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 The Exclusive Airline of SOFA CHICAGO 2006 |
www.SOFAEXPO.com The Website of the biannual International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art (SOFA) Expositions in New York & Chicago © 2006, Expressions of Culture, Inc. No reproductions may be made of any content of this site without the approval of Expressions of Culture, Inc. All Rights Reserved. |
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13th SOFA CHICAGO 2006 WRAP-UP REPORT:
CHICAGO, NOVEMBER 16, 2006. The curtain went up dramatically last Thursday on the 13th Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art, the largest and longest continuously running art exposition in Chicago and the American Midwest. A record 3200 guests enjoyed the elegant Opening Night Mise en Scène at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall and the increasingly eclectic mix of fine and decorative art on offer at the fair. The new VIP Lounge on Terrace B was a big hit with top collectors, made possible by SOFA sponsors Chubb Personal Insurance and Collectify. Attendance at SOFA CHICAGO was estimated at 33,000 persons, up 3000 from last year.
Scott Jacobson of Leo Kaplan Modern, NY, NY, said, “Attendance seemed definitely up, with a younger crowd.” Representative of galleries presenting an increasing range of artworks at the show, LKM sold Dan Dailey’s blown glass sculpture Domino for $58,000, new, large-scale two-dimensional cast glass panels by Richard Jolley for $25,000, as well as fanciful functional art in wood by Jay Stanger and Yves Boucard ($18,000 each).
Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, has led the way at SOFA expositions in exhibiting painting and photography as well as sculptural objects and functional art—a blend that led to almost a complete sellout at the gallery’s stand. Victor Armendariz said the gallery enjoyed “A fabulous Opening Night. The show’s great this year, floor has been packed.”
THE THIRTEENTH ANNUAL INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITION OF The World’s Foremost Exposition
CHICAGO, AUGUST 20, 2006. Mark Lyman, Founder/Director of Expressions of Culture, Inc, a dmg world media company, producer of SOFA CHICAGO and SOFA NEW YORK said, “This year’s SOFA CHICAGO is the most international and the largest in terms of square footage that we have ever produced. To-date nineteen new galleries have joined the line-up, principal among them Rena Bransten Gallery, San Francisco, representing top contemporary and emerging art since 1978. Galerie Besson, London, specializing in international studio ceramics, leads the way for seven participating U.K galleries. Two new Danish galleries add strength to Scandinavian design arts at the fair.” International presence continues to grow at SOFA CHICAGO with the addition of eleven new galleries from Denmark, Japan, Israel, France, Czech Republic, Hong Kong, South Korea, Switzerland, Ireland, England and Canada. They join exhibiting galleries and dealers from Australia, Argentina and Italy. READ MORE ON SOFA GALLERY PRESENTATIONS.
Lyman continued, “We are very excited that Chubb and Collectify, both high-profile leaders in the arts, are again major sponsors of SOFA CHICAGO. Their generous support will make special things happen at the fair, including the exciting addition of a VIP lounge.” Chubb is one of the world’s preeminent insurers of fine homes and possessions and Collectify is a leader in industry-standard collections management and cataloguing software. Lyman added, “SOFA looks forward to a productive partnership with Chubb and Collectify,where the presentation of fine objects and collections management support one another’s goals.”
Plan now to join artists, collectors, curators and cognoscenti at the festive Opening Night Mise en scène, Thursday, November 9. Mise en scène (mee' zahn sen) is a French theater term that means “putting on stage” or “a stage setting,” and refers to the elegant art and setting of SOFA CHICAGO’s Opening Night—truly a party with a view. Be among the first to enjoy and acquire top quality pieces at the Public Preview from 7-10 pm. Tickets are $50.00 and may be purchased at the door. Last year’s Public Preview was attended by an estimated 2800 collectors and press. Ann Nathan of Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago said the show floor was “Packed! Loaded with expectation and enthusiasm.” “Phenomenal Opening Night!” said Leslie Ferrin of Ferrin Gallery, Lenox, MA. “Opening Night was spectacular,” said Terry Davidson of Leo Kaplan Modern, New York, NY. “Best we’ve ever had. We had people in the booth at 5:01 pm. It was amazing—a very focused group of buyers.” Over 900 persons are again expected to attend the invitation-only “First Choice” Preview from 5 – 7 pm.
