East End Hospice Holds 23rd Box Art Auction

In the year 2000, couple David and Marion Porter, an artist and an interior designer, came up with the concept of “box art.” Marion had seen a purse that was made out of a cigar box, and the idea stuck with her. The Porters had the idea to create an auction to benefit East End Hospice, because the organization was new at the time and needed funds.

Two years later, David Porter asked curator and art dealer Arlene Bujese to become the chairperson for the event, and she happily obliged. Now, the East End Hospice Box Art Auction is entering its 23rd year, (one year lost due to COVID) by celebrating its 23rd auction on Saturday, August 24, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Hoie Hall in East Hampton.

People who are unfamiliar with the concept of box art may be wondering where it came from. Bujese said that the Porters “came up with this idea of artists making works of art from cigar and wine boxes, because that seemed like the most available kind of substrate for art.

“The idea [of the auction] is to raise money for patient care,” Bujese continued. “Each year, we get these exciting, wonderful, generously created works of art by a number of artists.”

Artists are given the boxes which, for the past two years, have been supplied by Besim’s Fine Cigars in East Hampton. There is usually a mix of classic cigar boxes and wine boxes available to choose from.

“They come to my house, each of the artists, and they pick what box they would like to use and take it home,” Bujese explained.

“This event is invitational, that is crucial,” Bujese continued. Invitations for professional, East End artists are sent out in the beginning of the year, and there is a specific deadline by which the boxes need to be finished in time for the preview event (this year on August 21 and 22) and subsequent auction. But in terms of theme, there are essentially no design constraints.

“There are no restrictions, except that the works be limited to 18 inches, so that we can fit them all,” Bujese said. “They can do what they like, so long as the beginning substrate is a box. We have a variety of artists, a variety of clientele, so there’s really something for everyone.

There’s also a variety of expression,” Bujese continued. “Sometimes you can recognize a particular artist’s work each year.”

For artist Barbara Maslen, seeing each year’s different creations is the best part.

“This is the sixth time I’ve participated in the Box Art Auction since 2018,” Maslen said. “I have always loved the box art event as I look forward to seeing what so many different artists come up with when given the creative challenge of adapting their usual art to the form of a box.

“I am always amused and amazed with what everyone comes up with,” she continued. “I choose to really embrace the box and all its boxiness … such as: what does it hold? What is inside? Is it a surprise? A gift?”

This year, Maslen’s piece is entitled “H20 Squared,” and she explained the inspiration behind it.

“I was thinking about water, which we are surrounded by, and how to have it fill or float out of the confines of the box, and the title ‘H2O squared’ came to me,” she said. “I spent several weeks over the winter months, painting water motifs with water-based paint on small wooden cubes purposely allowing the grain and the wood to show through … and then in the spring assembled them into what is essentially ‘boxed water.’”

This year, there are 87 participating artists, 10 of whom are new to the auction and have not participated before. Bujese finds new artists by attending exhibitions and “meeting new faces.”

“When I go through an exhibition, it can be most anywhere,” she continued. “This year, for instance, I went to a benefit, and the size limit [of the art] was 12 inches, and I found the most beautiful landscape painter. Fortunately, all her information was on the back of the little painting that I bought, and I contacted her right away.”

One of the new Box Art Auction artists this year is Susan Bradfield, who spoke about her inspiration and process in a recent interview.

“Inspiration comes, for me, from a combination of imagination and an impression of the current of our times,” she said. “I began preparation of the box in late February and finished the final painting in May, working slowly every day due to my process which requires a great deal of drying time.”

“I am honored to be invited to join my friends in the artistic community in supporting East End Hospice and the great service they render our community,” she continued.

The majority of artists are repeat creators. Even some of the original artists who first made boxes still participate to this day. One of those artists is Marilyn Church.

“This is the 23rd year for my favorite charity event in East Hampton, the Box Art Auction. I have been happy to do one every year since its inception,” Church said.

