Dealer Highlights of SOFA CHICAGO 2009

	Laura de Santillana Flag 6 (Bluviola/Rosso/Violetto), 2008 Hand-blown and shaped glass 17 x 17.25 photo: Fabio Zonta Represented by Barry Friedman Ltd., New York

CHICAGO. Barry Friedman Ltd. of New York presents Venice: 3 Visions in Glass, a 10-year retrospective of work by three of the most important contemporary artists working with glass today: Cristiano Bianchin, Yoichi Ohira, and Laura de Santillana. While all three artists live in Venice and work on the Island of Murano, their works transcend the expected forms, styles, and techniques of traditional Murano glassmakers. Bianchin, Ohira, and de Santillana are groundbreaking in their art forms--eschewing narrative and employing strong, emphatic forms, and consistently reinventing what it means to work in the medium and arena of contemporary glass. They are represented in numerous public and private collections worldwide, and are featured in this year's prestigious Venice Biennale (June 1 - November 22, 2009) in the Venice Pavilion's exhibition: "...Fa come natura face in foco - Dante." This exhibition will travel to The Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Missouri; The Naples Museum of Art in Naples, Florida; and the Museé des arts Décoratifs in Paris, France. de Santillana will speak in the SOFA lecture series.

Stanislav Libenský/Jaroslava Brychtová Dove, 1980 Cast and cut glass blocks 83" x 83" Represented by Heller Gallery, New York

Heller Gallery of New York will have on offer two spectacular historical Stanislav Libenský/Jaroslava Brychtová sculptures. Doug Heller says, "We are thrilled to present an 8" tall Libenský/Brychtová Spaces sculpture from the early 1990's, and an important 7 x 7' Libenský screen created at the legendary Moser Glass company in 1980 from 210 cast and cut elements. Three massive sculptures recently cast by Mrs. Brychtová will accompany these notable early works. In another part of our booth, fabulous over-the-top Beth Lipman Still Life table installations will be on view along with her serene photographs. Nicole Chesney's ephemeral oil on glass paintings will create an island of tranquility in a different section of our display. Still in our booth #220, but across the aisle, Danish artists Steffen Dam and Tobias Mohl will each present focused solo shows and Ivana Sramkova will exhibit a droll menagerie of pygmy piglets, horses, bunnies, giraffes, storks and tigers. There will also be new works on view by Sibylle Peretti, Karen LaMonte and Frantisek Vizner."

	David Ebner Library Steps Represented by William Zimmer Gallery, Mendocino, CA

William Zimmer Gallery of Mendocino, CA presents A Studio Furniture Rendezvous, which Bill Zimmer conceived of as "a bringing together of the best of the community of artists who design and personally make their own furniture in America today, and concurrently to create a historical record, a snapshot if you will, of the state of the art at the beginning of the 21st century. The gallery presentation strongly confirms that Sam Maloof's passing, while leaving a colossal void, does not create a vacuum. Rather, it shifts the spotlight to his worthy successors who were inspired by his personality and life choices to make studio furniture of their own." Zimmer continues, "The furniture of Tai Lake is probably as remindful of Maloof as any in the exhibit, while still being distinctly his own. Both Lake's work and David Ebner's (the latter taking his inspiration from Wharton Esherick) are strong on material and line, hallmarks of mid-twentieth century furniture design." Also on view are personal works of several leading teachers in the field Rosanne Somerson, Alphonse Mattia and Michael Jean Cooper (new to SOFA and "a best-kept-secret among collectors and museums on the West Coast;") makers Timothy Philbrick, Kent Townsend, Richard Scott Newman, Silas Kopf, Thomas Hucker, Michael Hurwitz, and Garry Knox Bennett.  Many of the artists are speaking in the lecture series. 

