A Mid Winter's Draw: Drawing Rally & Silent Auction

36 artists drawing live in two 45 minute sessions
STARTING AT 7:15 SHARP!

Your chance to Watch, Bid, & Buy!
Opening Bids begin at $39.

Cash bar
Admission $5
Music from ABCDJ

For the 16th time since February 2012, Hallwalls presents its twice-yearly drawing rally event, mid-winter edition. Invited artists will draw live in two 45 minute rounds, with silent auction of all drawings following each round. With opening bids set at an affordable $39, guests should not expect that all works will be bid too high to win a piece. While a Bill Maggio drawing set a drawing rally record in February 2018 by going for $750, works are won at all levels—from $39 to $50 to $150 and many points in between. It is the IDEAL situation for a budding collector or drawing enthusiast.

Over 200 artists have participated in the drawing rally since its inception, but only one—Alicia Paolucci—remains as the lone participant to take part in each one. Artist Fotini Galanes has participated in each one since the second rally. Artists are invited to participate to broadly reflect the wide range of artistic activity in Western New York and programming at Hallwalls. Styles and approaches are as diverse as the artists themselves, from pencil work, to ink, to watercolor, to mixed media. Most artists arrive with a plan and have plotted their intentions beforehand, many timing themselves in their own practice rounds (45 minutes goes fast!). The range of artists participating runs the gamut from grad students to emerging artists to senior artists. Hallwalls does not force a theme or subject matter on the artists, they are free to draw what they will.

While there are many returning champs, each drawing rally always include a slew of new participating artists. For February 2020, 12 of the 36 artists are brand new to the event.

Visitors should not presume they won’t end up with a drawing, despite the sometimes furious bidding. While it is true that select works are bid up into the hundreds, drawings in each rally are routinely purchased along a variety of price points, many under $100. More than one burgeoning art collector has begun their collection with a work from the drawing rally.

Not a collector? Not a problem. The drawing rally has also developed a devout audience that comes purely for the ambience and the action. With a low admission, a cash bar, a dj set, and action in every direction, it’s hard to find more fun on a Wednesday night.

After 8 years, one thing remains true above all else—audience members (and artists) continue to approach us to tell us this is their favorite art event of the year. Come and see why

Participating artists:

Jozef Bajus • Obsidian Bellis • Kristin Brandt • Tricia Butski • Caitlin Cass • Emily Churco• Justin Dahl • Kevin Delgado • Steven Duval • David Feaman • Patrick Foran • AJ Fries • Fotini Galanes • Joey Goergen • Maximilian Goldfarb • Bobby Griffiths • Pat Kewley • Iris Kirkwood • Andy Krzystek • Erin Long • Bill Maggio • Alicia Malik • Wendy Caldwell Maloney • Thomas Matyas • Ruby Merritt • MJ Myers • Tony Nash • Cindi O'Mara • Alicia Paolucci • Nancy J. Parisi • Reinhard Reitzenstein • Jennifer Ryan • Matt SaGurney • Chuck Tingley • John Van Houten • Edreys Wajed

It remains, for many, their favorite Buffalo art event—come check it out and see why.

GALLERY HOURS: Tuesday–Friday 11:00am–6:00pm Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm.

A Mid Winter's Draw: Drawing Rally & Silent Auction

GALLERY HOURS:
Tuesday–Friday 11:00am–6:00pm

Saturday 11:00am–2:00pm.