SOFA 2006

SOFA CHICAGO 2006 Photos and Commentary by Robert F. Gabella.

As synonymous with November in Chicago as the first big blast of cold Canadian air, the The Thirteenth Annual International Exposition of Sculpture Objects & Functional Art: SOFA Chicago, at Navy Pier, was a huge success! Coming on the heels of SOFA New York, the Chicago event is always exciting, and this year was no exception.

So less than a day out of surgery I was there - attending for the first time after a 2 year gap. I sweated through the intermittent fever and constant pain of repeatedly jostling my suddenly sensitive innards, and relied upon an occasional Darvocet as I could not leave without having walked the entire floor!

Though as usual, glass art in all its forms was abundant - the rich palette of textiles, metals, and natural materials provided punctuation and relief. I found myself drawn to the more unconventional entries. Red dots on the placards indicated sold items, and from what I gathered from talking to the gallery staffers and artists, the expo - if measured by sales alone - was a great success indeed.

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