MFAH heats up with $1.675 million Latin American Experience weekend
The Latin American Experience Gala at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston is really the climax of a three-day “experience” weekend. Hundreds of international art collectors, gallery owners, artists and party lovers flocked to town last week — deservedly, as the most diverse city in America — for 72 hours of private collection tours, gallery visits, cocktail receptions and FOMOinducing meals.
On Friday, a tony group of VIPs was privy to a celebratory dinner and exclusive tour of honoree Beatriz González’s eponymous retrospective at MFAH led by Tobias Ostrander and exhibition curator Mari Carmen Ramírez.
By Saturday night, a full 24 hours and several standing ovations later, González still could not believe that she was the weekend’s guest of honor. Following her heartfelt speech, a translator told the crowd, “She says, ‘Are you sure you picked the right person?’ ”
So began a trend. A dazzling mix of Spanish and English flew across gala tables from start to finish. Orchid, rose and carnation centerpieces arranged to mimic the flower festivals of Colombia rivaled the sprawl of vibrant gowns that filled MFAH’s Cullinan Hall.
More than 420 guests dined under Bergner & Johnson’s palm trellis of lanterns, bougainvillea and even more orchids. The green scene inspired by Bogotá’s botanical gardens added a balmy touch to the seasonably cool soiree.
Temperatures started to rise during the live auction. August Uribe — vice chairman, Americas, Impressionist
and Modern Art at Sotheby’s — raised $1.169 million in under an hour. Warm enough for you?
Silent-auction offerings brought in an additional $90,460. By the time MFAH director Gary Tinterow graced the podium midprogram, more than $1.675 million had been tallied. Funds go to support the museum’s Latin American Art Department and its research institute, the International Center for the Arts of the Americas, and to acquire future pieces for MFAH’s permanent collection.
There was also plenty of heat served in City Kitchen’s yucca soup with crispy serrano ham and smoked paprika oil. Sea bass with Aji Amarillo butter sauce and corn pudding followed. Guests cooled down with a trio of coconut, guava and mango sorbets — though the chill didn’t last long. Once Grupo KaChe danced across a second-story stage, the room grew hotter than ever.
The eighth biennial weekend chaired by Chris and Elise Stude Pye ended just as it started: at a festive, dizzying tempo.