Holiday windows and happenings - a variety of unique options

We’re excited to be open four days a week this month — Friday through Monday — with unique new pieces for all occasions. This week we put up our holiday window display that offers a peek into the variety of items inside. Cozy hats, teacup bird feeders, dazzling ornaments - we have them.

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You can be assured that Local Colors is taking all the necessary precautions to keep our customers and staff safe in response to COVID-19. We are following recommended guidelines, ensuring a healthy environment by having all customers and staff wear a mask, frequent and regular sanitizing, and limiting the number of customers in our store.

If you would like to look at our offerings online, please visit our artists’ pages.

And to stay up to date on new art and sales, go over to our homepage to sign up for our email here.

We look forward to seeing you!

Temporarily closed

Although we are temporarily closed at our Main St location for about 2 weeks, we are busily creating new work. You can still reach us here on Facebook and on our website at www.local-colors.org. Don't hesitate to contact individual artists and they'll do their best to work with you. Also, we're still looking for new members so, if interested, contact our jury co-chairs, Kathy or Claire, at info@local-colors.org.

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FOLLOW YOUR HEART

LOCAL COLORS ARTISTS' COOPERATIVE PRESENTS

"FOLLOW YOUR HEART” FUNDRAISER

 

Artist members of Gloucester’s Local Colors Artists' Cooperative are, for the ninth year, using the Valentine season as an opportunity to support the community who has supported them for over 30 years with their "Follow Your Heart" fundraiser.  Each of the 14 members of the Cooperative created unique Valentine cards in which 100% of the proceeds will be donated to a local non-profit organization. They are on for sale January 21 through February 14th.

The membership selected four local organizations to be on the ballot for the event including the Wellspring House, Pathways for Children, The Open Door and Cape Ann Animal Aid.   The organizations provide a variety of worthy services including shelter, education, food or animal rescue. The voting ballot lists all four charities. For each card purchased, customers may cast a vote to their charity of choice so members urge the public to buy many and vote often! The organization with the most votes will receive 100% of the proceeds from the sale of all the Valentine cards.

"During what can be a dreary and cold time of year, I find doing this event fun and cheery,” says Kathy Bucholska, a jewelry and mixed media artist and member for 29 years. "My crow cards are back for another year with new quips hoping to get a laugh or at least a smile.” Kathy embellishes a photo she took of two crows appearing to commune with each other.

Donna Amero, the only remaining founding member and stained-glass artist says, “The event is also fun for me to do as I am creating outside my medium and look forward to doing something unique for the community.” Among her creations are animal print cards with bold feathers.

This year Ann Schlecht, a silversmith who often uses sea glass in her jewelry designs, created a few valentines with sea glass hearts that she found right here on Cape Ann.  She claims “finding sea glass hearts is truly special and meaningful and is not a regular occurrence that makes a special card and gift.”  

Due to their popularity in past years, Sally Seamans, also known as “Tin Can Sally” has again made her tin heart bookmark and key chain cards which usually sell out fast!

Pat Doherty, a painter who has been involved with this event for several years created original handmade cards. She says, “Valentines for charity is a favorite project of mine. It makes me feel good to be able to give something back to our community.”

These are just a few examples of the types of Valentine cards available beginning January 21 through February 14th at Local Colors Artists' Cooperative at 121 Main Street in Gloucester. Other members contributing cards for the event include:  David Katz and Jim Sousa, photography; Bob Kulchuk, wheel-thrown pottery/fused glass; Virginia Townsend, pottery and basket weaving; Jim Trudeau, pottery; Susan Ingram, paintings; Sarah Fris, paintings and children’s clothing; Claire Perrault, fiber arts; and Judy Plank, paintings

For more information about Local Colors, visit www.local-colors.org or call 978-283-3996.

