Morgan Watkins, Alligator Writer

For 40 years, local artists have had a home in Gainesville.

The home is mobile, an art gallery that has been moved six times and displayed the work of dozens of artists since it was formed in October 1970.

It is a microcosm of North Florida culture, a gallery filled with art created by locals and often inspired by local scenery.

This is the Artisans’ Guild Gallery, a shop sandwiched between stores in Millhopper Square Shopping Center on Northwest 16th Boulevard.

Last October, the guild celebrated its 40th anniversary. It has survived the Vietnam War, eight U.S. presidents and the boy-band craze of the 1990s.

Within the walls of the gallery today, shoppers will find the diverse work of the guild’s more than 50 member artists.

Drawings of cartoon alligators created by debOrah Cohen-Crown, who makes her living as an artist, line the back of one wall. In the middle of the store, bright shawls crafted by Malgorzata Deyrup, a retired UF chemistry professor, hang on a stand.

“We have blown glass. We have metalwork. We have stained glass. We have stuffed animals…” Deyrup said. “It’s exciting to be in a group like this and show [your work] around town and get your name out there.”

The gallery is an artist cooperative, operated by the guild members who create the displayed art.

It is a labor of love, held together for 40 years by the commitment of its members.

Few of the original guild members from 1970 remain. Some have died. Others have moved away and could no longer be part of the co-op because it only accepts members who live within an hour of the gallery.

Christa Kallenbach, who creates stuffed animals for the gallery, joined the guild in 1971 shortly after it was formed.

Kallenbach often sees people buy her stuffed animals for their children or grandchildren.

 She continues to work with the guild because even after 40 years, she still loves her art.

“I’d rather do this than my housework,” she said.

The co-op has high standards for its members. To become a member of the guild, artists must submit their work for review. Only the most skilled and inventive applicants are invited to join.

The gallery is not funded by the government, as some customers initially believe, so it is up to member artists to keep its doors open and its floors swept. 

Each member works a four-hour shift at the store once a month, Cohen-Crown said. If they don’t show up, the art doesn’t get sold, so there is a $50 no-show fee for members who miss their shifts.

Artists are also on committees, such as publicity, that keep the co-op running smoothly.

Artists receive about 65 percent of the proceeds from the pieces sold in the gallery, while 35 percent of sales are used for guild expenses.

A drawing in one corner of the gallery might cost $15, while a painting on the other end of the store costs $300. The price ranges can accommodate all shoppers, Cohen-Crown said.

Whether a member earns all his or her income from art or does it only as a hobby, the guild provides a way for them to profit from their work.

“It’s hard to do this out of the back of your car,” said Peter Senesac, who creates silver jewelry pieces and has been a member of the guild for more than 30 years. “We’re all partners.”