With Real Emmy Statues as Centerpieces, a Lively Luncheon Raises $250,000 for HSPVA

Jeff Fitlow
With Real Emmy Statues as Centerpieces, a Lively Luncheon Raises $250,000 for HSPVA

Kerry & Charles Walker and Alex Lazar

THE SUN WAS shining as more than 300 supporters gathered on the rooftop gardens of POST for Kinder High School for the Performing and Visual Arts.


As they entered, guests enjoyed the sounds of not one but two student-led string quartets as they perused a sculpture garden of ceramic pieces, also created by HSPVA artists. The luncheon honored Kinder HSPVA alumna and eight-time Emmy winner Rachelle Mendez — whose Emmy statues were used as centerpieces on the head tables! Mendez has produced Netflix’s Queer Eye and Sparking Joy with Marie Kondo along with other notable shows.

As lunch by Cafe Natalie was served, the lively program began, with fun moments like a Legally Blonde-themed pop music tribute, and moving ones including a speech from Texas Poet Laureate Lupe Mendez. There was also a performance by Kinder HSPVA’s award-winning Mariachi Los Pasajeros.

The luncheon raised $250,000 to be used for the school’s arts supplies, adjunct faculty, and specialized equipment and technology.

Duke & CC Ensell, Brandon Weinbrenner & Mitchell Greco

Kinder HSPVA's Mariachi Los Pasajeros

Bob Boblitt & Serena Paquette

Tucker Irey

Kim Falconer and Megan Lembcke

Algenita Scott Davis and Wendy Montoya Cloonan

Grayson & Chiarra Stratton, Marcus & Melanie Manning

Rachelle Mendez and Alene Coggin

Emily Schreiber and Austin Thomas

Stephanie Beveridge and Chris Powers

Parties
Top Attorney Lauren Varnado Says Networking Is Key: ‘Relationships Are Everything’
How did you get to where you are today? It takes a village. I was fortunate enough to have great mentors and individuals who instilled confidence in me. I think that when you face a challenge or an obstacle, you are able to overcome and make things happen. You can continue moving forward, more resilient over time.
Keep Reading Show less

'Is that how you treat your house guest'

ARTIST KAIMA MARIE’S solo exhibit For the record (which opens today at Art Is Bond) invites the viewer into a multiverse of beloved Houston landmarks, presented in dizzying Cubist perspectives. There are ornate interior spaces filled with paintings, books and records — all stuff we use to document and preserve personal, family and collective histories; and human figures, including members of Marie’s family, whose presence adds yet another quizzical layer to these already densely packed works. This isn’t art you look at for 15-30 seconds before moving on to the next piece; there’s a real pleasure in being pulled into these large-scale photo collages, which Marie describes as “puzzles without a reference image.”

Keep Reading Show less
Art + Entertainment

Beetlejuice Goes Hawaiian cocktail

SPOOKY SEASON IS starting early this year with the release of the Beetlejuice sequel in theaters on Friday. Houston cocktail bar and pizza joint Betelgeuse Betelgeuse is celebrating the film with two weekends of events and specials.

Keep Reading Show less
Food