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30 Years of Local Color

The Members of Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative invite you to our 30th anniversary celebration on Saturday, November 2 from 6 to 8PM. We are so thankful for your support over these last 30 years. To show our appreciation we are offering 15% off our already low studio prices during the Saturday reception. We will also have refreshments and live music by one of our own members. Please join us in this celebration! We look forward to seeing you.

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Photographs of Rob Coviello

Local Colors would like to invite you to a reception to celebrate and share the amazing photographs of 18-wheelers by Rob Coviello. Rob is well known across the country for his work. There will be refreshments and hors d'oeuvres - open and free to the public.

Rob Coviello displays his 18-wheeler photographs for sale. Mark your calendars for this 3 hour-only event on March 29th from 5-8 p.m. sponsored by Local Colors, 121 Main Street, Gloucester
Join us and enjoy Rob's work and light refreshments.


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UP IN THE AIR

"Up in the Air":  A New Exhibit and Reception at Local Colors 

Local Colors Artists' Cooperative, now in its 29th year, celebrates its annual art event with a special art exhibit titled UP IN THE AIR. The gallery will highlight the new work of the 16 members from October 5th through October 26th with a reception (free and open to the public) on Saturday, October 6th from 5 to 7 PM at Local Colors Artists' Cooperative, 121 Main St. in Gloucester.

Each of the 16 artists is free to interpret the theme according to the artist's calling. For special events as this, the artists are encouraged to create works outside their usual medium to allow for growth and expansion of their creative talents.

 “It’s always interesting to see how the artist interprets the theme whether literally, humorously or philosophically,” says Kathy Bucholska, a member for 28 years who designed jewelry using sun, moon and star motifs. “The sun is a powerful symbol for me representing warmth, strength, growth and renewal.”

The Cooperatives two newest members Allyson Christopher, a fiber artist, and Judy Plank, a painter, enthusiastically designed pieces for the show. Judy says she took a “twist” on interpreting the theme. Her work is primarily bold, coastal inspired paintings on wood with carved accents and a high gloss finish. She submitted three pieces including one with three row boats tied to a pier titled Row v Wade as she believes the “current law is up in the air.” The second piece is called “Sabrina Maria” representing the fishing industry which is similarly up in the air as well and her third piece titled “Citgo” which she says is “dedicated to the amazing year the Red Sox’s are having.”

Allyson whose work is beautifully dyed silk scarves and other items created a one of a kind silk scarf using professional silk dyes for the brilliance of color. Her piece is titled, “Falls Glory” which reminded her of the colorful leaves blowing in the air during the fall.

Pat Doherty, a painter, enjoys painting the tranquility of a Cape Ann sunset and sunrise. Pat says, “With all the stress we can experience today, the beauty of a sunset can help the worries of the day fade away. With each sunrise I wish to bring the hope of a new day.”

For Up in the Air, Ann Schlecht created sculptural leaf earrings of mixed metals made with aluminum, copper and brass to signify the variety of colors found in foliage - leaves that crumple and fall from the sky.  These earrings are very lightweight and with each movement they catch the light. 

Sally Seamans aka Tin Can Sally, made hanging mobiles of various sizes and mediums. Her mobiles combine line, color, joy and motion.

One of our potters, Virginia Townsend, inspired by her love of the ocean, created beautiful glass ornaments filled with sand, sea-glass, shells and sparkle. She says, “It brings the feel of the ocean to the home.”

Things that fly is the interpretation by Jim Sousa, a photographer, who will exhibit photographs of birds, fighter jets and kite surfers.

Donna Amero, a stained-glass artist and the only remaining founding member of the cooperative, created a sun mirror and a stained-glass panel with mountains and a loon that she titled “Loon Mountain.”

Other members displaying work are Christine Garrigan, a tie-dye artist who will have pieces symbolizing the colors of the sky, Bob Kulchuk and Jim Trudeau for their wheel thrown pottery, Susan Ingram and Marion Rayner for their inspiring and often locally themed paintings, Dave Katz, a photographer with his sea-glass and abstract water photography and Gary Lucas, a relief artist with his unique coastal scenes.

