Earth Warriors: A Big Reveal in a Sea of Heels Shows the Uncommon Power of This Year’s Much-Anticipated FotoFest
BY Matthew Ramirez // 03.04.16
What: FotoFest 2016 Biennial Kickoff Party and First Look.
Where: Saks Fifth Avenue, Houston Galleria.
Who: The night’s host, Saks’ Sylvia Forsythe; FotoFest co-founders Wendy Watriss and Fred Baldwin, joined by colleagues executive director Steven Evans, Vinod Hopson, and Alicia Campos; gallerists Barbara Davis, David Shelton, Cindy Lisica, Harwood Taylor, and Debra and Camille Samara; photographic talents including Rodrigo Valenzuela and Pablo Gimenez-Zapiola; fashion maven Sydney Dao; and patron types Terri and Andy DiRaddo, Meredith and Gene O’Donnell, Kathy and Bill Rovere chatting with pal Mary Lou Swift, Melanie and Larry Margolis, Karen Steele, Rania Daniel, Fay Zakhem, Veronique Prentice, Dorothee Potocki de Chaudenay, and Diane and Harry Gendel.
PC Moment: DJ Athenz manned the turntable and in between sets FotoFest director Steven Evans addressed the crowd and gave the details of #FotoFest16’s epic opening night, set for Friday, March 11. Co-founder Wendy Watriss spoke about the meaning of this biennial’s theme, which seeks to look deeply at the often-endangered natural beauty of the Earth. Applause followed while flutes of bubbly and curated bites by Grille 5115 were passed. Party planners Matt Johns and Alecia Harris oversaw this fashionable photographic and planetary evening that took place adjoining the luxury retailer’s celebrated shoe salon, 10022-Shoe.
