This year’s Dallas Art Fair opens April 8 (with a special gala preview, natch, the night before) — which, when I first read the date, struck me as interesting to folks who can’t be in two galleries at once because that’s the same day the Dallas Contemporary is scheduled to open three — count ’em, three — new shows, so it was a date a person might tend to remember.

But it turns out this isn’t a coincidence: The gala preview is a benefit for Booker T. Washington Arts Magnet and the Dallas Contemporary. And, in fact, you can buy a pass for that whole three-day weekend (tickets go on sale today). The pass will permit entrance to the Dallas Art Fair (to be held, again, at the Fashion Industry Gallery on Ross) as well as the Dallas Contemporary, the Goss-Michael Foundation‘s show of Scottish sculptor Jim Lambie (famous for his colorful floor installations) — plus! the Nasher Sculpture Center, which will be opening the figurative-sculpture exhibition, Statuesque, featuring sizable works from six international artists including Aaron Curry, Matthew Monahan and Rebecca Warren. Statuesque originally ran in New York’s City Hall Park last summer (video, here).

So. The Dallas Art Fair has expanded considerably. This year’s notable participating dealers and galleries  include the Modern Art Gallery, returning from London, but also the newcomers, Galleria Lorcan O’Neill from Rome and the Chinati Foundation from Marfa, the upholders of Donald Judd’s legacy. Fifteen galleries from New York are represented, 15 from Texas. There will be panel discussions, forums, tours, live music in Fair Park.

The whole deal, as usual, is spelled out in the press release, which follows:

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

January 19, 2011

FACT SHEET: DALLAS ART FAIR

April 8-10, 2011

WHAT:

Celebrating modern and contemporary art, the third annual 2011 Dallas Art Fair will showcase paintings, sculptures, drawings, prints and photographs by modern and contemporary artists represented from more than 60 prominent national and international art dealers. There are 15 Texas galleries participating.

The Dallas Art Fair is located at the Fashion Industry Gallery (f.i.g.), within walking distance of world-class cultural institutions of the Dallas Arts District including the Dallas Museum of Art, Nasher Sculpture Center, AT&T Performing Arts Center, the Trammell and Margaret Crow Collection of Asian Art and the Meyerson Symphony Center.

In 2010, more than 6,500 art lovers attended the second annual Dallas Art Fair, and the events drew established and aspiring art collectors and enthusiasts from throughout the nation. The Dallas Art Fair was co-founded by John Sughrue and Chris Byrne. For more information, visit www.DallasArtFair.com.

WHEN:

Dallas Art Fair:

Friday, April 8 – Sunday, April 10, 2011

Friday-Saturday hours: 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.

Sunday hours: 11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Fashion Industry Gallery (f.i.g.)

1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201

www.dallasartfair.com

TICKETS:

All tickets include an Exhibitor Program

• One Day General Admission: $20.00 per person

• 3 Day Pass: $40.00 per person

• Students*, Seniors (62 +)or Groups 10+: $15.00 per person

• 3 Day Pass for Students*, Seniors (62 +) or Groups 10+: $30.00 per person

*Valid student ID must be shown at entry.

Dallas Art Fair ticket holders receive free admission to the Nasher Sculpture Center for the opening of Statuesque on Saturday, April 9 and Sunday, April 10. Statuesque, on view at the Nasher from April 9 through August 21, 2011, brings together a dynamic group of six international artists – Pawel Althamer, Huma Bhabha, Aaron Curry, Thomas Houseago, Matthew Monahan and Rebecca Warren – whose work reveals a renewed significance of the figure in contemporary sculpture.

Tickets for the Dallas Art Fair Preview Gala on Thursday April 7, 2011, are $200.00 per person.

