The Houston Center for Contemporary Craft kept its seventh annual “Crafting a Legacy” luncheon short, sweet, and a shopper’s dream. Arrivals perused an “Elevating the Everyday”-themed silent auction filled with works composed from pencil erasers, wine glass stems, rubber bands, and more. After HCCC board president Edward Lane McCartney welcomed the 250 visual art center supporters into the River Oaks Country Club ballroom, event chair Judy Nyquist popped up from her seat to ask the crowd for a favor.
Applications to join the Museum District non-profit – currently celebrating its “quinceanera” anniversary – were tucked into the programs at each place setting. One-of-a-kind centerpieces fashioned by artists Eileen Braun, Cristina Carfora, Paula Haymond, Tom Irven, Susannah Mira, Tom Philabaum, Connie Roberts, Lisa Wilson, and Vetro Vero were available for purchase though several attending board members quickly snapped them up. Models sporting unique jewelry items from the Asher Gallery circled the space while lunch was served. The meal capped with a streaming video introduction to HCC’s newly minted Executive Director Perry Price.
Afterward, “PaperCity” magazine’s Catherine D. Anspon rose to introduce honoree Lucinda Loya whom she described as “the perfect personification of a modern pioneering woman.” The executive editor clicked through a slideshow highlighting Loya’s laudable accomplishments as an interior designer, philanthropist, and tastemaker.
The brief albeit enthused program concluded with “old-fashioned” strawberry shortcake and crafty swag; each lunch-goer walked away with one of Kelly Baker’s graphite drawing instruments.
-Amber Elliot
