Museum of Fine Arts Houston Archives

ONE ICONIC NIGHT

by societytexas | Sep 1, 2024 | R.S.V.P. HOUSTON, Fall/Winter 2024

Icons-Themed Museum of Fine Arts Houston’s Grand Gala Ball Raises Over $2 Million

By Rob Giardinelli Photography by Jenny Antill and Wilson Parrish

THE SETTING: One of Houston’s most anticipated annual fundraisers elevated the stakes even higher this year with an iconic night of fun and fundraising. A sold-out crowd of approximately 425 of the city’s most notable art patrons, sociables, and philanthropists turned out for the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s annual Grand Gala Ball. The night featured a great crowd, fabulous performances, and stunning art making this year’s event one for the ages.

THE STYLE: The black tie ensembles featured a mix of classic tuxedo and ballgown fare with many opting to wear bright colors, sequins, and metallics creating a rich tapestry that elevated the fun of the evening. Guests entered the event through a tent dressed in hot-pink drapery and a gold chandelier…where, on the other side, revelers were mingling during a lively cocktail hour. Patrons cozied up to the diamond-shaped bar flanked by works from Andy Warhol to grab their spirit of choice, then promptly returned to socializing with other guests. Partygoers then took to their seats for the evening’s main program. Richard Flowers of The Events Company created an iconic space. And, as attendees dined on their multi-course meal by City Kitchen, clips of scenes from iconic films played on a large LED screen in the background, giving the evening another innovative layer of artistry. The night was capped off with a dazzling array of music and performances. To kick things off was a set by Los Angeles-based musician Brandon Wattz, which was followed by a surprise performance by Texas native Bun B. After the crowd was warmed up, DJ Lucy Wrubel kept revelers on the dance floor well into the night, capping off an iconic evening.

THE CAUSE: Nicole and Evan Katz co-chaired the 2023 Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball. The event raised $2.079 million for the Museum’s annual operating budget to ensure world-class arts are delivered to Houston. The 2024 Museum of Fine Arts Houston Grand Gala Ball will be on October 24, 2024. For more information, visit MFAH.org.

MODERN FLAIR

by societytexas | Aug 31, 2021 | R.S.V.P. HOUSTON, 2021 September October, Parties

The Museum of Fine Arts Houston Celebrates With Grand Gala

By Jennifer Roosth Photography by Jenny Antill, Daniel Ortiz, and Wilson Parish

THE SETTING: Over 300 guests recently attended the Museum of Fine Arts Grand Gala Ball in the brand-new Nancy Rich Kinder Building of the MFAH. Art patrons walked into an event space, with pandemic safety protocol in place, that was brimming with brightly hued flowers…hot pink peonies and a cascading staircase garland of peonies, garden roses, bougainvillea, and orchids. It was an inspired design collaboration between the chairs and Richard Flowers of The Events Company.

THE STYLE: The evening was all about enjoying the atmosphere and the experience of dining in the new building, which will house the MFAH international collections of modern and contemporary art. City Kitchen prepared a three-course dinner, starting with baby Spanish artichokes with shaved parmesan, wild mushrooms, leeks, spring potatoes, and flowers. Guests were also served grilled sea bass with tomato confit and yuzu beurre blanc, creamy grilled corn polenta, heirloom baby carrots, and snap peas. For dessert, guests enjoyed amaretto cake with raspberry and cream cheese filling with raspberry coulis and raspberry sorbet. The cake, made by Sweet Nation, was modeled to look like the Kinder Building

THE PURPOSE: Phoebe and Bobby Tudor served as chairs for the event that raised over $1.7 million to support the Museum’s general operating budget. The Nancy and Rich Kinder Building, where the event was held, is the final addition to the Susan and Fayez S. Sarofim Campus of the MFAH. Remarks of sentiment and excitement were made by the chairs, Director of the MFAH Gary Tinterow, Mayor Sylvester Turner, and Chairman of the Board of Trustees of MFAH, Rich Kinder.

[et_pb_flex_gallery gallery_ids=”42969,42970,42971,42972,42973,42974,42975,42976,42977,42978,42979,42980,42981,42982,42983,42984,42985,42986,42987,42988,42989,42990″ show_title_and_caption=”off” _builder_version=”4.9.10″ _module_preset=”default” global_colors_info=”{}”][/et_pb_flex_gallery]

TO THE MOON

by societytexas | Feb 28, 2020 | 2020 March April, Parties, Houston

**Museum of Fine Arts Houston Celebrates Art of the Islamic Worlds Gala**

By Jennifer Roosth Photography by Priscilla Dickson and Wilson Parish

THE SETTING: Over 375 guests arrived at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston for the biennial Art of the Islamic Worlds gala held in Cullinan Hall. The Events Company elegantly set the tables with navy shantung silk linens, acrylic ghost chairs, and delicate, white floral arrangements artfully comprised of orchids, calla lilies, and hydrangeas.. Complementing this year’s theme of Under One Moon, projections of the night sky with a prominent moon, which continually transformed from full to crescent throughout the evening, were also displayed on the walls surrounding the seated dinner.
THE STYLE: After MFAH Director, Gary Tinterow, made the welcoming remarks, City Kitchen served a delectable three-course seated dinner. For dessert, guests enjoyed a trio of a rose-petal rice pudding shooter, an apricot bar with black cherry, anise, and candied ginger compote, and a bittersweet chocolate and soft cardamom truffle with pistachio crumble, cinnamon-scented mascarpone, and an espresso cookie. Entertainment during dinner was provided by a special performance by Ziya Azazi: Dervish in Progress. Following dinner, guests danced the night away to the sounds of DJ Senega.
THE PURPOSE: This year’s gala raised a total of $945.000 through ticket sales and donations. Members of the Executive Gala Committee served as hosts of the black-tie event, including Rania Daniel, Zeina Fares, Vahid Kooros, Sima Ladjevardian, Sultana Mangalji, Franci Neely, Cenk Ozdogan, Sabiha Rehmatulla, Aliyya Stude, and Monsour Taghdisi, along with underwriters The Honorable and Mrs. Hushang Ansary, Jaleh and Bruce Sallee, Rania and Jamal Daniel, and Mona and Andrew Sarofim.

