For the city’s art enthusiasts and social butterflies, the Dallas Art Fair preview gala surely is a favorite. The Fashion Industry Gallery comes alive with art and the people who come to peruse, praise, and purchase it. This year it felt particularly lively.
As expected, the fashion was as colorful as the works themselves, which were brought in from 17 countries. Perhaps more important, those festively dressed Dallasites got the rare opportunity to meet and greet the gallerists and artists themselves, many of whom traveled very far indeed for this year’s event.
Armed with glasses of Ruinart champagne, patrons — including Cindy and Howard Rachofsky, Jennifer and Tom Karol, Micki and Mayor Mike Rawlings, Ariel Saldivar, Nasiba Adilova, Capera Ryan, and Christen and Derek Wilson — embarked on a journey through two levels of exhibitions. Among the talkers were works from Italian artist Alberto Biasi from the De Buck Gallery and Joe Minter’s sculpture garden installed just outside FIG’s front doors.
The latter came to town via Shrine gallery in New York City. The fair newcomer recently was started by former Dallasite Scott Ogden, and Minter’s pieces caught the eye of many attendees, including Sam Saladino.
When hunger struck, there were passed hors d’oeuvre such as mini beef Wellingtons, as well as an in-fair cafe courtesy of Bread Winners. But surely the art provided enough for fairgoers to feast upon.
The Dallas Art Fair runs through Sunday, April 17, at Fashion Industry Gallery, and there are plenty of ancillary events around town. Funds raised during the preview gala benefit the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, and Dallas Contemporary.
Johnson Hartig, Nasiba Adilova, Federica Fanari
