Dallas Art Fair Excitement Builds

By Laura Noble
lnoble@smu.edu

With the end of the presidential inauguration, the Dallas and SMU communities look to another inaugural celebration: the arrival of the first-ever Dallas Art Fair. Kicking off with the Preview Gala this Friday, the fair will run through Feb. 8 at the Fashion Industry Gallery downtown.

The fair will host more than 35 modern and contemporary art dealers from 12 cities across the United States.

On Saturday and Sunday, attendees will get the chance to participate in two symposiums featuring panelists like Klaus Kertess, former curator of the Whitney Museum of Art, and other notable contributors to the national arts circuit.

Real estate developer and Dallas Art Fair co-founder, John T. Sughrue, believes the nearly weeklong event affirms that Dallas is a cultural arts destination.

“It’s an opportunity for Dallasites to see what’s absolutely current in the art world today,” Sughrue said. “The art world is coming to Dallas that weekend.”

Meadows Dean Jose Bowen voiced anticipatory excitement about the fair, predicting that the event will be beneficial not only for Dallas, but for SMU as well.

“Art is good for the economy and good for the soul,” Bowen said. “And with more dealers in town, it’s easier for our students to get recruited.”

Tickets can be obtained through the Dallas Art Fair. Discounts are available for students.