SOFA Chicago Part 2: Closure....

As I seem to have never found the time to write all the words I meant to about November 2009's SOFA Chicago, I'm going to post the pictures as that's what really matters in the end. Enjoy! I'm sorry there are no significant captions - this is driven by my need to simply move on to the new year.... I promise to do better in the future.


Feminine Mystique
I found an interesting trend of traditionally feminine works at SOFA - delicate stitches, lace-bound books, purses, dresses.... enjoyed seeing this theme amidst the bold, shiny objects that abound....
























This fascinating woven glass work kept me coming back again and again - little glass bolts woven together with copper wire, threaded or crocheted through with the fuzziest purple fiber.... very unique!

FIBER.....


As always, beautiful work by Barbara Lee Smith at Snyderman-Works Gallery.


Vivid bright colors in a dramatic large textile work by Joy Saville, also at Snyderman-Works.


Gorgeous stitches by Hilde Morin at Maria Elena Kravetz Gallery. I liked these intimate little works the best.


Intriguing layers by Jeanne Raffer Beck, also at Maria Elena Kravetz.


And the glass.. the glass........

Randy Strong... the agave plants I saw recently at the Desert Botanical Gardens reminded me so much of his work...


Standards: Therman Statom and Danny Perkins...


Another stunning display of Czech glass. Always powerful.


New body of work by Jamie Harris - love the fluidity of color.


Long-time favorite artist Stephen Dam - thrilled to see his show pretty much sold out.


More beautiful work by Cassandria Blackmore...


Alex Bernstein, who also gave a wonderful lecture at SOFA....


And Phoenix favorite David Bennett!




Mmmmmmm..... clay..........

ASU Professor Susan Beiner had a fantastic, intricate installation....



Compelling and unique: Dirk Staschke at Wexler Gallery.




Birds were also seen throughout the fair, and not just flying overhead in the cavernous space.


Beautiful evolution of Myung-Jin Kim's work at Ferrin Gallery.


Vivid colors and pop shapes were prevalent this year, and overall the fair was well-curated, well-attended, and reasonably well-bought. Here's to better years and adventurous dealers, may we match the daring of our artists!