The members are excited to offer to the community, a new show with so many interpretations. The UP IN THE AIR show runs from October 6th through October 26th with an evening reception on October 6th from 5 to 7pm, open and free to the public. The hours are from 10am to 6pm, Sunday through Saturday. The phone number is 978-283-3996.

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Celebrating Flowers

 

 

Marion Rayner, a member of Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative, will be presenting a special show of her new work in acrylics. There will be a wine and cheese reception on June 23, 5:30-7:30 pm at the Cooperative, 121 Main Street, Gloucester, MA. The show will run from June 23-July 13.

Marion has been creating landscapes, seascapes, and florals in watercolor for the past 25 years. “I love how fluid, vibrant, and unpredictable watercolors can be. I had been thinking recently about creating in another medium. With spring here and all the beautiful flowers blooming on Cape Ann, it seemed natural to want to create something that would celebrate the emergence of all that beauty. I have long admired the work of Georgia O’Keefe. Her large and exaggerated forms bring a sense of importance to each flower she paints.”

Marion’s canvas pieces are large (2”by 4”), bright and appealing. The poppies stand out from a dark background. In fact, the poppies seem to “pop out.” Each piece makes a particular flower the star of the show.

Also during the show work by Donna Amero, a founding member of Local Colors Artists’ Cooperative, will be Celebrating Dragonflies with dragonfly themed stained glass in the alcove. “Dragonflies signify happiness, speed and purity,” says Donna.

Please join us for this special reception June 23, 5:30-7:30 at Local Colors

Artists’ Cooperative, 121 Main Street, Gloucester.  The organization is also seeking new members. The group is Cape Ann’s oldest artist cooperative, and is managed and run by the artists who all share an equal status. The reception is an opportunity to meet the artists, see their work and find out about membership benefits.

 

 

 

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Meet and Greet

Join us June 2, 5:30-7:30, for a wine and cheese reception
to meet the artists. Local Colors is always looking for new artist members. This is an opportunity to learn and talk about the gallery and membership.
We are looking forward to meeting you June 2.

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Tiny Art

 

"Tiny Art":  A New Exhibit and Reception at Local Colors

Local Colors Artists' Cooperative, now in its 28th year, celebrates its annual art event with a special art exhibit titled TINY ART. This theme, which also coincides with Local Colors Artists' Cooperative 28th anniversary, is a new undertaking for the Co-op as most shows have a more specific subject such as a "fish" or the "sea". This show challenges the artists by limiting the size of the work, but not the subject or medium  they choose. The gallery will highlight the new work of the 16 members from September 30 through October 20th with a reception on Saturday, October 14th from 5 to 8 PM at Local Colors Artists' Cooperative, 121 Main St. in Gloucester.

Each of the 16 artists created work that is approximately 6 by 6 inches or smaller on any subject(s) according to the artist's calling. For special events as this, the artists are encouraged to create works outside their usual medium to allow for growth and expansion of their creative talents.

Donna Amero, a stained glass artist and the only remaining founding member of the cooperative, created a 1 1/2" square glass treasure box with a small pearlized nautilus shell in the lid. She also designed 3" by 6" stained glass "window" panels. She found the theme fun and challenging. She says, "It gives us an opportunity to offer a small piece of art that will fit anywhere at an affordable price."

Kathy Bucholska, a member for 27 years, submitted small sculptures, mixed media and jewelry.  Kathy says,  "My favorites are my "Tiny" sculptures. All three have a petrified wood base supporting either a jasper sphere, an ancient ammonite or carved bone animal totem ranging from 6 by 3 inches to 3 by 3 inches and relate the meaning of the symbols, stones or fossils."

“I love when we do these shows and need to come up with something new,”  Ann Schlecht, a jewelry designer remarks. Ann created a 2 1/4" by 1 1/4" Flower Pot Pendant using her grandmother’s thimble and filled it with wire soil and many different colored sea glass flowers. She recognizes it is always a challenge to come up with a theme that appeals to a diverse group of artists as well as to the public.

