International Diplomacy Takes Center Stage at River Oaks Country Club

What: Houston Center for Contemporary Craft annual luncheon

Where: River Oaks Country Club

PC Moment: HCCC executive director Perry Price took the stage with honoree Ellen Susman, former Director of Art in Embassies for the U.S. Department of State, to discuss the various connections between cultural diplomacy and contemporary craft. (Adding a very classy note to the discussion was the Mies van der Rohe side table and Barcelona chairs provided by Knoll Inc.) Susman was introduced to the gathering of more than 300 guests by Edward Djerejian, former ambassador to Israel and to Syria and currently director of Rice University’s Baker Institute for Public Policy. Adding to the fundraising was the silent auction of jewelry, sculptures and objets d’art created by current and former HCCC resident artists as well as items from the center’s Asher Gallery pop-up shop.

Who: Luncheon chair Franci Neely, Steve Susman, Francoise Djerejian, Rosemary Price, Nancy Kinder, Cathy Brock, Sara Morgan, Phylis Childress, Carla Cotropia and Tom Edens, Bevin Dubrowski, Carrin Patman and Jim Derrick, Mayor Pro Tem Ellen Cohen and City Council member Steve Le.