CONTEMPORARY CONCEPT + MASTERY OF MATERIAL
HIGHLIGHTS OF SOFA CHICAGO 2006 CHICAGO, AUGUST 20, 2006. Mark Lyman, founder/director of Expressions of Culture, Inc., producer of SOFA said, “Extraordinary works of art are marked by conceptual content and mastery of material through skilled handwork. The 100 international galleries and dealers at SOFA CHICAGO recognize this virtuosity of mind, skill and material and present the best of the new, from New York to Sydney.”
No artist has greater mastery over the material of glass than Lino Tagliapietra, pushing its frontiers technically and conceptually in his abstract vessel forms. Holsten Galleries, Stockbridge, MA will feature the Italian maestro in an unprecedented solo exhibition at SOFA CHICAGO. Tagliapietra taught Dale Chihuly and many others Venetian glassblowing technique—a closely guarded secret from the Island of Murano, Italy, and to this day, Chihuly calls Tagliapietra “Maestro.” Jim Schantz of Holsten said, “2006 will mark Lino's 60th year working in glass. Our feature exhibition at SOFA will be one of our most comprehensive representations of Tagliapietra's work. Among the works will be the newest series including Fenice, Mandara and Saba series.”
SOFA CHICAGO 2006 LECTURE SERIES
AUGUST 20, 2006 The SOFA CHICAGO 2006 Lecture Series will be held at the exposition Friday, November 10th & Saturday, November 11th and is free to SOFA attendees. 31 presentations by renowned artists, collectors and arts professionals are planned. This year’s Series spotlights international curators and scholars speaking on topics related to SOFA CHICAGO 2006 gallery presentations and Special Exhibits from around the world, including the Czech Republic, Ireland, Korea, China and Wales. VIEW LECTURE SERIES SCHEDULE.
Moira Vincentelli, senior lecturer in art history and curator of ceramics at the University of Wales, Aberstwyth, will lecture on the subject of For Love or Money – Women and Ceramics in Wales. Using findings from her current three year research project and the wider historical context, including the tradition of domestic display, Vincentelli will discuss the issues and concerns for women ceramicists in Wales today with reference to key emerging artists, nine of whose works will be on-view at The Gallery, Ruthin Craft Centre, Denbighshire, Wales, booth at SOFA. The author of Women and Ceramics — Gendered Vessels (2000) and Women Potters (2004), Vincentelli said, “Women’s traditions are characterized by simple technology and a way of working the clay that keeps the maximum closeness between the hand and the material…The hierarchy of the western division between art and craft serves to devalue what women do and associate men with art and women with craft.”
SIX SPECIAL EXHIBITS AT SOFA CHICAGO 2006
CHICAGO, AUGUST 20, 2006. Six Special Exhibits at SOFA CHICAGO 2006 survey paradigm shifts away from traditional artisan media and subject matter in countries as diverse as Ireland and Korea. Not defined by their culture or geography, today’s world artists may reference tradition in their forms, materials and processes, but seek foremost to express their own artistic vision. The Special Exhibit Forty Shades of Green will feature the work of 40 Irish makers across the fields of craft, fine art and literature, presented by The Crafts Council of Ireland. The title of the Special Exhibit references the ballad written by Johnny Cash, 40 Shades of Green, which reads in part: "I Close My Eyes And Picture The Emerald Of The Sea
The producers of SOFA CHICAGO and SOFA NEW YORK are thrilled to announce the launch of SOFAsphere -- the online community for arts-minded people interested in creativity, virtuosity and materiality in all media. SOFAsphere will help you communicate and connect with fellow collectors, collector groups, artists, curators, designers, architects, and students——an entire world of arts-interested public — anytime, anywhere. Be a part of something evolving, something engaging, something informing--Widen your circle! SOFAsphere will allow you to:
Explore SOFAsphere! CLICK HERE TO VIEW A SHORT TUTORIAL. Register (free) and build your profile now! Connect and communicate -- and have fun exploring the wide world of SOFAsphere!
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