Issue link: http://papercitymagazine.uberflip.com/i/1545488
T he 18th incarnation of Dallas Art Fair has left us a bit winded, given the whirlwind of art parties surrounding the fair. Anyone familiar with the art-fair circuit knows that they generally open on a Thursday or Friday, and a frenzy of sales happen within moments of the VIPs (Very Important Purchasers) arriving. Over the course of the weekend, those hoping to catch a glimpse of the gazillionaires perusing booths and disposing of disposable income are offered admittance via purchased tickets. Our fair follows that format, with a VIP Gala Preview on Thursday and public access Friday through Sunday. But, as the profile of our hometown iteration has grown, so has the "week" of events that is now called Dallas Arts Month … DAM, it's a good time. Close to 100 exhibitors from around the globe brought paintings, sculpture, photography, and functional art and design objects (London-founded Carpenters Workshop Gallery made its Dallas debut) to showcase at Fashion Industry Gallery, Dallas Art Fair's turf. Robust sales were reported. This year also marked a milestone decade of the Dallas Art Fair Foundation's Acquisition Fund benefiting the Dallas Museum of Art, which to date has brought 78 works of art into the museum through more than $1 million of donations. This spring, works by Nicole Eisenman, Gloria Klein, Caroline Monnet, Hasani Sahlehe, and Raymond Saunders will enter the DMA's permanent collection due to the fair. Co-founded by John Sughrue and Chris Byrne in the spring of 2009, mere months after the Wall Street meltdown of the previous fall, the Dallas Art Fair has survived, grown, and thrived while being supported by Dallas' famed group of Artnews Top 200 collectors, as well as nurturing a fresh crop of art cognoscenti who now actively acquire at every edition. As such, Dallas Art Fair has staked a claim on the international circuit as one of the most eminent boutique fairs outside New York or Miami. The fair's VIP Preview Party on Thursday night, always the cultural highlight of the spring social season, was a veritable who's who of the art scene. Curators, collectors, gallerists, artists, admirers, and aspirationalists flocked to Fashion Industry Gallery for a night chock-full of air-kisses and red dots. Joining Sughrue in presiding were his wife Marlene, long- time fair director Kelly Cornell (set to also direct this month's Aspen Art Fair), and VIP relations director Sarah Blagden. Dallas ArtFair The Draw of A phalanx of VIPs — Very Important Purchasers — reigned. By Billy Fong and Melissa Smrekar. Photography Chase Hall and Luis Martinez. Eddie & Angelee Fortuna Jose Torrens, Dustin Lovingood Rochelle Gores Lele Sadoughi Joshua Gordon Theresa O'Dea 26