Returning from a three city midwestern tour of Chicago, IL, Madison, WI, and Minneapolis, MN., we visited two dozen galleries, art institutions and talked with many artists. What left a remarkable impression was the gallery scene in Chicago, with its several gallery districts, specifically, The West Loop Gallery District (which includes 23 galleries) has local gallerists working together to produce brochures complete with map, descriptions, and addresseses of each gallery. They also share information with each other (resources, mailing lists, etc.) and hold opening receptions on the same night. All participated in giving out each other's invitation cards and provided info on the galleries in that district, as well as other areas in the city.

We were energized by how well everyone worked together to create a unified force & corresponding gallery community, and we want to extend an invitation to all artists, gallery owners, and art activists/ enthusiasts to meet and discuss ways we could better work together. If all of us contributed a small amount of money, we could also create and print a brochure/map (some of us are graphic designers and maybe a printer would give us a break on printing since most of us use them for our other printing jobs), and eventually develop and obtain a web site.

I think this gallery collective idea may be a way to start an artists' union. I like the idea that this is a small step and that other things could evolve from it. What do all of you think? My husband Kristin and I would like to host a meeting in our home/gallery in early September, perhaps we could combine forces and brainstorm ways we could create more of an organized arts presence within our community.

Please send us your thoughts on this and let us know if/when you are available in early September to meet. Also, please send me the email addresses of other galleries or artists who may be interested in working with us.

I hope you are all interested in working together. As city leaders have become mired in politics on the public sector funding for the arts, we need to pull together and make things happen on our own. As Abe Olvido said recently "you can't be a sissy and live in this town." From Cool Cleveland contributors Lyz and Kristin Bly, owners of Newsense Gallery in Lakewood lyzbly@ameritech.net

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