“I am always amazed at how many variations the artists come up with each year. This year I was given a larger box that slid open to do. I admit to being stumped, but the more I played with the slide that kept the box open at two levels, the more I was challenged to use that aspect.

“I created a work called ‘Safe Harbor,’” she continued. “The figure I painted is sitting by the water and dangling her legs below feeling like she’s in her own personal heaven.”

Bujese explained that artists are given boxes, but they “donate the art. Their reward is our thanks and appreciation, and the sharing of wonderful art. As we call it, great art for a great purpose,” she said.

The charity aspect of the auction is repeat artist Giancarlo Impiglia’s favorite part.

“I am always looking to help people in need. The compassion the organization shows is inspiring. The box took several days to create,” Impiglia said. “My favorite thing is the knowledge that I am helping people in need. This means everything for me.”

In speaking about his process for this year, Impiglia cited modernism as an inspiration.

“I was inspired by the early modernists of the early 20th century such as Leger and Picasso; I studied modernism in depth as a student and continue to be inspired by this movement,” he said.

“I have participated for several years in a row. The process was truly enjoyable, especially the use of 24-carat gold leaf, which I applied to the raw wood box along with oil paint,” he continued. “To create something unique for this wonderful purpose is a great pleasure.”

The Box Art Auction includes both a silent auction portion and a live auction, which will be hosted by East Hampton poet Lucas Hunt. The live auction will begin at 5:45 p.m. on August 24, and includes boxes by 20 of the artists, the remaining boxes will be available in the silent auction, with a starting bid of $125.

Bujese said that selecting the pieces for each auction depends on variety.

“They are selected in terms of varying expressions, so that the auction overall is an overview of different approaches to art,” she explained. “I pick them to have a variety in terms of category, so there can be sculpture, painting, fiber work, collage, constructions, assemblage, all kinds of approaches. I like to mix that up.”

Prior to the Saturday auction, there are two days of box previews at Hoie Hall, open to the public. This year’s preview days are on Wednesday, August 21, and Thursday, August 22.

“This is when most of the artists come, because they come with their friends,” Bujese said. “It’s good that the preview is available, because we get people who have never heard of box art, and are curious, who end up being frequent visitors and patrons each year.”

The preview and auction have taken place at St. Luke’s Hoie Hall for 15 years, and prior to that took place at the Ross School.

“St. Luke’s Episcopal Church has been just wonderful hosting us these past 15 years,” Bujese said. “They are so generous in spirit, and they help to make this event the success it is.”

The event also relies on volunteers, as the actual team for the auction is quite small.

“We only have a team of five, so a lot of contributing artists also serve as volunteers, and this generosity is just wonderful,” Bujese explained.

Since 2010, along with the auction, there has also been a yearly award, the “Spirit of Community” award, given out to, as Bujese puts it, “honor someone in the arts, who is a contributor, volunteer, supporter, of community causes.” This year’s recipient is Sandra Wagenfeld, and she will receive that award on the night of the auction.

“She’s been a wonderful supporter since the beginning,” said Bujese, before adding an important message about the goal of the Box Art Auction. “We have so many wonderful events out here, and this one deserves the same amount of attention. And we’re getting there.

“Yes, we need funds, this is important, but the idea [of the Box Art Auction] is to spread awareness of East End Hospice, so that more and more people know about the work that is being done by this organization: their commitment of hospice to the community.”

The East End Hospice Box Art Auction is on Saturday, August 24, at St. Luke’s Episcopal Church’s Hoie Hall, 18 James Lane, East Hampton, beginning at 4:30 p.m. with the live auction starting at 5:45 p.m. Tickets are $100 and include wine and hors d’oeuvres. The auction items preview is Wednesday, August 21, with a preview reception from 5 to 7 p.m. and Thursday, August 22, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Images of all of the boxes are now available for viewing, along with more information about the event, at eeh.org.