A group of artists who came together to form a cooperative are celebrating their group's 20th birthday.

Like the tides, the Local Colors Artists' Cooperative has had an ebb and flow of artists, but it remains a vibrant group.

"We've gone through highs and lows in membership and wondering what would happen next and inevitably it keeps going like the Energizer bunny," said jeweler Kathy Bucholska.

The members find more than just retail space in joining the cooperative. They also find camaraderie. Some veteran members estimated that close to 200 local artists have shown their work at Cape Ann's oldest cooperative over the last 20 years.

Even the Main Street fire of Friday, July 13, 2001, did not crush the cooperative's morale.

"We had a meeting to see if we would stay together," recalled Donna Amero, one of the original members. "Some lost everything because of the water damage, and others lost nothing. It depended where the work was in the gallery."

But the mood of the group was to persevere.

"We lost three or four members after the fire," she said, "but everybody pitched in and got it going again. We began renting a space from the Cape Ann Savings Bank. They wanted to help keep the artists on Main Street."

Members on display for the anniversary celebration are Donna Amero (stained glass), Joan Bediz (pastels and paintings), Stephanie Bowens (knitting, fiber art), Kathy Bucholska (jewelry), Pat Doherty (painting), Bonnie Gray (painting), Debara Hafemann (watercolor, photography and sea glass), Lois Hertzler (photography), David Katz (photography), Bob Kulchuk (pottery, woodturning, fused glass), Lawrence Martin (painting), Ann Schlecht (beach stone jewelry), Sally Seamans (tin & art jewelry, mobiles), Jim Sousa (photography) and Virginia Townsend (ceramics and Nantucket basket weaving).

The cooperative has an interview and jury process for potential members.

"We want to make sure when we accept members, we want artists who can grow in the cooperative and who are already accomplished in their own right," said Bucholska. a member of 19 years. "It's been an amazing experience. When you're with a community of artists, it influences you to do a little more a little better. It's a continuously growing experience."

The artists want to show their appreciation for the many years of support that they have received. To acknowledge the local and international customers who have purchased their art, they selected an international theme for a special anniversary exhibit, which will be on display through Nov. 13.

With the arrival of some cruise ships and an influx of tourists from around the nation and abroad, the members became aware that their artwork has been hand-carried or shipped to places like California and the Midwest, as well as destinations such as Japan, England, Brazil, Australia, Germany, France and Italy.

To honor that trend, the members created new work of local and faraway people, places, cultures and nature. The new work includes stained glass, jewelry, photography, paintings, fiber art, tin art, pottery, ceramics and "surprise" work by the members who were encouraged to create work outside their usual medium.

Included in the celebration is a window display dedicated to the celebration of the Mexican Dia de los Muertos — or Day of the Dead. The display includes a Mexican altar for the public to post their own words of recognition and celebration.

Amero, the only remaining original member and a stained-glass artist, remembered when the cooperative began in the fall of 1989, when a group of friends wanted to "set up shop" for the holiday season.

But their experiment continued well after that. Many of the artist have their regular customers who return when they need a gift for a birthday or other special occasion.

Local Colors continues to look for new artists.

The flow in membership is good and keeps the cooperative fresh and exciting, said Bucholska.

"It takes a special person to go with the flow of 15 to 20 artists all expressing their opinions of how things should work," she said. "It takes patience and tolerance, but it paid off for me in sales, a home to show my work and lasting friendships."

More recent members have found the experience gained over the past decades as beneficial.

"I am grateful to the original founding members whose vision provided an environment and opportunity for local artists to display our work," said photographer Lois Hertzler. "Local Colors has given me the opportunity to exhibit my work and grow as a photographer. As part of a cooperative community of artists, we all share an enthusiasm for our individual craft, as well as appreciate and encourage each other.

"Being able to celebrate 20 years is a wonderful testimonial to the success of the cooperative," she said.

Gail McCarthy can be reached at gmccarthy@gloucestertimes.com.

COLOR-FUL BIRTHDAY

What: Local Colors Artists' Cooperative celebrates 20th anniversary with public reception

When: Friday, Nov. 6; refreshments including wine and hors d'oeuvres from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m.

Where: 121 Main St., Gloucester. The event is open and free to the public. For information, call 978-283-3996 or visit www.local-colors.org.