Jacqueline Bennett, a painter and our newest member did several 6" by 6" paintings called "Sparkle Flowers" in acrylic with a gold and copper leaf. "My initial reaction to the theme was feeling constricted by the small size, but I had fun with these," says Jackie.  Penn Weston, a woodcarver and another recent member, carved a 6" by 1" baby cormorant. "The idea came to me when I saw a likeness (of it) at a display in Norway at a village near the Arctic Circle," says Penn noting he also carved the mother cormorant which is also available.

Sally Seamans aka Tin Can Sally has made a series of tiny house collages. Each piece is a little over 3" square. "Making these small collages entirely out of found recycled tin was quite a challenge for me," Sally says "but I enjoy challenges."

Pat Doherty, a painter, painted a 4" by 4" oil on canvas of a Gloucester sunset. "I love painting the bright colors found in our Gloucester sunsets. It doesn't change the pleasure I feel when painting whether it is a two foot by four foot painting or a four inch by four inch painting. The color and light found in Gloucester cannot be surpassed," adds Pat.

One of our potters, Virginia Townsend, used sticks from her hydrangeas to create whimsical 4" by 4" ceramic fish tiles. She says through her inspiration from the Cape Ann sea, salt and sand, she keeps her coastal pottery fun.

You'll also find small alarm clocks with 2" diameter photos of Cape Ann in the face made by Jim Sousa, a photographer. He sees these creations as fun mementos that allows you to take a little bit of Cape Ann with you anywhere yougo.

Other members displaying work are Bob Kulchuk and Jim Trudeau for their wheel thrown pottery, Susan Ingram and Marion Rayner for their inspiring and often locally themed paintings, Joe Higgins for his fish prints, Christine Garrigan, a tie-dye artist and Dave Katz, a photographer.

The members are excited to offer to the community, as the founding member Donna Amero says, "a small piece of art that will fit anywhere at an affordable price." The TINY ART show runs from September 30th through October 20th with an evening reception on October 14th from 5 to 8pm, open and free to the public. The hours beginning October 1 are from 10am to 6pm, Sunday through Saturday. The phone number is 978-283-3996.

 

 

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For the Birds

 

"FOR THE BIRDS":  A New Exhibit at Local Colors 

September 9th till September 29

 Jim Sousa, an 8 year member of  Local Colors Artists Cooperative, is presenting a special show of his photographs of various birds on various mediums entitled "For the Birds".  He is donating half of all sales from the show to the Mass Audubon Society.  There will be a reception with light refreshments on September 9, 2017 from 5 to 8 PM. Penn Westman, another member and woodcarver,  will be giving a bird woodcarving demonstration during the reception. The reception and show are free and open to the public at Local Colors, 121 Main Street, Gloucester, MA. The show will run from September 9 to the 30th.

 Fascinated by the photographs he saw in National Geographic as a child, he imagined it would be a great job to travel and photograph wildlife. Although not yet a fulltime endeavor, Jim takes every opportunity to photograph wildlife  as often as possible. Jim says that he has a "hobby gone wild." One of his best experiences was photographing puffins in Newfoundland. With research he found an island off the Newfoundland coast where you could walk onto the island to catch the puffins in their habitat instead of taking a boat to an island.

 

 He further explains why he chose Mass Audubon as a recipient of his sales. "I have been photographing landscapes and wildlife for many years and some of my bird photos were shot in Audubon wildlife sanctuaries.  I decided to donate proceeds to them so people like me will continue to have a place to capture these beautiful creatures" says Jim. He also printed a limited edition of50 of his Bird Posters (24 x 36) for his show in which he will also donate to MASS Audubon.

 Jim will be showing photographs (printed on photo paper, watercolor paper and even wood!) of Finches, Cardinals, Puffins, Ospreys, Hawks, Woodpeckers and waterfowl among others. His show will be on display from September 9 to the 30th.

