Rothko Chapel gala celebrates art and social justice
An incredible thing happens when local organizations tap diverse event chairs and honorees. A melting pot of Houstonians turns up. Sparks fly as personalities whose paths might not otherwise intersect occupy the same space. And when speakers remark that we live in the most diverse city in America, no one snickers. They look around the room and nod.
Such was the case at “Illumination: the Rothko Chapel Gala.” That’s where chairs Melanie
Lawson and John Guess Jr., Nancy and Erik Littlejohn and
Tatiana and Craig Massey united 350 supporters from their respective art-loving and socialjustice-advocating circles to honor Ballroom Marfa co-founder Fairfax Dorn, Pace Gallery owner and CEO Marc Glimcher and Melanie’s father, the Rev.
Bill Lawson, civil rights advocate and founder of Wheeler Baptist Church.
So yeah, the scene at the Astorian on Tuesday night offered some pretty epic peoplewatching.
Invitations suggested “illuminated cocktail” attire, though most attendees walked on the formal side. A glittering mix of jewel-tone pantsuits, sparkling floor-sweeping gowns and festive black-tie lit up the industrial venue. Lynn Wyatt, in tangerine Tory Burch, never swayed far from son Steve Wyatt and his longtime squeeze, Joyce Echols. A trio of past Chronicle “Best Dressed” title-holders, Massey, Duyen Nguyen and Carrie Brandsberg-Dahl, posed arm in arm for the cameras. And creative types including newlyweds Chris Goins, retail director of
MFAH, and her artist husband, Josh Pazda — both sun-kissed from a trip to Mexico City — caught up with Bowdoin Gallery’s Katharine Barthelme,
Jessica Phifer of Christie’s Auction House and Houston Arts Alliance CEO John Abodeely.
It took a while to coax bodies into seats. So long as the Raquel Cepeda Trio supplied a jazzy soundtrack, guests were content to mix and mingle the evening away.
With the help of Lawson, mistress of ceremonies, board chair Michael R. Piana finally kick-started the program.
“We each have our own personal connection to the chapel,” he said to introduce Christopher Rothko, chair of the “Opening Spaces” campaign and son of the chapel’s namesake, the late abstract expressionist painter Mark Rothko.
Christopher shared an indepth, “view by drone” look at the chapel’s renovation progress; the nondenominational chapel bearing his father’s name is set to reopen in 2020. He clicked through a video slideshow to illustrate the four main pillars that underpin the project: restore the chapel to its original architectural vision, preserve the campus for future use, maximize the visitor experience and serve as a community champion for equality and human rights.
“It has to get a little ugly before it gets beautiful,” he quipped of the construction images. “Proper draining is something that the city is keen on us doing. There’s a building where pumps, generators and all mechanics for the chapel will be housed.”
Christopher commented on enhancing the chapel’s lighting, too, from it’s original design which dated to 1971. “It was a terrible place to see the art and was actually damaging the art. You’ll go back into the space and not immediately know what’s different but sense there’s something better about it. Something that invites experiences that are meditative and quiet.” Executive director David
Leslie followed with additional updates and an apology. He knew that he stood between diners and their dinner.
“More than 100,000 people visit the campus each year, and that’s not counting people who jog through the park or have a picnic,” he said, emphasizing the purpose of the new Visitor Welcome House. “When the ceiling fell in during (Hurricane) Harvey, we said we’ve got to do something really different. The chapel will become a destination, a place where you can get off the grid.” Then, after Archbishop Joseph A. Fiorenza’s invocation, making the rounds was A Fare Extraordinare’s oyster mushroom confit with black quinoa and short rib au poivre on Parmesan grits. As tablemates swapped alternating orange blossom panna cotta and miso caramel chocolate dome desserts, the guests of honor were recognized.
The Rev. Lawson spoke last, highlightinged the great work of his late friends Dominique and John de Menil, who commissioned the Rothko Chapel in 1964. “I hope you realize what you’ve been celebrating tonight: a love of art and social justice.”
“It does not surprise me at all that the board of directors would have chosen for all of these fancy people a venue in First Ward,” he continued. “That’s just like the de Menils.”
He recalled when the couple chose an unconventional street, San Felipe in River Oaks, to build their family home, much to the shock of their developer.
“That was the street where servants would go into the houses through back doors and fences,” Lawson said. “So as I look at the nature of this building and San Felipe, I see why they are such an eloquent expression of John and Dominique de Menil.”
The audience gave him a standing ovation and raised $330,000 in support of the chapel’s programming and maintenance.
Some eventgoers lingered for DJ Graham Reynold’s set. Others made note of the 50th anniversary gala in spring 2021 and mused aloud from valet, “How will they ever top this?”