COLLECTIVE GIVES ARTISTS SPACE TO CREATE.

Byline: P. Catherine Shanks Special to the Daily News

Fine artists with good business sense are finding a marketplace for their creative expression at Gallery 9 in Thousand Oaks.

Nearly five years ago, nine artists began the cooperative venture that took their number as its name. Two years ago, the collective moved from its original Agoura Hills home to a storefront in the Janss Marketplace. The group soon grew to include 15 working artists.

Multimedia artist Michele Relkin came up with the idea that opened the doors of Gallery 9.

``This was a dream that I had - to pull friends together that were artists and make a co-op,'' said Relkin, who serves as Gallery 9 curator. Relkin viewed a mutually owned and operated gallery as the resolution of a problem. Gallery exhibit space was costly and scarce. Because of high gallery sales commissions, making a profit was difficult, at best. Co-op members agreed with Relkin.

``I'm convinced the world's second-oldest profession is making money off the artists,'' said Bill Coleman, a co-op member who refers to his furniture art as ``sculpture with a drawer in it.''

``Galleries typically take between 40 and 60 percent commission on sales. No commissions enables artists to make a living.''

Gallery 9 President Frank Kolwicz agreed.

``No one of us has the resources we need to get any kind of show space,'' Kolwicz said. ``For even a much poorer exhibit space, costs are prohibitive.''

Kolwicz said that hard-working, enthusiastic members and a recent reorganization for the smooth business operations and the increasing popularity of Gallery 9. Changes include a restructuring of the organization and a redefining of the roles played by the members.

``Our face to the public hasn't changed,'' said Kolwicz. ``We've worked behind the scenes to establish a more business-oriented organization. Before, we were a collection of people having a good time and sharing our art.''

As Gallery 9 members, the artists also share ancillary chores and daily duties. Each Gallery 9 member has a core job. At times, everyone lends a hand.

``We paint the walls, we patch the holes, we change the light bulbs,'' said Kolwicz. He claimed only one exception to the rule. ``We hire a professional to scrub the windows. No matter what we do, how hard we try, we can't get rid of the streaks.''

Though she does not do windows, another artist brings a crucial business skill to the table. Carol Greene is skilled in public accounting.

``I'm equipped to do a job they need very badly,'' said Greene, adding, ``I tease them all the time that they didn't really like my work.''

``Actually, as an artist, I feel honored to be a part of the group,'' said Greene, whose iconographic soft-sculpture figures hang in the gallery. ``This is very close to my house. I like the way it's run, and I like the people.''

In true cooperative spirit, Kolwicz and Coleman worked together to define the job of president.

``President is glorified office boy,'' said Kolwicz with a laugh. ``You get to do everything that comes up too quickly for anybody to respond to it.''

Coleman says that Kolwicz has a tough job.

``He's the one that has to make us all - a group of artists - sit up straight and pay attention in the meetings. He has to get us to second the motion and all say aye.''

The artwork in Galley 9 is enough to make even the most reticent gallery-goers sit up, speak up and take notice.

The space is filled with high-end fine art, mixed media, photography, bronzes, pottery, furniture, and two-dimensional media. With no outside parties dictating to them and with only one another to please, the artists are free to experiment with their work.

``We take the chances that other people can't afford to take,'' said Coleman. ``With no one else controlling our strings, we can appeal to our own artistic instincts.''

Reflecting on the unusual character of the Deco-gone-Modern furniture, Coleman created a mock customer scenario.

``Nobody says, `Look at this! This will go with everything in our house!' Nobody says that,'' Coleman said. The artists remarked that he had searched nearly 30 years for this kind of creative freedom and camaraderie among artists.

Kolwicz is featured artist in the next Gallery 9 show. The exhibit, ``Exposed,'' shows the artist's awareness and use of light, texture, and color. Kolwicz is able to capture in color what other landscape photographers are unable even to imagine in black and white. The show opens on May 5.

``If you have any kind of attachment to nature, then Frank's photographs will speak to you,'' said Greene. ``His photographs exude a deep feeling of the Earth as mysterious.''

Gallery 9 welcomes guest artists to submit their works for consideration and display. On occasion, guest artists become regular co-op members. The challenge for many artists is finding the time to devote to the gallery.

The 15 current Gallery 9 artists come from Calabasas, Camarillo, Moorpark, Newbury Park, Thousand Oaks and Ventura. In addition to Greene, Kolwicz, Relkin and Coleman, the artists are Tish Brennan, Jackie Heinemann, Jane Hespenheide, Shirley J. Judy, Katherine McGuire, Betsy Milligan, Jane Moir, Mary Ann Panopoulos, Len Steele, Robert Thornton and Bettina Winter.

Gallery 9 is located in the Janss Marketplace, 205 Moorpark Road, Thousand Oaks. Gallery hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m. and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. For more information, call [phone].

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Photo

PHOTO Nature photographer Frank Kolwicz is president of the Gallery 9 artists' collective in Thousand Oaks.

Phil McCarten/Daily News