Local Colors is located at 121 Main Street, Gloucester, MA , 978-283-3996.

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"Dramatic Nature" with Patrica Doherty

 "Dramatic Nature" is the theme of Patricia Doherty's new oil paintings which will be on display at Local Colors Gallery, 121 Main Street in Gloucester from July 29 until August 18.She loves capturing on canvas the profusion of color seen in the sky and reflected in the water at sunrise and sunset. Her oil paintings are all one of one with no prints made. There will be a reception on July 29 from 7 until 9 pm when you can meet the artist. There will be live music and light refreshments. Please come and enjoy.

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Day of the Dead (Dia de Muertos)

Come and join us on 29th July from 6 pm to 8 pm for refreshments, fun and music. See our Day of the Dead art display and write a message on our remembrance altar. 

Hope to see you there!

Local Colors Artists' Cooperative

 

 

COME IN AND MEET MIRANDA IN PERSON!!

We had a wonderful time and thank you all for coming . 

We had a wonderful time and thank you all for coming . 

The brains behind the operation . . . . 

The brains behind the operation . . . . 

Jim Sousa 

Jim Sousa 

Glostoberfest 2016

Glostoberfest

A New Exhibit and Reception at Local Colors

 

Local Colors Artists' Cooperative, now in its 27th year on Main St, is celebrating art, autumn and Cape Ann with an Oktoberfest flair and  a new exhibit with reception. The exhibit begins October 1 through October 22. The kickoff of this celebration is a  reception at Local Colors, 121 Main St. in Gloucester on Saturday, October1 from 6:00 to 8:00 pm. The public is invited and light refreshments will be served.

This year's theme, GLOSTOBERFEST, a play on the traditional Bavarian Oktoberfest with its cultural and beer festivities  "combines the celebration of art, the change in seasons,  Cape Ann, and the Spirit of the Oktoberfest" says Jim Sousa, photographer, who originated the idea. "It brings a festive atmosphere to the expression of new work by the 20 Local Colors' artists." Jim designed a 20 x 48 inch canvas wrapped photograph that combines several images creating a whimsical Gloucester evening skyline with the silhouetting various beer steins with local buildings.

"It's fun to bring into the community ideas from other cultures and make them our own" says Kathy Bucholska, a mixed media artist and jewelry designer. Kathy created a mixed media piece using beer caps from the Cape Ann brewery as it "melds local beer with a German Oktoberfest flair."

In the last 12 months or so, Local Colors Artists' Cooperative was fortunate to welcome several new members as well as a few returning members:

Sydney Smith, a recent member submitted pastel and acrylic images that  depict fall and the harvest.  She says she focused on "small paintings of fruit and the landscape as the colors change into oranges, reds, and brown.” Sue Ingram, a new member, submitted a painting of Good Harbor Beach which she considers "one of the most popular and beautiful beaches in Gloucester."

Two other new members, David Anastasi and Marion Raynor, submitted some very unique pieces. Dave, a photographer  is visually exploring the parallels between beer and fish through macro-photography and Marion, a painter, inspired by the beautiful interior of Cape Ann, painted three watercolors meant to be hung together entitled Cape Ann Woods.

Pat Tosches, a former member who recently returned, went outside her usual pottery medium and painted a rare blue lobster on canvas paying homage to "Gloucester, home of the ubiquitous lobster - yet if you are lucky you will catch a rare one," she notes. Christine Garrigan, a tie-dye artist and another returning member, submitted a colorful child's dress saying she "drew her inspiration from the ocean, the change of seasons, and the beautiful sunsets we enjoy here in Gloucester." Her designs are festive and bright.

Meanwhile, Donna Amero,  the only remaining founding member, plans to make a stained glass lamp in autumnal colors and a glass Buried Treasure creation housing locally found "treasures." Pat Doherty,  a painter, submitted a magnificent Gloucester September sky painting noting "the fall skies here are so dramatic and beautiful. I love painting them."

