Curated TexanStudio Menil Presents: Alphabet Soup Draws Houston’s Top Art Patrons
By Rob Giardinelli Photography Courtesy of Daniel Ortiz
THE SETTING: Richmond Hall on The Menil Collection campus in Houston was the recent setting for one of the city’s most fun and anticipated annual art events. 200 of Space City’s most prominent art patrons, fashionistas, and philanthropists turned out for the annual Studio Menil Presents spring fundraising event. The night featured unique activations, great company, and stunning art that cleverly blended.
THE VIBE: The cocktail-attired crowd began the night in a beautifully tented space adjacent to Richmond Hall for a cocktail reception. Revelers enjoyed their cocktails where they mingled with other guests against the pallet of white daisies, purple anemones, and purple tulips that created a welcoming and festive vibe.
Guests then headed inside Richmond Hall for the main program where the white and purple color theme continued throughout the space. Before taking to their seats, revelers posed for keepsake photos commemorating the evening by grabbing various letters of the alphabet which was a nod to both the evening’s theme Alphabet Soup, and Andy Warhol’s Silver Cloud installation in 1966.
Once seated, patrons were treated to a multi-course meal courtesy of Jackson and Company. Partygoers were treated to words by Doug Lawing, Board President, The Menil Collection, and Rebecca Rabinow, Director, The Menil Collection who acknowledged attending artists Jamal Cyrus, Leslie Hewitt, Richard Tuttle, and Francesca Fuchs, each of whom have had their works exhibited at The Menil during their careers. The night concluded with an after-party to dance the night away to the tunes of DJ Peter Lucas and Jason Woods (aka DJ Flash Gordon Parks).
THE NON-PROFIT: Studio Menil Presents: Alphabet Soup, co-chaired by Leslie Hewitt and Jamal Cyrus, Dillon Kyle and Sam Lasseter, Cullen and Robert Muse, and Karlsson and Brian Salek, raised over $350,000 for The Menil Collection. Proceeds raised from the event will go toward supporting the Museum’s general operations.
