Join us as we celebrate 37 Years on Main Street!
On Friday, November 6, 2026, from 6 to 8 p.m., we invite you to join us in celebrating 37 years as an ongoing center for creativity and commerce in downtown Gloucester.
What does it take for a relatively small artist 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. As founding member, well-known stained-glass artist Donna Amero, says, “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.” A newer member, 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 runs the gamut 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.
In 2025, Local Colors added a new category of members – Associate Artists have dedicated display space in the gallery, but do not perform gallery sitting or other membership duties. Current Associate Artists are Joan Bediz, Judy Robinson Cox, Emily Foley, and Mya Rae Nelson.
As we mark this anniversary, all Local Colors’ artists want to express our gratitude to our 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 - 2:00 pm Many-media artist Bessie Blum will demonstrate some simple mosaic techniques with materials available for visitors' own make-and-take small mosaics while (limited) supplies last.
2:00 - 3:30 pm Ingrid Jochimsen will show the construction of her layered wooden boxes.
3:30 - 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, as we move into our 38th year.