Opening Night of SOFA WEST 2011
The 3rd Annual SOFA WEST arts fair wrapped up on August 7th in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Thirty-five dealers participated in the three-day event, which saw an estimated 10,000-plus people pass through the doors of the Santa Fe Convention Center. Despite the impressive turnout, the uncertain economic environment weighed heavily. Mark Lyman, President of The Art Fair Company, which puts on the event, reported, “it was a very upbeat fair despite the country’s political and economic turmoil. Dealers reported the right crowd and significant sales were achieved.” Exhibiting dealers contacted by the GLASS Quarterly Hot Sheet wondered whether stock market volatility leading up to and during the show dissuaded some collectors from making purchases at the show. Markets plunged on Thursday August 4th, the show’s opening day, and the United States’ credit rating was downgraded to AA+ by Standards and Poors before the show headed into its final day.
Preston Singletary Indian Curio Shelf, 2011. Blown and sand-carved glass w/shelf H 11, W 58, D 14 in.
Dealers reported mixed sales with some coming out of the show with some positive outcomes, while others left the show with fewer sales than expected. Galleries that saw positive results included Jane Sauer Gallery, which secured commissions for a pair of Chuck Savoie wall installations for $44,000 each. Habatat Galleries sold a Davide Salvatore sculpture for $20,000 and Blue Rain Gallery sold three Preston Singletary sculptures for $16,000, $25,000, and $35,000.
Tthe crowds that turned out for the show got high marks from dealers. “Enthusiastic, interested, passionate. The SOFA group is a great group and committed to their collections, artists and the SOFA fairs,” is how David Eichholtz of David Richard Gallery them, while Kate Elliott of Elliott Arts West reported the, “crowds were terrific. We were always talking to people.” Dealers were also positive about the range and quality of the work on display. “I liked the range of booths that were there this year, the level of work was really high,” said Peter Stoessel of Blue Rain. Elliott was also impressed with the work, saying, “The material was very high quality all around and, in my estimation, the addition of Intuit was good for everyone. The balance of material was good, too – not too much of any one media.” Praise for Intuit was also echoed by David Richard Gallery’s Eichholtz. “We like the addition of the Intuit show. Lots of cross over and interest in art in general,” he said.
While the show might have left some wanting more in terms of sales, the final word on SOFA WEST finds most looking at the positives rather than the negatives, which for many meant talking up the high quality of work and the chance to connect with potential new clients. However, a cloud of uncertainty seemed to linger over the fair as both dealers and collectors wait to see how the uncertain economy effects the art marketplace. Until then, all are looking at the silver lining, and hoping for the best at the upcoming SOFA CHICAGO 2011 in November.
—Jason Gutierrez