Hampton Road Gallery owner Peter Marcelle with his son, Carter, 8, and artist David Gamble.

Southampton - Flocks of East End artists and community members perched themselves at the Hampton Road Gallery in Southampton on Saturday to preview more than 60 birdhouses created by local artists and available for auction to benefit the Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital. The event was coordinated by artist Karyn Mannix.

The live auction will take place on Saturday, October 10, from 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Parrish Memorial Hall located at Southampton Hospital. For the fourth year actress Renee Zellweger will serve as honorary co-chair of the event, along with designer Betsey Johnson, who has adorned birdhouses for the event since its inception. Bidding on the silent auction birdhouses began at the preview and will be carried over to auction night.

This year's auction is in memory of famed artist, Tony Rosenthal, who passed after he began work on his birdhouse. Artist Don Saco, finished the birdhouse, with "Rosenthal flair" and that too will go up for auction.

A few of the birdhouses available at Saturday's silent auction. All birdhouses began at $35, with $10 increments.

A filled to capacity crowd was able to enter silent bids at Saturday's event, and 12 birdhouses will be available at the live auction, beginning at 6:45 p.m on October 10. Those artists included in the live auction are Zellweger, Johnson, and Saco, as well as Eric Ernst, Jason Colledge, James DeMartis, Sandsy Heppenheimer, Jeff Muhs, Stephanie Reit, Dan Rizzie, Stephanie Brody Lederman, and David Salle.

Among some of the artists at Saturday's preview were David Slater, Ellen Dooley, Craig Banks, John and Linda Capello, Kimberly Goff, Dennis Leri, Setha Low, and Walter Schwab, as well as a number of artists whose works will be part of the live auction.

Birdhouse by Renee Zellweger who is acting as one of this year's honoary Co-chairs for the auction.

All the birdhouses are delightful works of art that reflect not only the personal view and 'trademark' of many of the participating artists, but an overall whimsy and use of color and texture keeping with the theme of an actual birdhouse. Many are functioning birdhouses meant to be hung outdoors, while others are clearly meant for in home display. All participating artists utilized techniques and craftsmanship that makes these special works a most affordable investment, not only for a very worthy cause, but the sheer enjoyment of owning what might be an otherwise unaffordable work of art.

Local restaurants and markets have generously donated food for the event, and with inexpensive raffle tickets, low opening bid prices, and an affordable admission, all can enjoy the festivities, while donating to such a needed cause.

According to Mannix 100 percent of the money raised will benefit the new Ellen Hermanson Breast Center at Southampton Hospital, and the generosity of the artists and those that have donated their time and efforts are to be commended for producing such lovely works of art that are both easy on the eyes and wallet.

Birdhouse by Betsey Johnson, also a Co-Chair of this year's event.

About The Breast Center
The diagnosis and treatment of breast cancer is a clinical priority. Southampton Hospital's Breast Health Center is the only facility of its kind on Eastern Long Island featuring state-of-the-art services, from routine screening mammograms to sonograms, to stereotatic and core biopsies. Finely tuned teamwork and collaboration between the Breast Health Center, surgeons and medical and radiation oncologists provide rapid diagnosis and treatment. The namesake of the foundation, Ellen P. Hermanson, fought a personal battle with breast cancer by becoming an activist and advocate. A talented writer and journalist, she gave a voice to the issues related to breast cancer, educated her readers to the importance of early-detection and informed them of the availability of resources.

The birdhouse auction began as the idea of Mannix, who is a breast cancer survivor herself. She is one of the many women who benefited from the Breast Center's technology and because of early detection, she is now five years cancer free.

For additional information on the live auction and tickets ($40), call 631-726-8715.

A filled to capacity crowd eagerly entered their bids for birdhouses contributed by more than 70 local artists.