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Seafair, Betty Blake's home in Newport, Rhode Island, circa 1950s. TRINITY The main dining room at Row Houses, Lovejoy was ready to strike out on her own, into a brick- and-mortar spot — one that could be fluid, blending history with the ability to layer in food, music, and visual art. She connected with urbanists David Gardner and Phillip Arnett, who had recently completed a redux of an 1880 Victorian in the Old Sixth Ward. Says Lovejoy of her new art nexus, The Union, "There's nothing like this in Houston right now: a space where artists and collectors can have extremely meaningful exchanges, as well as learn about the true joy of the collector/artist relationship on a very organic level." The Union's opening headlined Project Row Houses- exhibited JajaH Gray, who works in paint, performance, dance, and installation art. The experience felt urgent, hypnotic, and on the edge. Over on Colquitt's Gallery Row, appraiser Heidi Vaughan and her business partner, former Sotheby's alum Thomas Mason, bring secondary-market expertise to their new location, which for decades was home to Parkerson Gallery, a fixture for estate offerings and important secondary-market art. The newly minted Vaughan Mason Fine Art & Framing offers a unique mix of functions: appraisals, framing (Mixed Emotions' Paula Siegel serves as adviser), and exhibitions for Houston artists. In the upcoming lineup are CAMH- exhibited Thedra Cullar-Ledford; West Texas' finest, Jeff Wheeler; lensman Brent Bruni Comiskey; painter Ron Hartgrove; and a new find, showman Alton DuLaney, whose art signage follows in the tradition of Amarillo's Stanley Marsh. With DuLaney, Vaughan may have landed her first art superstar; the conceptual talent — whose MFA show was recently on view at the Blaffer Art Museum last month — is already in the collection of Lester Marks and Judy Nyquist. Improbably a member of the Splendora City Council (where he was raised) and artistic director of Splendora Gardens (James Surls' original studio turned exhibition venue), DuLaney is also a TV personality, appearing on the Rachael Ray Show and CBS Sunday Morning in his persona as the World's Most Famous Gift Wrap Artist. See more from our photo shoot at papercitymag.com. (continued from page 54) Brunch, Lunch, Dinner or Aperitivo Sunday Brunch Buffet 11:30 am - 2:30 pm Hotel Granduca Houston 1080 Uptown Park Boulevard Houston, Texas 77056 Reservations: 713.418.1000 GranducaHouston.com WHEN IT HAS TO BE Prct