Guests in the CLARK+DELVECCHIO booth during the Opening Night Preview at SOFA WEST: Santa Fe 2009

SOFA WEST: Santa Fe opened with a bang on Wednesday, June 10, with an Opening Night Preview and Reception to benefit the New Mexico Museum of Art Design Collection and an invitation-only VIP preview. The show floor was packed with an estimated 2000 persons. Keith Toler, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Community Convention Center said it was “without a doubt, the largest crowd for an opening event we’ve ever seen.” Tom Agesson, Executive Director of the Museum of New Mexico Foundation said, “It was such a festive evening and very exciting to see the community come out in force.”

First Lady Barbara Richardson, Tom Agesson, Rebecca Wurzberger and Mark Lyman

Officials from the city and state levels attending including the Governor’s wife, First Lady Barbara Richardson, who cut the ribbon at the SOFA WEST: Santa Fe opening ceremony in the courtyard; Michael Cerletti, Secretary of the Department of Tourism and Stuart Ashman, Secretary of Cultural Affairs for the State of New Mexico; State Representative Jenette Wallace; Mayor of Santa Fe, David Coss and Mayor Pro Tem, Rebecca Wurzberger; City Councilmen, Ron Trujillo and Chris Calvert; and Sabrina Pratt, Executive Director of the City of Santa Fe’s Arts Commission.

Overall attendance exceeded all expectations with 10,000 persons attending over the Fair’s four-day run, and 925 people enjoying nine Lecture Series presentations. Mark Lyman, Director/Founder of SOFA says, “This delightful, unexpected turn-out started on Opening Night, when by 7:30 pm, the hall was filled to capacity. And Thursday, Friday and though the weekend, from opening to close, we saw a constant flow of visitors from all around the region, the East and West coasts and everything in-between. We had to expand our ticket sales areas to handle the volume of visitors.”

	Doug Heller, Heller Gallery, NY with visitors

Lyman adds, “This striking birth of interest was due in part to solid support from the Mayor’s Office, Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau, Museum of New Mexico Foundation and Santa Fe Gallery Association. And also to excellent, well-researched coverage by the Santa Fe New Mexican’s Pasatiempo, as well as the Albuquerque Journal and Journal North.” Lyman also cited the editorial support of the Santa Fean, Trend Magazine and THE magazine. Many dealers remarked upon the role of “word-of-mouth,” publicity. Lyman says, “One person would tell five, and three would come to the Fair.” READ SOFA WEST PUBLICITY>

Dealers reported key sales as high as five figures, many to new clients. They also remarked upon keen one-on-one dialogues with visitors to help contextualize the works, particularly the virtuosity of (often ancient) processes, which, when combined with variations on traditional forms and contemporary content, distinguishes much of the work at SOFA.

Lyman summates, “This year was about eye-opening discovery—a base on which to build awareness of the extraordinary artistry at the Fair. We were blown away by the community of Santa Fe’s interest and support. We will be back next year!”

	Christine McHorse Untitled Represented by CLARK+DELVECCHIO, Santa Fe, NM

CHICAGO May 4, 2009. Mark Lyman, Founder/Director of the International Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fairs in Chicago and New York, announced a new edition of SOFA to be launched June 11 - 14, 2009 at the Santa Fe Convention Center in Santa Fe, NM, presented by an elite line-up of 35 international dealers. SOFA WEST: Santa Fe will be the second fair produced by the newly formed The Art Fair Company, helmed by Lyman and Michael Franks, Chief Operating Officer of dmg world media. Lyman says, "We’re delighted that the Opening Night Preview will benefit the New Mexico Museum of Art Design Collection."

Lucio Bubacco Angels and Devils Chandelier/Homage Eternal Temptation Represented by Litvak Gallery Tel Aviv, Israel

Sculpture Objects & Functional Art Fairs (SOFA) are premier gallery-presented art fairs focusing on 3-dimensional, contemporary artworks. With a strong educational emphasis, SOFA fairs include an acclaimed Lecture Series, free with paid admission. A VIP program includes exclusive events tailored to high-profile gallery clients and collector/museum groups. Special Events include an evening of food, wine, and music at the Santa Fe Opera with Venetian glass maestros Lino Tagliapietra and Lucio Bubacco, Saturday, June 13, 6 pm. Highlights from the La Traviata and The Elixir of Love will be performed by members of the Santa Fe Opera Company.

