Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/758043
Catherine D. Anspon reports on a big night for UNICEF benefi tting Syrian refugee kids. Photography Jenny Antill Clifton S ometimes an auction is about more than acqui- sition, with the works on the block contributing to a cause. Such was the case with the No Lost Generation benefi t, an effort through UNICEF to fund education for Syrian children in refugee camps in Lebanon and Jordan. To raise awareness and dol- lars, a trio of Houston-based, globally focused women came together as chairs: Dina Alsowayel, Rania Daniel, and Veronique Prentice. Elizabeth Swift, and Sultana and Moez Mangalji stepped forward as sponsors, creating a high-energy cocktail party at co-sponsor Deborah Colton Gallery, with decor and event design by Swift + Company and catering by La Table. The evening unfolded in two parts: a viewing of important works by Middle Eastern talents, accompanied by the Frequencies ensemble, head- lined by vocalist Radwan Ktech (a star from the Arabic version of The Voice) with violinist Andrey Mukaddasi; then a brisk live auction (in conjunction with Paddle8) conducted by Stephanie Landess, in from New York. By night's end, more than six fi gures had been raised, fueled by a dramatic charcoal on paper by Sadiq Al Fraji — the top lot — hammered down for $35,000. International and notable: UNICEF SW director Nelson Bowman; FotoFest's Wendy Watriss, Fred Baldwin, and Steven Evans; Fay and Salim Zakhem; guest artist/pho- tographer Rania Matar who has documented the refugee children; Sabiha Rehmatulla; Monsour Taghdisi and Henry Richardson; MFAH director Gary Tinterow and Christoper Gardner; Zeina and Nijad Fares; Aliyya and Herman Stude; Maria and Neil Bush; Project Row Houses' and UH's Rick Lowe; the Mitchell Center's Karen Farber; and Sima and Masoud Ladjevardian. 104 Chair Rania Daniel Rania Matar Chair Dina Alsowayel Chair Veronique Prentice Sima Ladjevardian Rana Abboushi Rick Lowe Gary Tinterow, Amy Purvis, Christopher Gardner Donatella Benckenstein Fay Zakhem Aliyya Stude Steven Evans, Deborah Colton Maria Bush, Sabiha Rehmatulla, Fadila Kibsgaard Karen Farber MIDDLE-EASTERN MASTERWORKS Javier Loya, Becca Cason Thrash, Lucinda Loya Monsour Taghdisi Lisa LaGrone Nelson Bowman Stephanie Landess Daria Daniel