Patron Tickets are $300.00 per person and include:

• One ticket to the PaperCity Event in Houston

• One ticket to the Neiman Marcus Kick-Off Party hosted by Neiman Marcus Downtown

• One ticket to the Preview Gala

• Admission to the Art Dealers Association of America’s Collectors’ Forum

• Admission to the Dallas Art Fair panel discussions

• A three-day pass to the Dallas Art Fair

• Opportunity to join a semi-private, personally guided group tour of the show prior to opening on Friday morning

• Admission to the Friday night Exhibition Opening at Dallas Contemporary

• Admission to the Friday night private patron party opening of Statuesque at the Nasher Sculpture Center; Limited reservations available

• Admission to the Saturday night Private Cocktail Reception at The Goss-Michael Foundation

Tickets are available beginning January 19, 2011. They can be purchased online at www.dallasartfair.com or at the event site throughout the weekend. For Patron Tickets, please call Tracy Moberley at (214)220-1278.

EVENTS:

Neiman Marcus Kick-Off Party

Thursday, March 24, 2011

6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

By Invitation Only

The 2011 Dallas Art Fair kick-off party will be sponsored by Neiman Marcus and held at Neiman Marcus Downtown.

Dallas Art Fair Preview Gala at f.i.g

Thursday, April 7, 2011

7:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m.

By Invitation Only

For more information on the Preview Gala, contact [email protected] or call 214-219-9191.

A special Preview Gala will launch the Dallas Art Fair on Thursday, April 7, 2011. The Gala will give art patrons the opportunity to preview the exhibits prior to the public opening of the fair. The Dallas Art Fair has chosen the renowned Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and the Dallas Contemporary as the beneficiaries of the Preview Gala. Utilizing the funds raised from the gala event, the Advisory Board of Booker T. Washington High School provides advancement opportunities for students at this top-rated arts magnet school through a variety of initiatives including the disbursement of annual scholarships.

Dallas Contemporary has a 30-year history of bringing innovative contemporary art to the City of Dallas. The institution has achieved dramatic growth in its presentation of regional artists and is expanding its reach to feature national and international talent. Dallas Contemporary is recognized for creating compelling exhibitions by emerging artists and also for the nationally award winning Art Think program which teaches students the skills to think creatively about contemporary art. Headquarters were recently re-located to a repurposed 1950’s industrial building that will serve as a kunsthalle of contemporary art in Dallas.

Nasher Sculpture Center Statuesque Exhibition Opening (By Invitation Only)

Friday, April 8, 2011

6:00 p.m. -9:00 p.m.

Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora Street

Contact the Nasher Sculpture Center at (214) 242-5151 for more information

Dallas Contemporary Exhibition Openings (Open to the Public)

Featuring artists Juergen Teller and Ezra Petronio

Friday, April 8, 2011

8:00 p.m. – 12:00 a.m.

Dallas Contemporary, 161 Glass Street

Contact Erin Cluley at (214) 821-2522 or visit DallasContemporary.org for more information

Nasher Avant Garde (By Invitation Only)

Arts Fair Panel Discussion

Saturday, April 9, 2011

10:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Beck Imaginarium, 1807 Ross Avenue, 5th Floor, Dallas

Contact the Nasher Sculpture Center at (214) 242-5151 for more information

Nasher Sculpture Center Statuesque Exhibition Opening (Open to the Public)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.

Nasher Sculpture Center, 2001 Flora Street

Contact the Nasher Sculpture Center at (214) 242-5100 for more information

ADAA Collectors Forum (By Reservation)

The ADAA (Art Dealers Association of America) Collectors Forum panel discussion, made possible by AXA Art

Saturday, April 9, 2011

Time TBD

Contact Dallas Art Fair at (214) 220-1278 for reservations

The Goss-Michael Foundation Exhibition Opening (By Invitation Only)

Featuring artist Jim Lambie

Saturday, April 9, 2011

6:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.

1405 Turtle Creek Boulevard Dallas, TX 75207

Dallas Art Fair’s Music in the Park (Open to the Public)

Saturday, April 9, 2011

6:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.

f.i.g. lawn, 1807 Ross Avenue, Dallas, TX 75201

FOUNDERS:

John Sughrue, Chris Byrne

SPONSORS:

Ruinart

Rosewood Hotels & Resorts

Neiman Marcus

f.i.g. (Fashion Industry Gallery)

PaperCity Magazine

Dave Perry-Miller

Arcodoro & Pomodoro

The Goss-Michael Foundation