If you want to see jaw-dropping eye-popping Art and Design
                                                 the SOFA exhibition is a MUST SEE!

The Art Fair Company, based in Chicago, presents the critically
acclaimed international art fair SOFA CHICAGO 2012 at the historic Navy
Pier Friday, Nov. 2 through Sunday, Nov. 4.

This popular three-day event
features masterworks of contemporary and modern arts and design,
sculpture, functional art, outsider, ethnographic, non-traditional folk
and visionary art, plus related special exhibitions and a lecture
series.

SOFA CHICAGO enjoys the prestigious position of being the largest and
longest continually running art fair in Chicago, a mainstay of the
city’s cultural and social calendar. “In 2010 we added a new dimension
of art to SOFA CHICAGO with the Intuit Show of Folk & Outsider
Art,” says Donna Davies, Director of SOFA art fairs in Chicago and New
York. “We’ve been thrilled to see our collectors fully embrace the
Intuit galleries and artists, so this year we are integrating those
galleries under one unifying fair umbrella, SOFA CHICAGO 2012.”

“It really is a feast for the eyes!” says Derrick Sorles, of InsideYourChicago.com

Glass will be a major focus this year as SOFA will be celebrating the 50^th
Anniversary of the Studio Glass movement. The pioneers of the movement
have Midwest roots that
has since expanded and developed to be international in scope. In fact
Chicago’s Floating World Gallery will be showcasing 10-12 works by a
Japanese artists who was so excited about SOFA the she created new works
which will be shown for the first time at SOFA!
There are special exhibits, lectures and more.

The Corning Glass Road
Show will once again be on site.

There are a couple of artists with Chicago connections that
might make for a fascinating chat:
Barbara Cooper,  (left) whose work is showcased by Chicago’s Perimeter Gallery, and
Brian Dettmer 
(below – who  grew up in Naperville and until 2006 resided in Chicago), who will be
featured by the Chicago’s Packer Schopf. 

Both create extremely
fascinating work using existing materials.
Both Cooper and Dettmer will be on site at SOFA.

PLAN TO SPEND A DAY at SOFA. There is so much to see and do.
Lots of Booth talks,
book signings,film screenings
and lecture series. There is something here for everyone’s taste.

There are some very special exhibits this year, including:

Eye of Mr I : A retrospective of artwork by legendary self-taught artist Gregory
Warmak, a.ka. Mr. Imagination (1948-2012), known for his transformation
of discarded objects into works of art.

Bags Across the Globe (BAG) is a global intervention conceived and
carried out by Ann Savageau from 2008 to the present. The large-scale
installation addresses the disastrous unintended environmental
consequences of one of the most widespread consumer products on the
globe, the single use plastic shopping bag.

Among Fellows : An Exhibition of Work by the 2012 College of Fellows.  Since 1975, the American Craft Council (ACC) has recognized significant
contributions to the field of craft by awarding the distinction of
Fellow of the Council.

Part of the ACC’s commitment “to honor those who
have made an outstanding contribution to the crafts in America,” this
special exhibit features significant works by 2012 elected Fellows
Sharon Church, Anne Currier, Andrea Gill, Lewis Knauss, Tom Loeser,
Dante Marioni, and Sherri Smith, and Gold Medalist Stephen De Staebler.

Dates & Hours
Friday, November 2   
    11 am – 7 pm

Saturday, November 3
    11 am – 7 pm

Sunday, November 4
    Noon – 6 pm

    Photography is not permitted. Cameras must be checked at coat check for a fee.

GET TICKETS ONLINE – 3 day passes  and  group tickets are available!

See you  at  SOFA 2012!