4th ANNUAL SCULPTURE OBJECTS & FUNCTIONAL ART FAIR
(SOFA WEST: SANTA FE) RETURNS TO SANTA FE CONVENTION CENTER,
SANTA FE, NM AUGUST 2 – 5, 2012

SANTA FE, NM. Long heralded as the nation’s premier contemporary art and design fairs, the 4th annual SOFA WEST: Santa Fe will run Thursday, August 2 through Sunday, August 5, 2012 at the Santa Fe Convention Center. The fair opens the evening of Wednesday, August 1 at 5 pm with an invitation-only FIRST LOOK private preview for Museum of New Mexico Foundation donors and partners and SOFA VIPs. Donna Davies, Director of SOFA art fairs in Chicago, New York and Santa Fe says, “We are delighted to partner with the prestigious Museum of New Mexico for the fourth straight year on Opening Night, and offer its key supporters first viewing and opportunity to purchase.” The public may attend the Preview from 7 - 9 pm with ticket purchase. Opening Night closes at 9 pm.

“This year we look forward to presenting an exciting group of new and returning dealers who are very strong in international studio arts and design. Santa Feans appreciate the one-of-a-kind masterworks offered at the fair for their unique combination of sophisticated content and material excellence. Last year’s dealers reported the ‘right crowd,’ and significant sales were achieved.,” said Davies. Over 11,000 persons attended SOFA WEST 2011.

	SOFA WEST: Santa Fe 2011 photo: Cheri Eisenberg

Of special note is the new participation this year of European contemporary silversmiths, Thalen & Thalen (Francorchamps, Belgium), whose Mega Bowls—some 40 pounds of fine silver, valued at over $100,000—were a big hit at November’s SOFA CHICAGO 2011. Also new is PISMO Gallery (Denver, Vail and Aspen, CO), which represents such world renowned artists working in glass as Lino Tagliapietra, Dale Chihuly, and Dante Marioni. PISMO will add to the international glass sculpture on offer by returning dealers Habatat Galleries (Royal Oak, MI), Elliott Arts West (Santa Fe, NM), and Jane Sauer Gallery (Santa Fe, NM), the latter also well known for its fiber art. Also of special mention in fiber is seminal sculptural bamboo and basketry dealer, TAI Gallery (Santa Fe, NM). Leading the way in contemporary ceramics at the fair are Asian art gallery Dai Ichi Arts (New York) and Mindy Solomon Gallery (St. Petersburg, FL), showing contemporary Korean ceramics. The prestigious Charon Kransen Arts (New York) returns with eye-popping and conceptually challenging European and South American art jewelry.

Plans are underway for the SOFA WEST 2012 Lecture Series, free with paid admission to the fair, featuring renowned artists, collectors, dealers and critics. Of special note is collaboration with the New Mexico Committee of the National Museum of Women in the Arts. A popular educational forum, 409 attendees took in 15 lectures and in-booth presentations at SOFA WEST 2011.

A 2nd annual Design Reception with notable designers, architects, and collectors is planned in consultation with SOFA’s National Design Committee, which includes such notables as Alexander Gorlin, Amy Lau and Juan Montoya, Jamie Drake, Nancy Epstein, Steven Gambrel, David Ling, and Joyce and Maya Romanoff. Over 90 designers, architects and VIPs attended last year’s reception.

Also gearing up is the exclusive 2012 VIP Program for high-level gallery clients, offering tours to private collectors’ homes, curator-led discussions and behind-the-scenes museum tours, as well as visits to artist studios. 291 VIP Cardholders attended 18 VIP events at last year’s fair.

Davies concluded, “SOFA WEST continues to evolve and become a mainstay of Santa Fe’s summer cultural calendar. We look forward to another successful fair this August, during Santa Fe’s busiest collector and tourist season.”