Mad Hatter’s Tea Judges Announced at a High Tea Hosted by Esé Azénabor in Her Fabulous Design Studio
(Featured photo: Sheridan Reeder, co-chair; Esé Azénabor, featured fashions; Reagan Pace, co-chair; Paige Elliott, Women’s Council president.)*
Fashion designer Esé Azénabor hosted the Mad Hatter’s Tea Judges Reveal in her fabulous design studio located in Dallas’ Design District with a reception filled with champagne, smiles all around and an excited buzz about who the judges might be.
Chairs Reagan Pace and Sheridan Reeder greeted everyone along with Esé and Women’s Council president, Paige Elliott. Anne Stodghill is honorary chair.
The energy was upbeat as guests sipped and perused the beautiful fashions. As the chimes rang, the ladies took their seats at the beautiful tables, preset with fanciful flowered china, silver, a high tea serving tower filled with savory and sweets, all topped off with towering floral arrangements of colorful hydrangeas, roses, ivy and more.
Then came the big reveal! The theme is The Art of the Garden. In keeping with the theme, the Judges and their Hat Categories are:
* Capera Ryan, Deputy Chairman of Christie’s Americas. She will judge the category Masters of the Renaissance: The big three: Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo and Raphael. Characterized by realism and humanism with lifelike depictions of the natural world and human form.
* Hannah Fagadau Kaye is a Dallas-based art professional known for her work supporting contemporary artists and cultivating thoughtful, engaging exhibitions through her gallery, 12.26. She will judge the category Cubism: Pablo Picasso, George Braque. Fragmented, geometric forms such as cubes, cones and spheres; multiple perspectives shown at once with limited color palettes and collage.
* Eliot Whittall, co-owner of Whittall & Shon, the brainchild of Eliot Whittall and Richard Shon. Together they have been designing hats for over 40 years. He will judge the category Rococo: Fresh Flower Category: Fragonard, Watteau and Boucher. Frivolous, elaborate, ornamentation asymmetrical curves and pastel colors. A playful, lighthearted and whimsical style with elaborate ornamentation of natural elements.
* Francisco Moreno, a Mexican-American artist whose work reimagines history, myth, and identity through a bold visual language that merges Old Master painting traditions with contemporary and fantastical influences. His category for judging is Surrealism: Salvador Dali, Joan Miro and Rene Magritte. Explores the subconscious and dreams, using illogical or bizarre imagery. Embracing the irrationality and channeling the power of the imagination.
* Dr. Nicole R. Myers, the Chief Curatorial and Research Officer and The Barbara Thomas Lemmon Senior Curator of European Art at the Dallas Museum of Art where she directs the Museum’s Curatorial, Conservation, and Library & Archives Departments. Her judging category is “The Impressionists”: Group Category: Claude Monet’s waterlilies and garden scenes, Renoir’s famous scenes of people enjoying leisurely activities. Degas’ beautiful ballerinas. Light, bright colors with an emphasis on ordinary subject matter.
* John Sughrue, who has helped shape the cultural and creative landscape of Dallas and the state of Texas for more than three decades. He founded the Dallas Art Fair, an internationally celebrated contemporary art fair now in its 18th year, and the Fashion Industry Gallery (FIG), a premier fashion boutique and wholesale marketplace. He will judge Pop Art: Andy Warhol, Roy Lichtenstein, Claes Oldenburg. Use of imagery and techniques drawn from popular and commercial culture, challenging the boundaries between high and low art.
Everyone is encouraged to get tickets and tables now, as the event is sure to be another sell-out!
Secure your reservations and learn more about the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden, membership benefits, trips, parties in private homes, garden tours and more at www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT THE WOMEN’S COUNCIL: Celebrating its 43rd Anniversary.
2025-2026 Theme: Rooted in Friendship – Blooming with Purpose focuses on the Women behind A Woman’s Garden, longstanding members and welcoming new women to our garden community in friendship, fundraising, and fun!
Since 1982 the major goal of the Women’s Council has been the design, construction, funding and endowment of A Woman’s Garden, a principal garden at the Dallas Arboretum. A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the United States conceived by women, funded by the efforts of women and dedicated to the spirit of women. Celebrating its 43rd year, the support of over 600 members of the Women’s Council makes possible the continued expansion and development of A Woman’s Garden. The Women’s Council is an all-volunteer, 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. www.wcdabg.org
ABOUT A WOMAN’S GARDEN: Celebrating its 28th Anniversary.
A Woman’s Garden is the only public garden in the nation conceived, constructed and maintained by the funding efforts of women. Ablaze with color in every season, A Woman’s Garden sits majestically as a living testament to the passion and vision of the Women’s Council founders and the boundless energy and devotion of its members whose commitment to creating a garden dedicated to the universal spirit of women across generations is realized in its inspired design. Our beautiful garden celebrates the power, creativity, resourcefulness, passion and unwavering commitment of the women who came before us and those entrusted with its care now, and into the future.
*Photos by Thomas Garza Photography.
** Courtesy photos.
(Sharon Adams, Adams Communications Public Relations, is honored to represent the Women’s Council of the Dallas Arboretum and Botanical Garden and its special events and announcements and post this Philanthropy Lifestyles Scene.)
