Arty parties don’t raise nearly as much moolah their counterparts in the fields of performing arts or charities, where hundreds of thousands can be pledged in one evening. Still, these stylish social affairs expose guests to the visual arts and give Austin’s tight circles of art devotees chances to mix and match. And raise a dime or two.
Karen Aston and Chris Plonsky
The Director’s Dinner at the Blanton Museum of Art this week attracted the big names among contemporary art backers, meaning the Kleins, Butlers, Blantons, Booths and so forth. They were joined by some local sports royalty, since the main temporary exhibit not only displayed the originating document of basketball, it also gave plenty of air to enormous photographic prints of basketball players.
Simone Wicha and Carmel Borders
Folks dressed up a bit for this always stimulating meeting of art-loving minds. Early on, the lobby was thronged with guests catching up on personal matters, since so many of them flee Austin during the summer. I couldn’t stay for dinner, yet still absorbed enough social news to keep me coming back. Plus, I must spend some more time in the permanent collection. Austin is lucky enough to have one, why not deepen our acquaintance with it?
Francesca Consagra and Kelli Blanton
Things were decidedly more casual a few blocks away at Women & Their Work. The arts advocacy group has staged its Red Dot Sale for many years now and working artists make up a large subset of the party.
Paul Beck and Misty Contreras
The walls of the gallery on Lavaca Street were filled with a buzzy variety of creative projects. The artists I talked to seemed delighted with the attention and the chance to help out an Austin group which never lost touch with its roots.
Katelina Hernandez Cowles and Brooke Hollan
The spiky food was provided by Quincy Adams Erickson, not present because she was also catering the Ann Richards School for Young Women Leaders birthday bash at Lance Armstrong’s manse. Lance attended and rescued the event when rains washed out planned outdoor setting.
Thomas and Gina Holton
I never made it. Rush hour traffic worsened in the rain. I spent that rare Austin hour or so stuck in a car. Usually, I avoid automotive traffic altogether, so, when it looked like I’d spend more time in the car than at the party, I bailed and headed over the the Blanton.
I later heard that attendance was one quarter the number expected. Do over?