The 37th annual gala took over the fourth floor of the Hilton-Americas hotel Downtown, where more than 800 guests gathered for the "Neon Lights and Bayou Nights"-themed event. Chairs Robin Klaes, Janette Marx and Stephen Toups, the night was bright, indeed! There were pig races; a wine, whiskey and spirits pull; a hat bar from The Hat Chick; and tons of Texas-themed bites, naturally.
In addition to an exciting raffle — which featured five sweepstakes packages! — the live auction made serious waves. Beck & Masten Buick GMC donated two (two!) 2024 GMC Hummer EVs, and each one went for $130,000.
The funds raised go not only to cancer research, but also to programs dedicated to helping patients and their families navigate the diagnosis and treatment, which is often costly and emotionally draining. For example, Hope Lodge is a place where patients can stay at no cost to them for the duration of treatment. Abbigail Guana has been a resident there since May, and sent a video message emphasizing the importance of access to care. After that, a special paddle raise took place, and names of those who donate $1,000 or more during the event will be commemorated on a special plaque accompanying a custom piece of art by Taft McWhorter.
The evening's musical entertainment was dynamic, with Demola the Violinist welcoming galagoers with electric-violin versions of country hits. And country hitmakers Easton Corbin and Roger Creager got everyone out on the dance floor!
Ben and Maureen Lucas
Tricia Verbois, Jill Watson, Karen Remington
Leisa Holland Nelson Bowman
Brian and Nora Jarrard
Thomas Roberts and Cyndy Garza Roberts
Casidy and Patricia Welch
Tany and Chaz Klaes
Davis Hance and Kittsie Klaes
Steve and Paula Winter, Cyndy Garza Roberts and Thomas Roberts
Easton Corbin
Stephen Toups, Robin Klaes, Easton Corbin and Janette Marx
Jennifer Champion and Kevin Scroggins
Stephanie and Frank Tsuru
Jenny and Matt Todd
Pete and Jana Delongchamps
Joey Delongchamps, Danny Klaes and Michael Deis
Johnny Bravo
Mike and Teresa Cook, Erin and Andrew Kramer
Riggs, Chita Craft and Ron Trevino
Joi Lecznar, Robin Klaes, Dana Miller
Jonathan and Ann Ayres, Valerie and Tracy Dietrich
Marilu Garza and Leila Perrin
Judy Labrasca, Heather Holmes, Mary Stone
Maegan Toups, Carson Joachim
Katie and Seth Tsuru
Landon and Brenna Agabaldon
Leisa Holland-Nelson Bowman and Shavonnah Roberts
A detail of one of Conley's new metal sculptures
Since then, Conley hasn’t stopped working. Far from it. This past summer, she had a gallery show at Rockport Center for the Arts, public art displayed at 800 and 820 Gessner buildings in Memorial City, and was part of a group exhibit at Lee College. On Friday, Sept. 20, Houstonians who have been missing Conley should head over to ELLIO Fine Art for Lost and Found, a solo exhibit of Conley’s small and large free-standing bronze, stainless steel, and cast iron sculptures, wall installations and text pieces.
Conley says this new collection ”explores connection, movement, and the passage of time.” In keeping with these themes, some sculptures are mounted on the walls, others hang from nails, and one is suspended (securely) from the gallery’s ceiling. Included in Lost and Found are half-formed sentences and fragments of language, ranging from hoary aphorisms to head-scratching verses (“I Can’t Hear You With Your Pants On”) that Conley has written in wax and then cast in bronze.
While the exhibit’s title may also refer to the dues an artist pays to realize their potential, the installation of so much work within a relatively small space is a pleasure to navigate and feels as free as Conley’s imagination. Remember that blow torch? Well, Lost and Found will have you admiring how Conley can turn such unforgiving alloys into complex shapes and patterns filled with alchemical energy that seem to dance before your eyes.
