Local Colors Artist Cooperative to Celebrate 37 Years on Main Street

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.
And in the meantime, Local Colors, 121 Main St, will be open daily from 10 am to 6 pm, moving into its 38th year.