Top dealers recently signing on to SOFA WEST include Galerie Besson, London; CLARK+DELVECCHIO and Bellas Artes Gallery of Santa Fe; Litvak Gallery, Tel Aviv; and William Zimmer Gallery, Mendocino, CA. Lyman says, “It’s impressive to see dealers pulling out all the stops to present major exhibitions by their top artists.”
View Top Dealer Presentations >

	Bertil Vallien JANUS Represented by Heller Gallery, New York, NY

Other key galleries in the fair include Heller Gallery, Leo Kaplan Modern and Charon Kransen Arts of New York; Galleri Udengaard, Aarhus, Denmark; Holsten Galleries, Stockbridge, MA; del Mano Gallery, Los Angeles; Elliott Brown Gallery, Seattle; Bullseye Gallery, Portland, OR; and Blue Rain Gallery, Jane Sauer Gallery, C Gallery and TAI Gallery of Santa Fe.

Santa Fe Mayor Pro Tem Rebecca Wurzburger says, "SOFA WEST fits perfectly with Santa Fe's designation as a UNESCO Creative City in Design. We have an acknowledged reputation as an international arts market and SOFA will add a new and welcomed dimension to our already vital summer arts calendar."

Silvia Levenson Still Life II Represented by Bullseye Gallery, Portland, OR

Tom Aageson, Executive Director, Museum of New Mexico Foundation says, "We are honored that the New Mexico Museum of Art (NMMoA) will partner with SOFA WEST on its June 10th Opening Night Preview, which will kick-off the summer arts season in Santa Fe with a gala chaired by Ms. Betty Gold and Ms. Patty Terrell. The debut of SOFA WEST will coincide beautifully with the inauguration of the Museum's Design Collection, featuring historic and contemporary New Mexican design objects dating from 1880 to today." Aageson adds, "We look forward to many years of partnership with SOFA WEST.”

	Johnny Swing Nickel Couch Represented by C Gallery, Santa Fe NM

SOFA WEST: Santa Fe will be held at the brand new, state-of-the-art Santa Fe Convention Center with its stunning Pueblo Revival style design. Keith Toler, Executive Director of the Santa Fe Convention & Visitors Bureau, says, "Santa Fe is very excited to be hosting SOFA WEST, and the new Convention Center is an ideal space for it. We plan to invite the world to attend the inaugural event this June."

Ruth Duckworth UNTITLED # 916107 Represented by Bellas Artes, Santa Fe, NM

The Convention Center (www.santafe.org) is located within walking distance of Santa Fe's historic downtown with its premier hotels, restaurants, museums and shopping. Visit the Travel & Lodging page for more information on SOFA WEST: Santa Fe’s luxury hotel partners: The Eldorado Hotel and Spa; Inn on the Alameda; La Posada de Santa Fe Resort and Spa; and Inn and Spa at Loretto.

	Toots Zynsky Represented by Elliott Brown Gallery, Seattle, WA

Lyman concludes, “We are working with the Santa Fe Gallery Association and area arts organizations to connect SOFA’s out-of-town collectors to the thriving local arts scene, and believe that Santa Fe is primed and ready for SOFA! We’re delighted with the official welcoming by the Mayor’s Office, Santa Fe Convention and Visitors Bureau, and Museum of New Mexico Foundation, and look forward to rewarding partnerships and many years of SOFA WEST: Santa Fe.”

Latchezar Boyadjiev TORSO IV, 2008 Represented by Jane Sauer Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

High-resolution images for print are available for download in SOFA WEST: Santa Fe’s Press Room at www.sofaexpo.com/epress/. SOFA WEST: Santa Fe 2009 will be presented June 11 – 14th at the Santa Fe Convention Center, 201 W. Marcy St. Opening Night, Wednesday, June 10: Private Preview and Reception benefiting the New Mexico Museum of Art begins at 5:30 pm; VIP Guest Preview begins at 7 pm, by invitation only. Opening Night ends at 9 pm. For MNMoA benefit information and ticket levels, see enclosed Museum release or visit www.sofaexpo.com soon.

	Mirjam Hiller Represented by Charon Kransen Arts, New York

Exposition hours are Thursday - Sunday, June 11 – 14th: noon – 6 pm. Tickets are $15 for a single day of general admission and $25 for a four-day pass. Catalogs may be purchased at the Fair, or online for $20 (includes shipping) after the show at www.sofaexpostore.com. For general information, visit www.sofaexpo.com; call 800-563-SOFA (7632) or 773-506-8860; or email info@sofaexpo.com.