Curated Texan
Houston’s MFAH Was The Setting For Her Majesty Queen Sofía Of Spain Who Presented The 2023 Sophia Awards For Excellence At First-Ever Texas Gala
By Lance Avery Morgan Photography by Daniel Ortiz
Margaret Alkek Williams and Joanne King Herring
THE SCENE: This week the New York-based non-profit, founded in 1954 to promote American interest in the art, culture, customs, language, literature and history of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world, held its annual Sophia Awards for Excellence gala for the first time in Texas at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH) in the presence of QSSI Patron, Her Majesty Queen Sofía of Spain. It was an impressive turn out. QSSI supporters, arts patrons, philanthropists, civic leaders, and Spanish delegates from around the world gathered to honor four remarkable leaders in their respective fields who have contributed to the international appreciation of Spain and the Americas through their time, expertise, and innate wisdom.
Recipients of the 2023 Sophia Awards for Excellence – Sophia, meaning wisdom in Greek, included eight-time Grammy Award winning Cuban-American singer, songwriter, author, actress and businesswoman Gloria Estefan and her music producer, manager and husband Emilio Estefan, who are credited with paving the way for the crossover explosion of Latin music, MFAH Wortham Curator of Latin American Art and founding Director of the International Center for the Arts of the Americas, Mari Carmen Ramírez, named one of “the 25 Most Influential Hispanics in America” in 2005 by TIME magazine, and Tricon Energy Founder and CEO Ignacio Torras, longtime Houston arts patron and owner of the acclaimed Spanish restaurants BCN Taste & Tradition and MAD.
THE VIBE: The evening commenced in the Rafael Moneo-designed Audrey Jones Beck Building as Her Majesty was greeted by Director, the Margaret Alkek Williams Chair, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Gary Tinterow and Houston’s Spanish Consul General Julia Olmo along with QSSI President & CEO David Askren and Executive Director Begonia Santos, before making their way into the Cameron Foundation Gallery to greet the evening’s Houston Host Committee and honorees in advance of the black-tie gala’s cocktail reception fittingly held in a building designed by Spain’s most celebrated living architect.
Guests then made their way through artist James Turrell’s ‘The Light Inside’ Tunnel and into the Brown Auditorium Theater in the Caroline Wiess Law Building, where Gala Chair and QSSI Board Trustee Dixie Deluca and David Askren graciously welcomed guests and invited Her Majesty to the stage. During the awards ceremony, Her Majesty highlighted that, “For the first time, we are gathered here in Houston, Texas, one of the most important urban areas of the country, and probably the most diverse, inclusive and international city in the U.S.A. And, also, a place where English and Spanish languages coexist in the history of this beautiful state.” Seated at ornately designed tables by The Events Company as award-winning classical and flamenco guitarist Jeremy Garcia performed in the center of the space, guests were treated to a multi-course dinner paired with Spanish wines from Gil Family Estates from Houston’s acclaimed Spanish restaurants MAD and BCN Taste & Tradition, which derive their names from the airport codes for Madrid and Barcelona, respectively. A custom dessert by Rocambolesc USA gelateria was made especially for the occasion by Michelin-starred Spanish Pastry Chef Jordi Roca.
Begonia Santos appreciated the support of the city of Houston by stating, “We have all been blown away by your spirit, your amazing energy, your warm welcome, and your kind embrace of the Queen Sofía Spanish Institute’s mission.” The 2023 honorees were frequently applauded for showcasing wisdom, excellence, and commitment to the shared cultural ties between the U.S. and the Spanish speaking world in both their daily lives and careers. They were each given Menina Award Sculptures by Spanish artist Felipao.
Following the ceremony, guests filed through Cromosaturación MFAH – the vivid blue, pink and green tunnel by Venezuelan artist Carlos Cruz-Diez – and into the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building for dinner below Alexander Calder’s International Mobile floating masterpiece in the central atrium of the recently completed Kinder Building, which houses the museum’s spectacular collection of Latin American art from the 20th and 21st centuries that are now considered among the world’s finest. Upon leaving, QSSI supporters were also given goodie bags with paella kits from specialty international food supplier TerraMar Imports upon departure.
THE NON PROFIT: The Queen Sofía Spanish Institute (QSSI) is a New York-based nonprofit corporation founded in 1954 by a group of American Hispanophiles who sought to stimulate American interest in the art, culture, customs, language, literature and history of Spain and the Spanish-speaking world. QSSI keeps this vision current by striving to share the contributions of Spanish-speakers to the history and culture of the United States and by showcasing the excellence of the Spanish-speaking world in numerous fields so that lasting ties of friendship may be formed, mutual understanding promoted, and bonds of peace strengthened.
