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Chair Marc Melcher Cullen Geiselman SEPTEMBER | PAGE 46 | 2015 CREATIVITY BLOSSOMS AT THE BLAFFER GALA ANNE LEE PHILLIPS ON THE PERFUMED AFFAIR. PHOTOGRAPHY DANIEL ORTIZ. P eonies, tulips and posies! For the Flora Obscura-themed gala at the Blaffer Art Museum, dozens of 19th-century Turkish Oushaks in shades of blush and peach from Carol Piper Rugs layered the cement floors, while cloud installations rained pink blossoms from the ceiling. Blaffer director/chief curator Claudia Schmuckli oversaw this year's silent auction, which included works by artists Mel Chin, Shane Tolbert, Bret Shirley and Trenton Doyle Hancock. Patrons snatched up pairs of kaleidoscopic FutureEyes glasses, as their purchase offered entrée into a raffle with fabulous offerings including gemstone earrings from Tenenbaum & Co.'s Colore collection. Another hot item was Jackson and Company's Five Senses Dessert, which capped off the seated dinner: Each plate was garnished with a candy whistle, which led to tweets reverberating throughout the gallery. A specially produced floral- themed short film by Matter Creative, starring three Houston Ballet dancers and choreographed by Oliver Halkowich, followed. In all, the evening raised more than $300,000 for the University of Houston's contemporary art gallery. Flower-power brokers: chairs Jo and Jim Furr and Marc Melcher; honorees Lisa and Russell Sherrill; supporters Beth Madison, Anne Brown, Philamena Baird, Marita and J.B. Fairbanks, Jereann Chaney, and Gretchen and Andrew McFarland. Christiane Stuart Gordon Huddleston Jonathon Glus Alton LaDay Jamie Bell J.B. Fairbanks Sebastian Keitel Katharine Barthelme Gretchen McFarland Heidi Gerger Kris Stuart Chair Jo Furr Chair Jim Furr Honoree Lisa Sherrill Honoree Russell Sherrill Claudia Schmuckli Jereann Chaney Katherine Phelps Leslie Ballard Hull Laura Robertson Beth Madison Libbie Masterson Carol Piper Kate McConnico Emmelie Kopp Nina Delano Wirt Blaffer Marita Fairbanks Susie Bowen Kaleta Blaffer Johnson GENTLY USED, MUCH APPRECIATED AT THE SALVATION ARMY REFLECTIONS ON STYLE MATTHEW RAMIREZ WITH THE CHARITY TREND REPORT. PHOTOGRAPHY KIM COFFMAN. T he Salvation Army Women's Auxiliary's Reflections on Style, its designer resale runway bash, reflected charity giving at its best: $702,000 in the coffers for Houston projects. Fund-raising phenom Gina Saour chaired the luncheon and runway show and couture chairs Linda McReynolds, Phoebe Tudor and Rose Cullen curated the cache of gently used and never worn donated designer goods, from the closets of Diane Lokey Farb, Ann Bookout, Pat Breen, Cynthia Petrello, Joan Schnitzer Levy, Lynn Wyatt and more. The popular Chic Boutique, chaired by Kathryn King Coleman and Rhonda Jones, showcased wares from the runway show and more from Valentino, Chanel, Oscar de la Renta and Dolce & Gabbana, among others. Treasures included a lace Oscar de la Renta cocktail dress with price tag (was $3,500, sold for $300), classic gray Chanel metallic bag that retails for $5,500 sold for $1,500, Chanel suits retailing from $5,000 to $15,000 flew out the door at $450-$650, with all proceeds earmarked for The Salvation Army's 121-year-old mission. Honoree Jan Duncan was recognized for her long-standing commitment to community service and generosity, especially within the Texas Medical Center (her late husband, Dan, is the namesake of the Dan L. Duncan Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine). Runway guru Lenny Matuszewski produced the stunning show, aided by stylist Tamara Klosz Bonar. In the crowd: Vicki West, Jo Lynn Falgout, Alice Burguieres, Elise Joseph, Janice McNair, Lily Andress, Tena Lundquist Faust, Tama Lundquist, Debbie Leighton, Sheridan Williams, Carol Sharpe, Penny Lloyd, Alice Mosing, Ginger Blanton, Deborah Dunkam, and Auxiliary president Lucy Lewis. For more party coverage, visit papercitymag.com. Joanne King Herring Alice Burguieres Phoebe Tudor Linda McReynolds Elise Joseph Cynthia Petrello Debbie Leighton Lucy Lewis Honoree Jan Duncan Chair Gina Saour Carolyn Mann Jeanne Ruberti Lenny Matuszewski Tena Lundquist Faust Tama Lundquist Diane Lokey Farb Vicki West Jo Lynn Falgout Kathy Mann Sheridan Williams Kathryn King Coleman Rhonda Jones