Austin360 blogs > Out & About > Archives > 2012 > January > 15 > Entry
Marathon Kids, AMOA-Arthouse, Marc Winkelman, George T. Elliman
The theme for this weekend’s parties: Photographs.
Kay Morris and Joy Authur
It began at the VIP Pre-Party for Marathon Kids at the InterContinental Stephen F. Austin Hotel. After snagging likenessess of party chairwomen Mary Herr Tally and Maria Groten, as well as Marathon Kids founder Kay Morris and the group’s national development director, Joy Authur, I tried a third duo, only to find that this handsome pair looked somewhat askew as captured by my little Canon PowerShot lens.
Mary Herr Tally and Maria Groten
Obvious resolution: I didn’t publish them. The next challenge was to catch the stars of the subsequent concert at the Paramount Theatre: Lyle Lovett and Shawn Colvin. Love ‘em both. I stationed myself near the door of the Stephen F.’s ballroom while Authur fed me updates as to their progress toward the crowd.
Shawn Colvin and Lyle Lovett
Celebrity shots on the run are tough to make. Colvin looked dismayed when I asked for a picture to put in the newspaper, but after brushing aside some stray locks, she braved the camera. Lovett couldn’t help teasing me that I was shooting for the Statesman with such a tiny camera. “Such is the state of journalism,” I shot back in good humor.
Leslie Wingo and Darrell Windham
My next stop: the Jones Center, downtown home for the newly merged and temporarily named AMOA-Arthouse. (Branding to come, everyone assured me.) The place looked spectacular, and the staff wisely kept the food and drink away from the marquee exhibitions. The first of the expected hundreds of art lovers filtered in.
Facundo Argañaraz and Nicole Crescenzi
The art proved a bit thin and the wall texts a bit thick, so after a quick tour of the upstairs and downstairs galleries, I concentrated on the people. Folks were quick to pick up conversations, but I found the blinding white of the galleries tough on the happy snaps (with the simple Canon, dark backgrounds usually work best).
Julia Clark and Tatiana Artis
Along the way, I met a convivial couple from San Francisco, Facundo Argañaraz and Nicole Crescenzi, who kindly tapped the spellings of their names into my iPhone. Turns out Argañaraz is Basque, and he produced some of the most intriguing work on the walls.
Everyone seemed to agree that the merger of Arthouse and Austin Museum of Art is a good idea, for now, but what will come of it? Reports from the Jones Center and Laguna Gloria sound promising, at least in terms of audience interest.
Alex and Eli Winkelman
From there, I headed to the Highball, where publisher and philanthropist Marc Winkelman celebrated his 55th birthday, while colleague Paul Hoffman marked his 45th. (See: A neat 100 between them.)
Marty Hancock, Khotso Khabele and Kari Arfstrom
Besides the fabulous Winkelman family, the place was packed with Austin biggies, including every elected Democrat from San Antonio to Waco. Backers of Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and President Barak Obama, the Winkelmans’ political and social reach is broad and deep. (Didn’t get a chance to find out what they think of the trial ballon of a Clinton vice-presidential bid.)
Bill Spelman and Rick Cofer
Off in one banquette, overseen by Jeanne and Mickey Klein, were a quiet yet familiar couple. Turns out it was Rep. Gabby Giffords and astronaut husband Mark Kelly. Kelly gently turned down my request for a photo and almost immediately, Giffords reached out and took my hand, not to shake it, but to make contact. I was touched.
Policy, of course, came up in several conversations, including one with prosecutor Rick Cofer and Austin City Council Member Bill Spelman. I always appreciate what smart people say away from the microphone and, no, I won’t put any of it on the record.
Daniel Mahoney and Bennett Ford
The next night, we celebrated the 50th birthday of Tribeza publisher George T. Elliman. The party was the first non-fundraiser I’d attended at the prismatic home of Dr. John Hogg and David Garza. The West Lake Hills modern with the complementary baroque art and Tiffany views looks better every time I visit.
Betsy Clemons and Chris Knapp
A feast was laid out by 34th Street Cafe and Catering’s owner Eddie Bernal. He talked to me on the side about the process of changing La Sombra, one of his eateries, into an Italian restaurant. “People have been asking me to do Italian for years,” Bernal says. “I finally put the right team together.”
Lisa Jasper and Lauren Smith Ford
Top socials and representatives from media, fashion and the arts toasted Elliman, who grew up in the River Oaks area of Houston, then attended school in the Northeast. I spoke with his mother and with some childhood friends, which turned up stories that, while perfectly chaste, will remain unpublished.
Back to photographs. I took a few, but I was there to have fun at this private party. As the casual affair — some were dressed to the 1962 nines — lasted longer and got louder (in some corners) Mary Pat Mueller took photographs, candid and posed, that she posted later that night on Facebook.
Kindly, she published ones of your columnist that were fairly flattering. (I’m better behind the camera.) Still, it’s a healthy reminder to always do the same for my Canon subjects.
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By Scott W. Ballew
January 15, 2012 4:54 PM | Link to this
I wish there was a like button for these photos! Mary and Maria did a fabulous job for Marathon Kids. ...and a very Happy Birthday to George.
(Thanks for the Cedar Fever advice Michael, it is working)
By Mary Tally
January 15, 2012 4:18 PM | Link to this
Thanks for attending the Marathon Kids event, Michael--and for all you do to help promote Austin's fundraisers...you really do help us connect the dots.