Darren Taylor, a woodworker, made a bar with stools and other accessories which  lends a festive Glostoberfest feeling. He reclaimed the cypress wood he used from the water tower of the building originally known as the Good Harbor Fillet built back in 1917. The former location is now the home of  the new  Beauport Hotel. Virginia Townsend, a potter, designed beer steins (a nice complement to Darren's bar) with the "Man at the Wheel" motif as the theme brings to mind "being with friends and drinking local brewed beer."

"For the theme, I thought of autumn using trees as inspiration" says Ann Schlecht, jeweler. "I made amber flow earrings (tree resin) with sterling silver wire, 'leaf peeper' necklace with copper and brass handcrafted leaves, and a copper/sterling vintage leaf with a freshwater pearl acorn." Sally Seamans, aka Tin Can Sally, made bracelets out of many new and vintage beer cans " in recognition of Oktoberfest, the world's largest 16-day beer festival - attended by over 6 million people."

Other members displaying work for the Glostoberfest event are Bob Kulchuk and Jim Trudeau for their wheel thrown pottery,   Bonnie Gray for her oil paintings, David Katz for his creative photography, Ian Commissiong for his fiber art and fish skin framed pieces and Joe Higgins for his Gyotaku fish prints. The work expected is as varied as the current 20 members and their unique art.

For special events as this, the artists are encouraged to create works outside their usual medium to allow for growth and expansion of their creative talents. All the work for this event is displayed on the featured wall and in the front windows of the gallery.

The current hours are 10am to 6pm, Sunday through Thursday and 10am to 8pm on Friday and Saturday and beginning Oct 2, the hours are 10am to 6pm.. The members will be identified with name tags and look forward to greeting the public at the October 1 reception.

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Local Colors welcomes Mandela Washington Fellows from Africa

On July 9th Local Colors hosted a reception for 25 Mandela Washington Fellows participating in a six week Business and Entrepreneurship Institute at Cambridge College.  The Mandela Washington Fellowship is the flagship program of the Young African Leaders Initiative designed to build connections between rising leaders from across the African continent with individuals and communities across the United States.  The 1000 Mandela Washington Fellows participating in the program this year were selected by the State Department from over 49,000 applicants for this highly competitive program.  The Fellows visiting Local Colors are all entrepreneurs having established vibrant enterprises in a broad range of business sectors.

The Fellows were eager to engage with our artists and learn about the co-operative model used so successfully by Local Colors for over twenty five years.  The Local Colors model of working together as a community of artist entrepreneurs has catapulted several of our artists onto the national scene so successfully.  The energy and enthusiasm was palpable throughout the gallery as the artists and Fellows shared in their mutual love of creativity. One Fellow summed up as "this is incredible."  

 

 

 

New Artist

This past year, Local Colors Artists' Cooperative has been pleased to welcome seven new artists, four in the past month alone. The artists are Dave Anastasi - abstract photography, Christine Garrigan - fiber art of Dancing Barefoot Custom Tie-Dye,  Susan Ingram - watercolor painting,  Pat Tosches - Amethyst Hill Design hand painted ceramics,  Jim Trudeau - wheel-thrown functional pottery,  Sydney Smith - oil and pastel painting,  and Marion Rayner - watercolor painting. The cooperative now has twenty artists and is in its 26th year.  One of the artists is always on duty to welcome the public at 121 Main St. Gloucester. Hours: daily 10am-6pm, Fri. & Sat. 10am-8pm.

 

Day of the Dead

Day of the Dead

Celebration

at

LOCAL COLORS

ARTISTS' COOPERATIVE

121 Main Street, Gloucester, MA

 

Saturday, October 24, 6-8:30 pm

 

Dia de los Muertos is a joyful, colorful fiesta

that honors those who have gone before us and who

have been our source of inspiration

 

On Special Display - Day of the Dead art