Online Gallery on Hold

To all Co-op Artists and Artisans,

We are writing to let you know that the Artist & Artisan Cooperative Gallery project has been placed on hold while we resolve a number of issues that have arisen.

These include the fact that most of you are very busy right now, focused on holiday shows and sales. As well, some of you have expressed reservations about joining yet another online gallery when there are so many around. Some of them are in direct competition with the online galleries of your own cooperatives, alliances and associations. This is not what we are about!

We have had excellent feedback from a number of co-op members around the country, especially in rural areas and other places where galleries are closing and sales are sharply down due to a fall-off in tourism or a sharp rise in local unemployment. In some cases artists are not able to present their work online through professional quality photographs, an essential need as this is the primary means through which buyers make their selections. We are also upgrading the web site to better showcase your work.

These are challenging times for any small business, which is what most professional artists are. We continue to be committed to find ways to help you thrive during the economic downturn, by working together to meet your common needs and goals.

One step we are taking is to plan a small ‘Art Expo’ (and a series of peer led discussions about how to start and maintain cooperatives) in central Connecticut in late March or early April. We invite members of artist and artisan co-ops throughout the Northeast to contact us about taking part in this juried show and sale. We are also seeking musicians and other performers who are members of co-ops, to join in the festivities.

When we are ready to launch the first online Artist & Artisan Co-op Auction in 2010, we will be in touch. Thanks you so much for your willingness to take part in this adventure, and we wish you the very best of luck (and lots of SALES!) this season.

Warm regards,
Noemi Giszpenc, Executive Director
Cooperative Development Institute

Homespun USA

Title: Homespun USA, or Love of Country wall hanging
Size: 24.5" x 30.5"
Medium: cotton

Comes with a stained wooden rod ready to hang!

This primitive rendition of our Stars and Strips is done with homespun plaid fabrics. Wavy quilting though the stripes represents the flicking of a flag in the breeze. Buttons portray stars in the blue corner. And friendship stars line the bottom, representing each American Neighbor that draws it all together.

All fabric used was 100% cotton, including cotton batting.

Close-up:

Stars:

Back:

View Auction!

Stone Soup Artisans

Stone Soup Artisans is a true crafts cooperative, staffed and managed completely by the artists and craftspeople in the store. We do it all ourselves with no paid staff. From washing the windows, staffing the store and even setting up this web site, everything is done by the member artisans. Our store was opened on Main Street Saco, Maine in June of 1990 and we have been bringing fine Maine crafts to downtown Saco ever since. The store is part of The Society of Southern Maine Craftsmen, Maine’s oldest juried craft organization, and everyone who sells their craft in the store must first be juried into the Society. We are proud of the high standards set by our organization and by our store. You can learn more about The Society at their web site www.societyofsouthernmainecraftsmen.com.

There are about fifty members involved in the store at various levels. Some of our food products are made by Society members and some are Maine companies that have products we like and that complement our crafts. Everything we sell is made here in Maine. We love our state and want to share our fine crafts and delicious foods with not only other Mainers but our friends "from away." The summer brings many visitors to the Maine coast and for years they have asked us for a way to purchase our products when they get back home. We are hoping our website will allow us to serve them and others year round. We are starting small but will be adding new products monthly. If you find yourself near Saco, Maine please visit our store and say hello to one of our artisan clerks. We would also love to hear from you in an e-mail, your comments are always welcome.

Address: 228 Main Street, Saco, Maine 04072
Phone: 207-283-4715

See all artisan members with pieces listed.

Fun in the Snow

Title: Fun in the Snow
Medium: oil
Size: 21" x 25" includes frame
Framed: yes

View Auction!

Matty York

Matty creates artwork from photographs. She primarily works in oils.

She was the first artist to be chosen to display her work on line for the Society Of Children's Book Writers & Illustrators Of New England.
She is an author & illustrator of Happy To Be Me, a childrens' book about diversity, and writes by the name of Marion York.

Matty lives with her husband of 51 years in Scarborough.

Co-op: Stone Soup Artisans

Storm

Title: Storm
Medium: oil
Size: 36" x 24" unframed
Framed: no

View Auction!

Autumn Maple Leaf Table Runner

Title: Autumn Maple Leaf Table Runner
Medium: Cotton
Size: 24" x 19.5"





Rich autumn colors inspired this table runner. Three maple leaves decorate the pieced top, and the quilting is done freehand with a running leaf vine. All cloth is 100% cotton and the batting is 100% cotton.

View Auction!