Down to a Fine Art
Charlotte Jackson, owner of one of Santa Fe’s best known galleries, took over as director of ART Santa Fe in 1999 and has since nurtured—and scaled up—the small contemporary art fair into an internationally recognized event. Held in the burgeoning Railyard District, the formerly biennial fair goes annual this year, hosting 50 dealers (representing several hundred artists) from around the globe.
What have you learned about running an art fair since taking over ART Santa Fe?
I’ve learned to make it as easy as possible for the dealer. If they’ve forgotten a wrench or a screwdriver or whatever—it’s there for them. Having participated in other fairs myself, I know how difficult it is for them to travel from Italy or London—or even California—and make this tiny little booth look like a gallery.
How is this fair unique, from the collector’s perspective?
The small size is really nice for collectors because they’re not traipsing all over, looking for something and not being able to find it. That can be frustrating about art fairs.
Do you see ART Santa Fe as an event that’s primarily about art, or about commerce?
Art fairs have become big business. It’s almost the new way of doing business for dealers. There are dealers who don’t even have galleries anymore. But it’s never been primarily about commerce. It’s about art and it’s about this community. I wouldn’t be doing this if I didn’t believe in it and care about it. It’s still my little baby. [Laughs]
Any particular galleries you’re excited to play host to?
Well, I’ll tell you a story. In 1999, I reached out to Marlborough New York to participate. A gentleman—he was a lovely man—flew in for the day and took me to lunch. He said, “Call me when this fair has grown up.” Last year was a tremendous, wildly wonderful success. So this year I called Marlborough and I said, “I think we’re all grown up now.” They’re coming. I can’t tell you how gratifying this is for me.
How international is ART Santa Fe this year?
We have lots of galleries from Latin America: hot, young, edgy galleries. There are also three from London, three from Germany, and one each from Paris and Denmark. Talk about the whole world coming to our backyard. Four Santa Fe dealers have booths, too: Charlotte Jackson Fine Art, Karan Ruhlen Gallery, Turner Carroll Gallery, and Landfall Press.
What most excites you about this year’s fair?
I feel like Santa Fe is finally beginning to own it. We want this to be Santa Fe’s fair. People are finally starting to say “our fair,” and I’m going, “All right!”—Emiliano Garcia-Sarnoff
ART Santa Fe, 505-988-8883, artsantafe.com
