Daily-ist: Thursday

::HAPPY BIRTHDAY, BLAFFER!::

Blaffer Gallery, the Art Museum of the University of Houston, is pleased to announce that the museum turns 35 years old in March.

A handful of events are planned this spring in conjunction with its birthday, including a 35th Anniversary Celebration on March 13 and the 2008 Blaffer Gallery gala, HOT on H-TOWN, on May 15.

The 35th anniversary celebration will take place on Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m. in the Fine Arts Courtyard, University of Houston. There will be live music performed by the 11th Street Cleaners and complimentary food and drink from Armando's, Amy's Ice Cream and St. Arnold's Brewery.

Blaffer encourages students, museum patrons and the Houston art community to drop by to say farewell to Terrie Sultan, the departing director of the museum, before she heads off to her new position at the Parrish Art Museum in Southampton, NY.

HOT on H-TOWN, the 2008 Annual Blaffer Gallery Gala, will be on Thursday, May 15, at 7 p.m., in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture Atrium, University of Houston. The event will honor both Nancy Hixon, who retired in January after nearly 30 years with the museum, and Morgan Dunn O'Connor, a University of Houston regent and long-time Blaffer supporter. PaperCity Magazine is this year's media sponsor.

"We decided to hold two major events in conjunction with this landmark anniversary to appeal to as many people as possible. The gala, an annual important fundraiser for the museum, will be our black tie event to celebrate our anniversary. The theme is all-things Houston and is inspired by the 2008 Houston Area Exhibition," stated Susan Conaway, director of external affairs.

"The 35th anniversary celebration on March 13 is a free thank you party for our supporters. Both events are shaping up to be among the most anticipated social events occurring this spring."

About Blaffer Gallery
The museum, which was dedicated on March 13, 1973, on the University of Houston campus, was named in honor of the late Sarah Campbell Blaffer. She was the daughter of Texaco founder William Campbell and the wife of Robert E. Lee Blaffer, founder of Humble Oil (which later became a part of Exxon). Since its inception, the museum has been Houston's premier venue for viewing emerging or under-recognized artists and bodies of work. Blaffer Gallery is located in the Fine Arts Building on the University of Houston's central campus, entrance 16 off Cullen Boulevard.

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today, March, 13th | 7pm
University of Houston Fine Arts Courtyard
Admission to the party is free for everyone
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