Sphere I Optic glass, glaze 26.5 x 27 x 39 CM photo: Avraham Hai Represented by Litvak Gallery, Tel-Aviv, Israel

Litvak Gallery of Tel Aviv, Israel returns to SOFA with double the space of last year's booth and promising an equally  stunning design, with many of its artists whose work is on view in attendance, including the honored artist and master of optical glass, Václav Cigler. Cigler has designed a new installation for Litvak Gallery, entitled Spheres, to be unveiled for the first time at SOFA. The gallery reports that Cigler has created "an event" that will be transformed by the presence of the viewer. "The installation consists of spheres that will surround the viewer and fill the booth with their radiance. The viewer is led into the intimate space within the form of the spherical universal eggs, enabling those present to share the embryonic energy of the spheres and the secrets they hold within." Václav Cigler's co-collaborator, Michal Motycka, will be available at the booth to discuss Cigler's work. Also showing at Litvak is Lucio Bubacco, master of the historic "lume" glass technique, whose richly allegorical and surreal sculpture with its explicit subject matter astonished viewers at Litvak's last SOFA CHICAGO installation. The gallery will also showcase the sculpture of young German artist Julius Weiland, presenting selected pieces made of the fused glass tubing he is famous for, as well as works in acrylic composite, a newer media Weiland has recently begun using.  Linda Tesner, director and curator, The Ronna and Eric Hoffman Gallery of Contemporary Art, Lewis & Clark College, Portland, OR will speak on Ciglar in the lecture series.

	Lino Tagliapietra Fenice, 2009 Blown glass 18.5 x 17 x 7.5" photo: Russell Johnson Represented by Schantz/Holsten Galleries, Stockbridge, MA

After 31 years as owner-director of Holsten Galleries in Stockbridge, MA, owner Kenn Holsten has sold the gallery to former Holsten art director Jim Schantz, who has worked with Holsten for 27 years, and his wife, designer/artist Kim Saul. The new gallery will be named Schantz Galleries.  Holsten Galleries will continue representing glass artists under the ownership of Kenn Holsten in Santa Fe, NM, as a virtual gallery via the Holsten Galleries website: www.holstengalleries.com, which Holsten says he plans to expand into "the world's premier virtual glass art gallery." Schantz Galleries and Holsten Galleries are partnering to present a major exhibition at SOFA of new works by Maestro Lino Tagliapietra, all created in 2009. Schantz says, "This year at SOFA we celebrate the special relationship of two premier glass galleries with one of the premier artists in glass, Lino Tagliapietra. We feel fortunate and honored to have had such a long lasting friendship with each other as well as with our collectors and wonderfully talented artists. We look forward to our continued representation of contemporary glass of the highest caliber at both Holsten galleries virtual in Santa Fe and Schantz Galleries in the Berkshires." Tagliapietra will participate in a panel discussion in the lecture series.

Shozo Michikawa Tanka twisted pot, 2009 charcoal fired stoneware 18 x 18 cm Represented by Galerie Besson, London, UK

London’s Galerie Besson will present the sculptural pottery of Shozo Michikawa, who lives and works in Seto, Aichi, a pottery mecca in Japan with a 1300 year-old history. An economist by training, in the 1970’s Michikawa gave up his life as a Tokyo businessman to move to Seto and become a potter. Retaining the ‘natural intentions of clay’ is his desire and goal. He works in a wide range of styles and techniques – ranging from tanka (charcoal fired) vases – to white kohiki glazed bowls and natural ash glazed dishes.  Art historian, Simon Martin writes in his SOFA CHICAGO catalog essay, “At first glance, one would imagine that Shozo’s dramatic faceted and twisted forms are hand-built and sculpted but, in fact, the vases he was working on during my visit were created on the wheel. However, he does not ‘throw’ his vessels in any conventional sense; rather their energy comes from the twisting of fractured planes on an internal axis. It is a different understanding of his materials, to do with cutting and paring down, rather than expanding from a ball of clay.” Although his techniques are diverse, Michikawa always strives to create ‘functional’ pieces. He writes "no matter how styles change I always insist on creating pieces that can actually be used. Pottery was originally an integral part of people's lives.” Read catalog essay by Simon Martin>

