Fresh Arts Shines Bright Like a Diamond, Raises $200,000

1Gala honoree Marita Fairbanks in a Kasi Kubiak costume

2Gala honoree Marita Fairbanks in a Kasi Kubiak costume

3Gala honoree Marita Fairbanks in a Kasi Kubiak costume

4Gala honoree Marita Fairbanks in a Kasi Kubiak costume

5Marita Fairbanks, center, with Neal Hamil Agency models dressed in Fairbanks' past costumes

6Marita Fairbanks, center, with Neal Hamil Agency models dressed in Fairbanks' past costumes

7Fresh Arts board president Jared LeBlanc and Ashley Kaposta

8Fresh Arts board president Jared LeBlanc and Ashley Kaposta

9Whitney Riley and past Fresh Arts board president Harry McMahan

10Whitney Riley and past Fresh Arts board president Harry McMahan

11Gala chairs Ernie and Stephanie Cockrell

12Gala chairs Ernie and Stephanie Cockrell

13Y.E. Torrees (ms. YET) performs

14Y.E. Torrees (ms. YET) performs

15Denise Giordano, Patricia Sung, Fresh Arts board member Dominic Sung, and Carolyn Robistow

16Denise Giordano, Patricia Sung, Fresh Arts board member Dominic Sung, and Carolyn Robistow

17Artist and costume designer Kasi Kubiak and Fresh Arts executive director Marci Dallas

18Artist and costume designer Kasi Kubiak and Fresh Arts executive director Marci Dallas

19Michael Galbreth and Rainey Knudson

20Michael Galbreth and Rainey Knudson

21Fresh Arts board member Gonzo 247 and Carolyn Casey-Figueroa enjoy treats from Popson TX and Austin Eastciders

22Fresh Arts board member Gonzo 247 and Carolyn Casey-Figueroa enjoy treats from Popson TX and Austin Eastciders

23Input Output's Alex Ramos

24Input Output's Alex Ramos

25Fresh Arts board member Mike Umansky and Laura Umansky

26Fresh Arts board member Mike Umansky and Laura Umansky

27Fresh Arts board member James Bell and Fresh Arts executive director Marci Dallas

28Fresh Arts board member James Bell and Fresh Arts executive director Marci Dallas

29Gala chairs Raquel Segal, Katie Brass, and Stephanie Cockrell

30Gala chairs Raquel Segal, Katie Brass, and Stephanie Cockrell

31Live painting by Daniel Elliott

32Live painting by Daniel Elliott

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35Corey Haywood and Ryan O. Harris

36Corey Haywood and Ryan O. Harris

37Gala chairs AJ and Katie Bass

38Gala chairs AJ and Katie Bass

39Gala chairs Raquel and Andrew Segal

40Gala chairs Raquel and Andrew Segal

41Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin

42Fady Armanious and Bill Baldwin

43Fortune telling poetry by Traci Thiebaud

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46Live painting by Angela Fabbri

47Live painting by Angela Fabbri

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49Fortune tellers coordinated with Next Iteration Theatre

50Fortune tellers coordinated with Next Iteration Theatre

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52Fortune telling poetry by Traci Thiebaud

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Stop, collaborate and listen–more than 700 party-goers showed up and really showed out last Friday, February 2 for Fresh Arts’ annual fundraising gala. This year’s theme: The Crystal Ball.

Guests donned dazzling, over-the-top costumes based on their own interpretations of the icy theme–those included ’20s glitz, ’80s glamour, futuristic get-ups, and head-to-toe crystals. Moreover, they raised $200,000, making this year’s gala the most fruitful of any in the arts organization’s 15-year history. The annual ball is Fresh Arts’ largest fundraising event of the year, and proceeds bolster the non-profit’s mission of supporting local artists and strengthening Houston’s arts community.

The Crystal Ball honored Fresh Arts Coalition founder Marita Fairbanks. Katie and AJ Brass, Stephanie and Ernie Cockrell, and Raquel and Andrew Segal chaired the gala, which included performances, art installations, a silent auction (full of art, naturally), and plenty of food and drinks from local vendors.

Houston’s arts scene represented in full force, ensuring no shortage of entertainment thanks to music by DJ Yung Hiram; live painting by artists John Whaley, Angela Fabbri, John Whaley Jr., and Daniel Elliott; body painting by Rudy Campos of RCC Creations with Neal Hamil models; Next Iteration Theatre fortune tellers and fortune telling poetry by Traci Thiebaud; a performance by Y.E. Torres (ms. YET); and a light installation by Input Output.