Local Colors Artist Cooperative to Celebrate 37 Years on Main Street

On Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative invites the public to join in celebrating its 37th anniversary. Since 1989, Local Colors has operated as an ongoing center for creativity and commerce in downtown Gloucester.

What does it take for a relatively small business to endure for nearly 4 decades?  For Local Colors’ member artists, it means taking on the collective responsibility of maintaining a gallery and staying active on the Cape Ann art scene while upholding a commitment to their respective art forms.
For thirty-seven years!

Local Colors may defy the categorization of gallery or gift shop. For all of its years, it has supported artists’ growth in their art and in their business skills.  One member, well-known stained-glass artist Donna Amero, is a founding member. At a recent meeting of the group, she, stated, “We are not specifically a gallery or a gift shop. We’re an artists’ cooperative.” Kathy Bucholska, jeweler and mixed media artist added, “As a 36-year member, I am grateful to have had the opportunity to develop my artistic skills here. It has been wonderful to have an outlet for my jewelry and to expand into mixed media pieces using stones, fossils, and found objects.” Newer artist, weaver Susan Alvey appreciates the creative blending involved in an artist cooperative.  “As artists, we usually work alone, but a cooperative  provides a supportive community that is greater than we could create on our own.” The current membership of Local Colors spans a wide range of media, techniques, subjects, styles, and attitudes, and each artist brings their own way of seeing to his/her chosen medium. The cooperative expands our appreciation of other art forms.

Current artist members include: photographers Melissa Cox, David Katz, Skip Montello, and Jim Sousa; Jewelers Katherine Bagley, Kathy Bucholska, Annette Donnelly; painters Carey Jane Connor, Pat Doherty, Perry McIntosh; glass artists Donna Amero and Mary Woodall-Jappe; fiber artist Susan Alvey; ceramicists Peter Black, Bessie Blum (who also works in mosaic and collage and fiber), Bob Kulchuk; and creative sculptors Liz Lovell and George Marinakis.

As they mark this anniversary, Local Colors’ artists want to express their gratitude: to their guests, customers, and visitors, and especially to the other artist members, past and present, for their continued support and inspiration. 

In addition to the November 6 celebration, Local Colors will be participating in the City’s “From the Deep” event on Saturday, November 7, with a variety of art demonstrations:

• 11 am- 12:30 pm George Marinakis will show the construction of his driftwood sunbursts
• 12:30 to 2:00 pm  Many-media artist Bessie Blum will be demonstrating some simple mosaic techniques with materials available for visitors' own make-and-take small mosaics while (limited) supplies last.
• 2:00 to 3:30 pm  Ingrid Jochimsen will show the construction of her layered wooden boxes.
• 3:30 to 5:00 PM  Susan Alvey will demonstrate winding a warp for weaving.