Ben Racusin, Mica Piro, Bailey Blocker, Brian Reynolds
The highlight of the evening, as always, was the rocking runway show, where local notables and the night's honorees strutted their stuff alongside their prized pets. This year's models included Carson Brown, John Cangelosi and Natasha Minor, Angela Hernandez, Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton, Brigitte Kalai, Sharron Melton, Sarah Pepper, Roxy Riefkohl, Kenny Webster, and Rebecca and Anthony Yanez. Other awards distributed at the gala were the Social Influencer for Animals award, which went to Madeline Garis Smith, and the Melcher Humanitarian of the Year accolade, which was given to Nicolette St. Angel.
The Mission: Pawsible party, attended by a whopping 800 supporters, also included an exciting raffle for a 2024 Subaru Outback, donated by famously animal-loving West Houston Subaru. Emcee Owen Conflenti and auctioneer Johnny Bravo conducted the live auction, which contributed to the total till.
Amy Stengel, Nicolette St Angel
Angela Hernandez and Buckley winner of 2023 Celebrity Pet of the Year
Tony Ackerman and Sandi Mercado
Brigitte and Bashar Kalai with Max
Suzanne Klein and Edna Meyer-Nelson
Caron Brown and Pepper
Steve and Christine Johnson
Charlie and Janice Hall
Clark Whitty and Mary Kenner
Sharron Melton with Omorede and Idrissa
Clint and Meghan Conroy
Daniel Irion and Kirk Kveton with Biscuit
Ross and Bryn Talkington
Debra Laws, Beth Wolff, Anna Kaplan
Roxy Riefkohl and Olive Marie and Ruby Rose
Odilia and Owen Conflenti
Frank Billingsley and Kevin Gilliard
Greg Brown, Brandy Minick
Pamela Srpouse and Gregory Miller
Hallie Vanderhider and Bobby Dees
Rebecca and Anthony Yanez with Harvey and Houston
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Masterson's frocks are made from prints fashioned from her nature photographs.
The line was motivated by Masterson’s love of merging history with contemporary design. Inspired by a Fortuny exhibition curated by Oscar de la Renta at the Spanish Institute in New York, the tactile history of the fabric and Mario Fortuny’s engraved block printing methods, she prints each piece using landscape images from her photographic series.
“Art for Wear has been in the works for years, but I’ve expanded the line,” says Masterson. “I made one gown — but then the project went on the back burner. After the pandemic when things picked up again, I started to experiment with different materials and made more designs starting with a better-looking diaper bag for my twins!”
Then her line led to more purses and more bags including the very popular “The Weekender” with a rope handle that can be folded inside another bag. “It sports a generous amount of surface space for a photograph, so I can take advantage of a beautiful image,” says Masterson. Apparel in the small line includes gorgeous silk and satin slip dresses and short and long tunics which can work with jeans or as black-tie, respectively.
A duffle bag sporting a photos of Houston's South Boulevard
Kathy Lord, Klinka Lollar and Masterson at a recent pop-up event
'Moonrise on the Bay' bag
'Skyscape' flounce dress
'Skyscape' weekend bag
Currently her pieces are available at her website online and eventually with select retailers. Masterson has held a few pop-up parties to show her boutique collection including the first at Foto Relevance Gallery, where her landscape photography inspired by years of world travel can be viewed. Another pop-up showing with many Houston heavyweights in attendance was held at Mariquita Masterson, her family jewelry store, in River Oaks.
“Art for Wear aims to create and to visually inspire through the use of pieces you can wear and use in daily life; ideas that are accessible and bring joy while still having a story to tell. Being able to start with my photography as the base of this adventure in my hometown is an extraordinary gift,” says Masterson.
And what does the busy artist and mom enjoy in her leisure time? “I like to go to the country and photograph and to be with my kids and their dad — it’s great to get out of the city and dig in dirt, plant things, roast hot dogs and marshmallows — that’s a breather,” says Masterson.
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