Exhibition runs from March 6 — 26, 2010
Opening reception was held Sat, March 6, 2010

Congratulations to the award recipients and all the particpating artists!

Award Recipients:
First & Presidents Award: John O’Reilly — Buffalo Grain Elevator
Second & Trautman Assoc. Award: Norine Spurling — One White Onion
Third & Magavern Magavern Grimm Award: Rita Argen Auerbach — Gaudy Cathedral
Honorable Mention & Elmwood Framing & Interiors Award: David Vitrano — Che Fai?

John Massier: Juror’s Statement

Sponsors:
Buffalo Society of Artists Past Presidents
Trautman Assoc.
Magavern & Magavern LLP
Elmwood Framing & Interiors

Patrons:
See Hear Touch Learn – Experience Art
Avalon Document Services
Barbara Evans
Patti Harris & Gary Satok
John P. O’Reilly

This show will be a revival of the Thumb Box Exhibit (small paintings) that BSA has presented now and then since the 1890s. Juror: John Massier, Curator, Hallwalls, Buffalo, NY

Thumb-Box Exhibition, A brief history

The Buffalo Society of Artists along with the Salmagundi Club of New York City was the first to introduce “The
Thumb Box Exhibition” in the early 20th century. At one time the term “thumb box” had referred to a little box containing color pigments which an artist hung over his thumb. Instead of using paint from tubes, the artist dipped the brush in the box and mixed colors on the palette. Most of the paintings done in this fashion were miniatures. It was especially convenient painting plein air studies.

The first B.S.A. Thumb-Box Exhibit was held in 1907. The works were small, measuring no more than 9” x 12” and reasonably priced. The idea and the exhibit both proved successful. The concept of a show with small, low priced work proved popular with both the artist and the public. The popularity of the Buffalo Society of Artists and Salmagundi Club Thumb-Box Exhibits soon triggered a national trend of such shows.

During recent years the Thumb-Box concept with various alterations has reappeared and now, more than one hundred years later, is enjoying a revival.

History prepared by Russell Ram – 2009

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