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H otel ZaZa provided the white cube for the Art League Gala, a toast to the venerable Montrose-area institution that's more than six decades strong. Four hundred guests brought heavy checkbooks to the soirée chaired by collectors supreme Jereann Chaney and Leigh Smith, with honorary chair Minnette Boesel. The art crowd honored Annise Parker as Texas Patron of the Year, Amy Blakemore as Texas Artist of the Year, and Forrest Prince with the Lifetime Achievement Award in Visual Arts; each honoree received a handcrafted artwork designed by Claire Webb. Prince donated a signature mirrored cross to the auction, which was fetched by Katy Haute, and Blakemore contributed a photograph, won by Mark Taylor. One of the biggest lots was a Mel Chin drawing, acquired by Elizabeth Hamman Oliver. All told, the evening added an eye-popping $265,000 to the Art League's coffers. Chair Jereann Chaney Selven O'Keef Jarmon at 360 Host Poppi Massey Honoree Annise Parker Clint Willour at 360 Michael Peranteau at 360 Betty Moody Dean Daderko at Gala Elizabeth Hamman Oliver Laura Hamman Fain Chair Leigh Smith at Gala Honoree Amy Blakemore at Gala Patrick Renner at Gala Eleanor Williams Melissa Lujan at 360 Nyala Wright Nolen at 360 David Renner Honorary chair Minnette Boesel JUNE | PAGE 47 | 2016 MATTHEW RAMIREZ IS ON THE SCENE. PHOTOGRAPHY ALEX BARBER, EMILE BROWNE. DOUBLEHEADER FOR ART LEAGUE: A BEADED BENEFIT PLUS ARTISTS AND PATRON OF THE YEAR C ollector Poppi Massey opened her casa to support Selven O'Keef Jarmon's ambitious "360 Degrees Vanishing" project, which will wrap the Art League Houston building with 500,000 beads attached to 1,500 panels. Artists, designers and the politically inclined gathered to ensure the big-concept installation comes through. Nyala Wright Nolen donated her party-planning expertise, joined by Brandon Luckett of Branwar Wines, who pitched in for the night's vinos. A screen projected the history and mission of the project, which stretches from the Eastern Cape of South Africa to Houston. Bead workers: Claire Smith of Canopy who donated the artful bites, Art League director Michael Peranteau, board president Sarah Bray, and board members Laynie Bracewell, and Robery Raney with wife Michelle Hung; Craig Massey and daughter Daria; gallerist Betty Moody and curator Clint Willour; and new art czar with the City of Houston Debbie McNulty. Honoree Forrest Prince at Gala Kerry Inman Robert Ruello Zoe Jackson- Jarra David McGee at 360 Sarah Bray at 360 Seth Alverson Sixto Wagan Katia Zavistovski at 360 A quinceañera is a special time in any young Latina woman's life, and such was the spirit evoked by the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft for its 15th anniversary: Its annual martini- themed benefit morphed into Margarita Madness. At HCCC headquarters, chairs Karina and Carlos Barbieri dreamed up a festive Mexicana-inspired evening, from bottomless margaritas and que rico Latin American food to a papel picado station where guests cut paper into traditional hanging garlands. Trio Fórte provided live Latin music — you name it, they played it, from salsa, cumbia and merengue to a surprise mariachi appearance. The night began with guests choosing margarita glasses handmade by local and regional craft artists to take home at evening's end. A candy bar from Candylicious boasted leche quemada, marzipan and tamarind candies, while Green House Catering offered up ceviche, tostadas, shredded pork tacos and empanadas. Also tasty was the silent auction, which brimmed with such temptations as a week-long stay in Puerto Vallarta, a ceramic sculpture by HCCC resident artist Susan Budge and a couture quinceañera gown. Tiaras, tulle skirts and traditional Mexican dresses abounded, but J. Michael Soliz went even further with a rhinestone mask, pink skirt, festive flower appliques and a hot-pink feather boa topped with a hat full of flowers. Also seen: HCCC's new executive director Perry Price with wife Rosemary, and deputy director Mary Headrick; HCCC board prez Edward Lane McCartney and David Gooding; Nyala Wright Nolen; artist Selven O'Keef Jarmon; and grandees Minnette and Peter Boesel, Gracie and Bob Cavnar, Maria and Eduardo Morales, Sara and Bill Morgan, Victoria and Marshal Lightman, Julie and Byron Pettit, and Kara and Ulises Vidal. MATTHEW RAMIREZ REPORTS. PHOTOGRAPHY ROSWITHA VOGLER. A QUINCEAÑERA CELEBRATION FOR MARGARITA MADNESS! Janice Henderson Chair Karina Barbieri Chair Carlos Barbieri Younha Jung Jenny Lynn Weitz Carla Cotropia Cathy Brock Bob Cavnar Gracie Cavnar Minnette Boesel Phyllis Childress Perry Price Victoria Lightman Sandie Zilker Edward Lane McCartney Victoria Gonzalez Renee Cleare J. Michael Soliz Maria Morales Eduardo Morales Farrell Lawo Marshal Lightman Heidi Gerger Holly Kuhn Amy Stephens Miriam Mendoza Susan Budge Kara Smith John Dyess Frances Dyess Julia Gabriel Patrick Lopez-Negrete Ashley Powell