	Alastair Crawford Gurgling Fish Pitcher sterling silver 12" h Represented by Crawford Contemporary, New York

Crawford Contemporary of New York will offer striking, contemporary silver and gold holloware including free form vessels and jewelry. Alastair Crawford has been dealing in silver and jewelry for over 30 years and his client base stretches from the United States to Europe, the Middle East and Australia. He has been a leading specialist in antique Irish Silver, antique English Silver and Old Sheffield Plate and, more recently has dealt exclusively in Georg Jensen silver and jewelry.  Crawford says, “Crawford Contemporary Holloware is all about striking visual design coupled with fun, practical use. Every one of our products is painstakingly made by hand by master craftsmen, not just silversmiths, but artists, modelers, chasers and casters too.  Only the most generous gauges of silver are employed. The construction is designed to last. The durability of Crawford Silver Holloware is beyond compare. It can be used daily, will always look splendid and will still outlast your grandchildren's grandchildren. Not often can you say that about any product nowadays.” Crawford will speak in the lecture series.

Kurt Weiser Red Queen Represented by Ferrin Gallery, Pittsfield, MA

Ferrin Gallery of Pittsfield, MA continues to surprise and delight with The Illusculptors, a group show of illustrated ceramic sculpture, which Leslie Ferrin describes as “a survey of sculptors integrating three-dimensional ceramic form and illustration to convey content.” Artists in Illusculptors include Chris Antemann, Sergei Isupov, Richard Notkin, Myungjin Kim and Kurt Weiser, as well as several artists brand-new to SOFA. Ferrin reported plans included two glass wall panels by Richard Notkin and “at least two of his blood splashed glass works combined with ceramics;” a 4 x 8' table of porcelain objects—a giant still life by Myungjin Kim, large-scale heads by Sergei Isupov, globes by Kurt Weiser, a 40" table sculpture by Chris Antemann, several smaller pieces and six photographs of her work in collaboration with Kendrick Moholt. Ferrin says, "Illusculptors' hybrid between sculpture and narrative content is exactly the strength of SOFA—the use of craft techniques infused with artistic concept." In one of the new SOLO at SOFA spaces, Ferrin will mount a mixed-media installation by Anne Lemanski entitled Vulnerable, which will include “a giant shark, owls and other endangered animals, like a fantastic museum of curiosities.” Many of Ferrin’s artists are participating in the lecture series and artist conversations.

	Klaus Moje Untitled 12, (Fragment Series), 2009 kilnformed and coldworked glass 20.875 x 20.875 x 3" Represented by Bullseye Gallery, Portland OR
	Lauren Kalman Projection (Earring), 2009 Inkjet print with gold-plated electroformed copper, foam, gold, pearls, cubic zirconium 25 x 35" Represented by Sienna Gallery, Lenox MA

Debuting this year at SOFA CHICAGO is SOLO at SOFA, defined spaces where galleries will spotlight bodies of works on the cutting-edge by individual artists as well as object groupings. For example, Bullseye Gallery’s of Portland, OR featured SOLO artist is Klaus Moje, master of kiln-formed glass, who founded one of the world’s premier centers for glass art, the Glass Workshop at the Canberra School of Art, Australian National University.  Moje’s one-man show will feature artwork that spotlights the aesthetic diversity of his distinguished career, including a selection of works from his most recent exhibitions at the Portland Art Museum (2008) and the Museum of Arts and Design. Sienna Gallery of Lenox, MA presents a SOLO at SOFA exhibit of avant-garde jewelers Lauren Kalman and Arthur Hash. By creating objects of adornment that are unconventional, Kalman questions traditional values ascribed to the body and the objects used to adorn it. Through her work, Kalman hopes to communicate alternative thoughts about material worth, social custom, and the body. Arthur Hash is fast establishing a reputation for new forms and materials that have included cast polyurethane ‘bag’ bracelets ‘moss’ rings and humorous brooches depicting coffee stains and cinder blocks. Kalman and Hash will participate in a panel discussion in the lecture series.