[et_pb_flex_gallery gallery_ids=”36627,36902,36903,36904,36905,36906,36907,36908,36909,36910,36911,36913,36914,36915,36916,36917,36918,36919,36920,36921,36922″ show_title_and_caption=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.3.4″ caption_font=”||||||||” hover_enabled=”0″][/et_pb_flex_gallery]

STRIKING A CORD

by societytexas | Dec 31, 2019 | 2020 January February, Parties, Houston

Houston Grand Opera’s Season Opening Night Performance And Dinner

By Jennifer Roosth – Photography by Jenny Antill and Wilson Parish

THE SETTING: The Houston Grand Opera (HGO) opened its 65^th season with a celebratory evening featuring a new production of Verdi’s beloved Rigoletto under the direction of Tomer Zvulun and with a much-anticipated return to the Ray C. Fish Plaza at the Wortham Theater. The evening began with HGO Managing Director Perryn Leech welcoming patrons back to the Wortham Theater Center for Opening Night with a heartfelt recognition of the evening’s gala committee, and HGO Artistic and Musical Director, Patrick Summers. Later, the cast and artistic team of the new season’s production was introduced before the cast of Rigoletto took the stage to portray the famous story of lust, jealousy, and revenge.

THE STYLE: Following the performance, the tradition continued with the Opening Night dinner at the Ray C. Fish Plaza with more than than 400 guests, who were greeted by a juggling jester and champagne cocktails. The attendees gathered under the elegant clear-top tent with a backdrop of the clear night’s sky to honor the cast and creative team of the new production.

The Events Company provided a warmly elegant gala setting complete with lush fall florals and Italian murals, and Tony’s Catering served an inspired dinner that flowed like an aria. The feast began with fresh burrata accented with Treviso, Fuji apple, and pomegranate, followed by a duet of beef filet and Branzino and ending with the operatic, Ah! The Curse, a flourless chocolate cake complemented by blackberry compote.

THE PURPOSE: The Opening Night event was chaired by Drs. Rachel and Warren A. Ellsworth IV and raised over $375,000 for the Houston Grand Opera, one of the largest, most innovative, and highly acclaimed opera companies in the United States. Having toured extensively and after winning a Tony®, two Grammy® awards, and three Emmy® awards, it is the only opera company to win all three honors.

[et_pb_flex_gallery gallery_ids=”35912,35913,35914,35915,35916,35917,35918,35919,35920,35921,35922,35923,35924,35925,35926,35927,35928,35929,35930,35931,35932,35933,35934,35935,35936,35937,35938″ show_title_and_caption=”off” disabled_on=”off|off|off” _builder_version=”4.0.9″ caption_font=”||||||||”][/et_pb_flex_gallery]

FLORAL ESSENCE

by societytexas | Jun 28, 2019 | 2019 July Aug, Parties, Houston

Museum Of Fine Arts Houston Hosts Florescence Events

By Jennifer Roosth Photography by Jenny Antill

THE SETTING: The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston was in full bloom with the return of the 13th biennial Florescence, one of the country’s largest competitive flower shows. Following this year’s theme, Time, 300 garden club members from across the country displayed their inventive floral and horticultural arrangements for recognition by The Garden Club of America. An opening reception, evening cocktail party, and High Noon Lunch and Lecture supporting the River Oaks Garden Club and the Garden Club of Houston, made for a set of fabulous spring social gatherings.

THE STYLE: The sweet, floral scent wafted through the air of the elegant events to the delight of the guests. The floral entrants were challenged to design and create floral arrangements and installations pulling inspiration from the museum’s surrounding art collections. In addition to floral design, the show’s other categories include horticulture, horticulture design, photography, botanical arts, needle arts, and conservation. As guests enjoyed their meal, renowned botanical artist Joseph Massie spoke of his journey starting weekend work at the age of 14 to becoming the youngest floral designer to win international achievements, such as the Best in Show at the Chelsea Flower Show. City Kitchen prepared the lunchtime affair’s cuisine.

THE PURPOSE: Carmen Knapp of the River Oaks Garden Club and Meg Tapp of The Garden Club of Houston co-chaired the event, and MFAH Director Gary Tinterow was pleased to announce that Florescence had broken its own fundraising record this year. The event is one of the largest competitive national flower shows sanctioned by the Garden Club of America in the United States. Florescence is presented by River Oaks Garden Club, The Garden Club of Houston, and the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston (MFAH). Proceeds directly support Florescence’s nonprofit sponsors: River Oaks Garden Club, The Garden Club of Houston, and the MFAH. Both garden clubs rely on the event’s proceeds to support their projects in gardens, parks, and green spaces throughout our community.

[et_pb_flex_gallery gallery_ids=”32496,32497,32495,32498,32499,32500,32501,32502,32503,32504,32505,32506,32507,32508,32509,32510,32511,32512,32513,32514,32515,32516,32517,32518,32519,32520″ show_title_and_caption=”off” _builder_version=”3.19.11″ caption_font=”||||||||”][/et_pb_flex_gallery]