A Starry Night: A-List Crowd Toasts Debut of Van Gogh Experience

Quy Tran
A Starry Night: A-List Crowd Toasts Debut of Van Gogh Experience

Natalie Varnum and Jacqueline Long

A CELEB-STUDDED crowd turned out to toast the grand opening of the highly anticipated Immersive Van Gogh Exhibit, which debuted in a custom-built warehouse in West Houston on Wednesday night.


The 200 guests first gathered in a courtyard erected outside the venue, which will soon be dubbed Lighthouse Artspace. Everyone wanted their pic taken in front of the sunflower-bedecked yellow pickup, turmeric-tinged signature cocktail in hand.

Impact Museums' Diana Rayzman and Vito Iaia, who helped produce the exhibit, and Council Member Amy Peck were among those who gave remarks before a ceremonial ribbon-cutting. Then, at last, art-loving Houstonians — including Brian Ching, Chester Pitts, Kam Franklin, Donkeeboy, Jess and Betty Tutor, and Scott and Jana Arnoldy — poured into the bright blue warehouse, ready to take in the full experience.

Once inside the main room, folks claimed their spot within socially distanced circles, and were dazzled by the 35-minute show. For more on the exhibit, click here.

Kam Franklin, Donkeeboy, and Sylvia Roman

Lauren and Kyle Courville

Miya Shay and Laurette Veres

LaToya and Chester Pitts and family

Jessica Rifanburg and Alessandra Madrid

Amy Johnston and Carrie Evans

Megumi Hoshi and Whitney Mercilus

Scott and Jana Arnoldy and Betty and Jess Tutor

The evening's colorful signature cocktail

Schuyler and Sarah Pappas

Giselle and Patrick Piller

Parties

The Camino Huichol over the Wet Deck

VERDANT, WINDING BRANCHES arch up and over a pathway as a soundtrack of herons and chachalacas (and the occasional monkey) plays overhead. Concrete rectangles artfully jut up through the green, painted in rays of sunlight. Eventually, the path leads down to the beach, where the streaks of sun create a cinematic moment: A slim, tan couple emerges from the ocean with their surfboards in hand and their dogs at their heels, the scent of the Pacific lingering in the thick, humid air.

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THE UPCOMING AIA Houston Home Tour is always an anticipated fall event, a style showcase from some of the city’s best architects, designers and tastemakers. The two-day, self-guided tour includes several custom homes in the area that exhibit design excellence, innovative design solutions, and sustainable features.

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