Girls’ night out raises $227,000 for Contemporary Art Museum Houston
“Another Great Night” is code for “girls’ night out” at the Contemporary Art Museum Houston.
The annual event is the counterpart to Museum of Fine Arts, Houston’s “One Great Night,” a cigar- and testosterone-charged “boys night out” in MFAH’s Caroline Wiess Law Building.
But the name rings true. Wednesday evening, attendees just couldn’t stop saying, “It really is such a great night.”
The event’s format is such a refreshing departure from the usual program. The gathering is always held at a different residence; this time, Erika Toussaint played host to some 220 well-heeled guests.
She held court in a checked, peplum number by Colombian designer Silvia Tcherassi. Toussaint, who is Cuban, wove her heritage into nearly every aspect of the party. Beginning with the cocktail reception’s main activity: Grab a mojito and go on a scavenger hunt.
As is tradition, “Another
Great Night” kicks off with a self-guided art tour of the hosts’ personal art collection. Arrivals were each handed a map at check-in. And 11 docents stationed around the home marked the works and artists in each room, which included many contemporary and Latin American pieces by Elaine de Kooning, John Chamberlain, Alex Katz, Helen Frankenthaler and Billy Childish, among others.
The crowd dressed to match. This was no occasion for sequins; instead, chic young things took the most avantgarde pieces in their wardrobe for a spin. Isabel David lamented that it was the only time she’d likely wear her ivory Moda
Operandi ensemble. “It’s too memorable,” she explained of the architectural look.
Lucinda Loya, in a pink, color-blocked leather corset belt, also cut a striking figure. These women were not about to be outdone by art.
To that end, co-chairs Dr.
Yvonne Cormier and Mary D’Andrea secured a fashion coup to up the fundraising ante. They enlisted the Galleria as presenting sponsor of “Another Great Night’s” inaugural raffle. As a bonus, each patron’s first raffle ticket was on the house; additional chances to win cost $75 a pop. Coveted items up for grabs included Celine, Saint Laurent and Max Mara handbags, a Salvatore Ferragamo shopping experience and a rose-gold pendant from DeBeers.
The light program was punctuated by board member Bryn
Larsen, who shared that legendary artist Mark Rothko once held his second-ever museum show at CAMH. And that this year alone, more than 70,000 students have visited its campus.
To further those efforts, eventgoers raised $227,000 toward exhibitions and educational programs.
Later, in the valet line, Heidi Smith and Roslyn Bazzelle
Mitchell prepared to meet their husbands, who fêted MFAH’s rival “One Great Night,” at Hotel ZaZa to compare notes. Others couldn’t resist ripping into their scarlet Ferragamo swag bags, which contained exquisite stationery by the Italian design house.
A thoughtful gift, as patrons were left with plenty to write home about.