Houston’s Next Generation Of Museum Lifters Give MFAH’s Grand Gala an Unexpected Jolt Of Youthful Excitement

Amid the stalwart supporters of the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston Grand Gala Ball, we witnessed a new crop of faces in the elegant black-tie throng. Up and coming patrons, scions of Houston’s old guard and of respected newcomers added a breath of youthfulness to the more typically well-established throng.

Consider ball chairs Polly and Murry Bowden shared their premier table with, among others, their son and daughter-in-law Lane and Jeb Bowden and their youthful friends Kate and Paul Stouffer. Board chair Joe and Lynne Hudson hosted his daughter and son-in-law Sarah and Joel Montgomery. Also at the Hudson table was Bucky Allshouse accompanied by his daughter Channing.

“It is always a pleasure to see new faces at the Grand Gala Ball, the annual event now in its sixth decade,” Gary Tinterow, MFAH director and  chair tells PaperCity. “Among the crowd there were grandchildren of some of our trustees who attended the balls of the 1960s. So it is especially gratifying to see a new generation take their place among Houston’s philanthropists. “

The ball set a good example for those steadily moving up the philanthropic ranks — with its proceeds of $2,062,000 surpassing the museum’s goal.

Tradition holds that decor for the gala is inspired by a work of art in the museum’s collection. On this evening it was a most interesting choice — Ai Weiwei’s Water Lilies #4, which is currently on view in the Nancy and Rich Kinder Building. A massive digital projection replicating the piece enveloped Cullinan Hall where everyone was seated for dinner and dancing.

A reinterpretation of Claude Monet’s famed water lily triptych, the monumental work is composed of 650,000 LEGO bricks  in 22 colors, mounted on aluminum. At more than one table sophisticated MFAH supporters were guessing and even placing friendly bets on just how many bricks were in the piece.

For the first time, Bastion Events created the menu. The production arm of the Bastion Collection, which includes Le Jardinier located in the Kinder Building, replaced City Kitchen which had provided divine meals for the gala for decades. We missed them.

As is tradition, The Events Company provided the decor inspired by the artwork and the theme “Fall for Color.”

Among others introducing their offspring to the glories of the gala was Joan Schnitzer, who hosted her grandson and his wife Jonathan and Lily Schnitzer as well as extended youthful family members Lexi Sakowitz Marek and Brittany Sakowitz Kushner and her husband Kevin Kushner.

Former museum board chair Rich Kinder and Nancy shared their table with his nephew and wife David and Marie Louise Kinder. 

Kathy and Marty Goossen accompanied by their son and daughter-in-law Lacey and Matthew Goossen. Shelli and Steve Lindley shared their table with their grown children Jenna Lindley and Matthew Lindley and his wife Jayme.

Dinner and dancing to the sounds of The Big Beyond followed the always much-appreciated brief program in which Tinterow, the Bowdens and Joe Hudson shared their observations on the successful evening.

PC Seen: Anne Duncan, Franci Neely, Margaret Alkek Williams, Leigh and Reggi Smith, Cyvia Wolff, Nancy and Butch Abendshein, Janet Gurwitch and Ron Franklin, Christopher Gardner, Marxli and Matthew Kirby, Susanne and Bill Pritchard, Kristen and Dan Zimmerman, and Claire and Kyle Walstad.