SOFA CHICAGO 2004 OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW GOES PUBLIC WITH STYLE

A savvy, stylish public added energy and excitement to SOFA CHICAGO’s Opening Night on Nov. 4, with over 3000 persons attending the Public Preview from 7 – 10 pm, new this year to the exposition. An estimated 800 top collectors, museum curators and arts cognoscenti attended the private, invitation-only “First Choice” Preview from 5 – 7 pm.

Mark Lyman, President and Founder of SOFA CHICAGO and its sister show, SOFA NEW YORK, said, “This year was the first year that Opening Night was not hosted by a benefit organization, so we were unsure what to expect—and we were absolutely delighted with the turn-out at both the Preview levels. Key buyers mixed with a new generation of art lovers and collectors, and dealers reported solid sales.”

Duane Reed of R. Duane Reed Gallery, New York said, “It was just a CRAZY Opening Night! The energy was terrific, just a huge energy on the floor. We broke a sales record for Opening Night.” Reed added, “All the really great clients were here and we sold to many new ones as well.”

TaiGallery/Textile Art's booth at SOFA CHICAGO 2004

Rob Coffland of Tai Gallery/Textile Arts, Santa Fe, NM, said, “It was our best SOFA Opening Night ever.”

Donna Schneier of Donna Schneier Fine Arts, New York, NY, said, “Great crowd, great Opening. Lots of new clients.”

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NEW! SOFA CHICAGO 2004
OPENING NIGHT PREVIEW
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 4
5-7 pm Private “First Choice” Preview by
complimentary invitation only
7-10 pm Public Preview – Tickets $25 in advance
or at the door.

CHICAGO, AUGUST 2, 2004. Following the lead of key art fairs around the world to open their previews first to important collectors, the SOFA CHICAGO 2004 Opening Night Preview, Thursday, November 4, has undergone a creative re-visioning! Opening Night offers the arts aficionado and collector first viewing and selection of top quality pieces offered at SOFA. This year there will be two entrance times: First Choice Preview, 5 – 7 pm, by gallery invitation only; and Public Preview from 7 – 10 pm, open to the general public. Tickets for the Public Preview are available from SOFA in advance or at the door for $25.00.

Mark Lyman, President and Founder of Expressions of Culture, Inc., the producer of SOFA CHICAGO and its sister show, SOFA NEW YORK, said, “The main difference this year is that because Opening Night is not a fund raiser, invitations will not be sent out to individuals by a benefit organization, as in past years. Galleries and dealers exhibiting in SOFA CHICAGO 2004 will direct-send complimentary First Choice Preview guest invitations to their key clients. Tickets for the Public Preview ($25) will be available at the door.”

Lyman continued, “Since the Opening Night will not benefit a single organization, we are able to offer a variety of arts-related non-profit organizations the opportunity to host private benefits in conjunction with the Preview. For example Northwestern Memorial Foundation, with whom we’ve worked for the past three years, will host a private fund-raising function this year for the Arts Program at Northwestern Memorial Hospital centered around First Choice Preview.”

Lyman concluded, “SOFA CHICAGO has always been robustly attended by the general arts-interested public. Offering a Public Preview later in the evening to this audience will make Opening Night affordable to a younger generation of art lovers and collectors.”

For more information about SOFA CHICAGO 2004 Opening Night Public Preview call 800.563.7632 or 773.506.8860 or email info@sofaexpo.com. Tickets for the Public Preview ($25) will be available at the door.

View images from SOFA CHICAGO 2003 Opening Night