This Dapper Painter Wants to Save America’s Historic Mansions

What: Hunt Slonem opening, artist talk, and book signing for the volumes Bunnies and Birds

Where: Laura Rathe Fine Art on Colquitt Gallery Row in Houston

PC Moment: A flock of ardent collector types flocked to meet the dapper and debonair painter and preservationist who has a penchant for depicting all manner of animals and insects upon canvas — but most famously his personal aviary, as well as rabbits, monkeys, and butterflies. Slonem captivated the crowd with a talk about his remarkable and peripatetic life, communion with fauna, and interest in saving grand historic mansions across America, which then turn into lavish decorating schemes.

The artist, who is represented in the collections of the Guggenheim, Met, and Whitney, as well as by some nifty wallpapers and fabrics by Lee Jofa, rewarded book buyers by penning more than bon mots in their volumes; acquirers of Birds and Bunnies, also found their pages bearing a beautiful Slonem drawing, dashed off with inspiration upon the spot.

Social Canvas: Gallerist/host Laura Rathe; gallery director Hannah Rothrock and colleague Chris Carrillo; Amy and Neil Leibman; country crooner Pat Green (a partner in the upcoming downtown mega bar The Rustic); long-time Slonem aficionado Jayne Edison whose collection boasts a couple of major canvases bearing images of luna moths and rabbits; artists Gil Bruvel and Kelley Devine; Jason Presley; designer LeTricia Wilbanks and daughter Grace Wilbanks; Julie Logan whose hosted the New York-based bon vivant and artist at her casa; Deana Kaiser; emerging fashion designer Claire Drennan; Ellen Horst; Stephanie Boles; Sandy and Reid Smith; Janis and Paul Jarosz; Elaine Martinez; handbag and millinery designer Debra Linse; Donna Mikulecky with Bryan Vanas; Marilyn Guion; Mandy and Rafael Diaz; Daniel Goldberg; Alan Pike; Amy Hammer; Lindsay Aronstein; Neil Weaver; Mary Ann Hebrank; and makeup master Tonya Riner, who was ecstatic over her butterfly drawing, which graced the frontispiece of her latest Slonem volume.