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MARCH | PAGE 38 | 2015 SPELLING BEE ROCC ALL ABUZZ AT ILLUSTRIOUS AFFAIRS ANNE LEE PHILLIPS SPELLS IT OUT. PHOTOGRAPHY JENNY ANTILL CLIFTON. ANNE LEE PHILLIPS OBSERVES. PHOTOGRAPHY ROSWITHA VOGLER FOR PHOTOS BY ROVO, LEAH WALKER WILSON. I t was a "euphuistic" evening at the annual Great Grown-Up Spelling Bee, benefitting the Houston Center for Literacy. That very word (meaning an elaborate style of writing or speaking) secured the trophy for the team "We can barely spell M-L-P," sponsored by Kim and Dan Tutcher. Needless to say, this was not as serious as your normal spelling bee. Comedian Jeffrey James Binney, in from L.A., had the crowd of 300 at River Oaks Country Club in stitches as he used the selected words in sentences for the contestants (for example, as one sheep told another sheep "I'm just not that into ewe"). Linguistic enthusiasts: chairs Kathleen and James Jennings; honoree Katy Hays with husband Clyde; HCL's Sheri Foreman Elder, Texans vice chairman Cal McNair with wife Hannah, Susie and Sanford Criner, Jane and Gus Eifler, Lindsey and Hooman Amiralai, Lyndsey and Brett Zorich, and David Mincberg. Be our guest at the best parties in Houston and Dallas. Visit papercitymag.com for more party coverage. Amber Wootton Amitav Misra April Ewton Spencer Stasney Allison Stasney Cal McNair Sarah Bracewell Spelling Bee Champions Joe Herman and Boran Buturovic Paige Griffin Jennie Getten Doug Getten Hannah McNair Annie Eifler Jeffrey James Binney Michael Pipkin Laura Sheedy Sydney Eifler Robert Eifler David Kennedy Samantha Kennedy Nicole Katz Sheri Foreman Elder Honoree Katy Hays Carolyn Dorros Chair James Jennings Chair Kathleen Jennings THE WOLTZ EFFECT The Institute of Classical Architecture and Art, Texas, hosted Thomas Woltz of the renowned Virginia-based landscape architecture firm Nelson Byrd Woltz for a lecture at Christ Church Episcopal Cathedral. Woltz shared his creative process behind designing outdoor environments that balance beauty with ecological restoration, including his upcoming master plan for Memorial Park. He also signed copies of his book, Nelson Byrd Woltz: Garden, Park, Community, Farm. Taking notes: Russell Windham, Cedar Baldridge, Bill Curtis, Julie Koch, Rogelio Carrasco, Daphne Scarbrough, Frank Brown, and Hill Swift. CREATIVITY IN THE BAYOU CITY Unexpected rain prompted the move of a party originally slated for the Buffalo Bayou Silos to East Downtown's Houston Makerspace. "Iluminación: A Bayou Bash" was a celebration of the conclusion of the Houston Arts Alliance's major three-month project "Transported + Renewed" and benefitted HAA's creativity-fostering programs. More than 200 guests admired Pablo Gimenez-Zapiola's artistic projections on the floors, ceilings and walls of the venue and posed for pics by Sharon Engelstein's sizable inflatable tugboat sculpture Whatever Floats. Luminaries: co-chair group Travis Torrence and Heath LaPray, Tatiana and Craig Massey, Jessica Crute and Eduardo Garza; Jonathon Glus and Alton LaDay, Fabené Welch, Duyen Huynh and Marc Nguyen. BRIGHT LIGHTS, BIG PICTURE Acclaimed performance artist/creator of avant-garde cinema Carolee Schneemann was honored for "exhibiting extraordinary originality in the field of moving image art" at an intimate dinner for 60 at the Aurora Picture Show, catered by City Kitchen. The annual event benefits Aurora's artistic screenings and education programs. Houston artist Nancy Douthey was commissioned to make the award (a unique cat trophy photograph in a gilded frame) and shared a moving tribute to Schneemann, who then delighted attendees by answering questions about her work. With a career spanning five decades, there was much to discuss. Cinephiles: chair Judy Nyquist, Emmelie Kopp, James Bell, Karen Farber, Heidi Gerger, Thedra and Stephen Cullar-Ledford, and Jo and Jim Furr. Sarah Stauder Jim Furr Jo Furr at Aurora Bevin Dubrowski at Aurora Brennan Kelly at Iluminación Marc Nguyen at Iluminación Stacy Andell at Iluminación John Andell Duyen Huynh Jonathon Glus & Alton LaDay with Sharon Engelstein's Whatever Floats at Iluminación Co-chair Craig Massey at Iluminación Co-chair Eduardo Garza at Iluminación Daphne Scarbrough Thomas Woltz Cedar Baldridge at Woltz Russell Windham at Woltz Sandra Jonas Desguin at Woltz Julie Koch Hill Swift at Woltz Daniel Ostendorf at Woltz Katherine Hart Bill Curtis Co-chair Jessica Crute Co- chair Tatiana Massey Co-chair Travis Torrence Co-chair Heath LaPray Lauren Geller Honoree Carolee Schneemann at Aurora Emmelie Kopp at Aurora James Bell Karen Farber Chair Judy Nyquist Heidi Gerger at Aurora Jereann Chaney at Aurora Dan Dubrowski Henri Boyd Bradley Bracewell William Griffin