Jan Hopkins Law of Identity, 2009 melon rind, weathered hydrangea leaves, silver dollar pods, yellow cedar bark 57 1/2 x 12 1/2 x 8" Represented by Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

Jane Sauer Gallery of Santa Fe presents the murrini glass sculpture of Australian Giles Bettison, renowned for its “organic geometry,” who studied in Klaus Moje's department at Canberra School of Art.  Also showing at Sauer Gallery is master tapestry artist, Jon Eric Riis, who using historic textiles as points of departure, pushes the genre beyond the woven reproduction of two-dimensional graphic images. Recently embracing the form of a universal coat as his vehicle to express his ideas, Riis explores the protective role of coats and skin, vulnerability and transformations in life, and many of his coats open to reveal an interior surprise. Riis’ work is in the permanent collections of many of the world’s most prestigious art museums including The Metropolitan Museum of Art. Also exhibited by Sauer will be fiber artist Jan Hopkins, who creates sculpture from unusual natural materials like citrus peel, lotus pods, black bamboo, and silver dollar seed pods, as well as traditional basket materials like agave leaves and cedar bark.  Jane Sauer says of Hopkins new piece on offer at the fair, “Law of Identity is fabulous...it is her masterpiece.” All three artists will speak in the lecture series.

	Lia Cook Four by Four, 2007 Cotton, woven 11 X 12" Represented by Perimeter Gallery, Chicago, IL

Last but hardly least! Hometown Perimeter Gallery, Chicago will represent acclaimed fiber artist, Lia Cook, whose works begin with childhood family snapshots and video stills. Cook uses a digital loom to weave images into the structure of cloth, the digital pixel becoming a thread, making the image a palpable physical object and work of art. Other internationally known fiber artists on view at Perimeter include Kiyomi Iwata and Norma Minkowitz. Perimeter will also represent Chicago sculptor and painter Jeffrey Forsythe who earned his reputation by coating every inch of the rotting ceiling, floor and walls of a room in a New Orleans post-Katrina house with gold leaf, and placing an ordinary chain across the door, leaving it up to the viewer to decide whether or not to "trespass.'' And an abandoned electric stove, magnificently gilded inside and out, part of his ‘series’ You never know when you're living in the golden age. Perimeter will show Forsythe’s metal and gold-leaf mitre box (We don’t need another hero) cutting into a Styrofoam wedding cake and other biting, mixed media social commentary. Also presented will be renowned ceramic artists Toshiko Takaezu, Akio Takamori, Robert Hudson and Jack Earl.

OF SPECIAL MENTION
Sam Maloof Rocker, 1983 walnut 45.5 x 26.25 x 46.25" photo: David Peters Represented by del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles, CA		Cristina Cordova Negra ceramic, mixed media 14 x 15 x 10" Represented by Ann Nathan Gallery, Chicago, IL
Riikka Latva-Somppi Golden Bottles (Kultaiset pullot.1), 2008 free blown glass, metal leaf 30 x 13 3/4 x 13 ¾" Represented by Galleria Norsu, Helsinki, Finland		Dante Marioni Standing Leaf Purple with Green, 2009 blown glass; 40 x 8 x 4” Photo: Russell Johnson Represented by Ken Saunders Gallery, Chicago
Michael Taylor Helix or Boring a Conical Hole in the Darkness, 2009 cast optical, dichroic and pigmented glass 26 x 26 x 26" Represented by Scott Jacobson Gallery, New York, NY		Richard Marquis Egg in Cage, 2009 blown glass, granulare technique, metal cage 13 x 9 1/4 x 9 ¼” Represented by Maurine Littleton Gallery, Washington DC
William Morris Medicine Jar IV, 2006 blown glass, steel stand 11 x 6 x 5” photo: Rob Vinnedge Represented by Wexler Gallery, Philadelphia, PA		Tammy Garcia & Preston Singletary Untitled, 2009 blown and sand carved glass 20h x 16”d Represented by Blue Rain Gallery, Santa Fe, NM