|
Exhibition hall that rides waves
By Nathan Frandino
Wednesday, July 16, 2008
The five-story, 228-foot luxury yacht SeaFair sailed into Charleston Harbor this week for its exclusive East Coast tour and exhibition preview.
SeaFair is a privately owned yacht and serves as a convention center on the water for its owners and founders, David and Lee Ann Lester.
The Lesters have been in the international exhibition industry since 1990 and have done more than 45 exhibitions around the world. What started out as a floating art gallery has turned into a virtual shopping mall, with world-class jewelry, fashion, glassware, real estate and more.
"
We'd like to be able to take exhibitions that normally exist only in larger cities and take those to smaller cities," David Lester said.
SeaFair is in town for its private Champagne Preview that begins Thursday and ends Saturday. During its three-day stay, the yacht will have 28 booths on display with paintings representing art dealers from Florida to France.
Patrons and art collectors who were invited will have the opportunity to tour the $40 million yacht and see what the Lesters say is "the first of its kind."
"We just want people to come on board and be amazed so they'll tell their friends," David Lester said.
Guests will be able to dine aboard at the Sapore restaurant, eat light Mediterranean tapas at Bistro360 and gather at the Luxe Lounge for champagne and caviar. The restaurant and lounges are each on a separate floor close to the gallery rooms that run down the middle of the yacht.
Each gallery space is equipped with wireless Internet, satellite access and temperature control, said Aaron Lester, who handles operations.
The yacht will be docked at the Charleston City Marina for the weekend. The reputation of the yacht is sure to spark interest, said marina dockmaster David Rogers.
"I think it's a good concept and could have a lot of potential for success," Rogers said.
Reach Nathan Frandino at nfrandino@postandcourier.com
|
