Going once, going twice, sold

The Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society will present its ninth annual Paint the Town fundraiser on Sunday, Sept. 9 in its Pan-American Building at 25 Nottingham Court at Elmwood Av enue.

During the week preceding the event, approximately 50 local artists will spread out throughout the City of Buffalo to tackle the challenge of painting a complete work of art on location in six hours or less. Many create their painting on Sept. 9, just hours before the auction.

The artists will frame their finished works and bring them on the evening of Sept. 9 to the Pan-American Building, where guests will view the pieces, enjoy culinary stations catered by Oliver's Restaurant and participate in a live auction to purchase one of these unique original paintings. Proceeds from the auction benefit both the artists and the Historical Society.

Many well-recognized local artists are featured in Paint the Town, including Pat Jacoby Harris, Martha Marlette, Beth Munro, Denise Sperry, Peter Fowler, Lin Xia Jiang, Thomas Kegler and Nancy Parisi.

"Paint the Town draws attention to some of the best that Western New York has to offer - our tremendously talented artists, the beautiful scenes they depict and the Historical Society's landmark Pan-American Building," said Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society Acting Executive Director Dr. Cynthia Conides.

From 6 to 7:30 p.m. guests can visit the food stations and view the works on display. The live auction will follow from 7:30 to 9 p.m., led by auctioneer Steve Phillips of the Lodge Auction House.

Paint the Town is open to the general public and tickets are available in advance for $65 or can be purchased at the door for $80. For more information or to purchase tickets, call 873-9644, Ext. 316.