla Essaydi's harem- influenced mise en scène. The buyer? A Houston collector who wishes to remain hush, hush. PC moment: Meeting distinguished gallerist and artist Hamza Serafi, in from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, Forbes-listed (#52 of the wealthiest in the Arab world) and the lucky winner of images by Abdulnasser Gharem (Saudi Arabia), Vee Speers (Australia) and Ewa Zebrowski (Russia). Steve Sabella at Auction with his Metamorphosis, 2012 TWO VIEWS IN THE CATHERINE D. ANSPON REPORTS. PHOTOGRAPHY EMILE BROWNE, ANNA VESELOVA, MICHELLE WATSON FOR CATCHLIGHT GROUP. JUNE | PAGE 12 | 2014 International Lens of FotoFest BRISK BIDDING ATTENDED THE TOP LOT: MOROCCAN ARTIST LALLA ESSAYDI'S HAREM-INFLUENCED MISE EN SCÈNE. THE BUYER? A HOUSTON COLLECTOR WHO WISHES TO REMAIN HUSH, HUSH. Saks Fifth Avenue's Big Biennial Kickoff I NSTEAD OF AN F-STOP, IT WAS A SAKS-STOP WHEN SAKS FIFTH AVENUE CONTINUED ITS TRADITION OF HOSTING THE OFFICIAL KICKOFF FÊTE FOR THE FOTOFEST BIENNIAL. In 2012, the Russians flocked, but this year the vibe was even more transcontinental. Illustrious exhibiting artists and the gallerists who represent them took over Saks' first level, arriving from London, Paris, Cairo, Dubai, Saudi Arabia and more, all representatives of the Arab world, in keeping with the Biennial's emphasis on the Middle East and its photographic talents. At the helm of Saks, store director Bobby Dees and wife Wezy, joined by PR directress Sylvia Forsythe, curated an inspired evening welcoming FotoFest founders/ the legendary Houston-based photojournalists Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin, newly minted director Steven Evans, and German- headquartered curator Karin Adrian von Roques. Well-connected art and social maven of focus Neda Ladjevardian reigned as chair, while Idaho-distilled RWB Vodka, thanks to the brand's Robert Federowicz, provided the détente for the St. Germain-infused vodka Fototinis. In the cultural aperture: CAMH board chair Bill Goldberg; collectors John Guess Jr., Johanna Donson, and Judy Nyquist; Beachtown's Tofigh Shirazi; long-time FotoFest board member Kath Blanco; Mercury Baroque's Matthew Dirst; Ellie and Saeed Taghdisi; and exhibiting artists Steve Sabella, Sueraya Shaheen, and Faisal Samra, all traveling in from the Middle East and/or Europe. Wezy Dees Bobby Dees at Saks Sueraya Shaheen at Saks Nina Helms Sannam Warrender Lamees Al-Alahi Fatima Nasser at Saks James Bell Mary Alice Aigner Jason Aigner at Auction Jeremy Lock at Auction Sixto Wagan at Saks Matthew Dirst Chair Neda Ladjevardian at Saks John Guess Jr. at Saks Bill King at Saks Bahareh Jalalabadi at Saks Judy Nyquist at Saks Kath Blanco at Saks Robert Federowicz at Saks Zoe Goldman Karin Adrian von Roques Faisal Samra at Saks Shannon Buggs at Saks Steven Evans at Saks Deborah Colton at Saks Fred Baldwin Wendy Watriss at Saks Barbara Davis at Saks RWB Vodka fueled the Fototinis. Chuy Benitez at Saks Vinod Hopson Hamza Serafi at Auction Arthur Baird Afsaneh Jalalabadi at Saks Johanna Donson Sylvia Forsythe D'Andra Simmons Lalla Essaydi's Harem Revisited #35, 2012

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