ALCHEMY: An Artists' Cooperative

ALCHEMY was born in 2015 through the efforts of 14 Lander, WY artists whose hope it was to encourage the arts in Wyoming. We continue to grow and have become a popular shopping spot for locals and tourists alike.The idea for Alchemy first came to be after Studio 320, located in the alley of 320 Main St. in Lander, Wyoming was developed. A former tenant, Rummel Dance Studio had moved, creating a vacancy in the front part of the building. Working artists housed at Studio 320 who were sitting on inventory recruited a small group of additional artists to work on running numbers for a potential expansion.The Osborn family, who own the building and continue to be extremely cooperative and supportive to the artists, offered the entire front space at a lower rate than expected. Renting the entire first floor of the building to one entity, the Lander Art Center, made better business sense than piece-meal leases. It was a win/win. The small group of artists regrouped– running numbers, measuring square footage, and recruited 7 additional artists. 
Meanwhile, the Lander Art Center started pursuing additional studio artists. When enough interest was identified to pay the rent, the space was split among additional studio artists and ALCHEMY. Painting and collection of display cases began in a fury.ALCHEMY opened its doors on November 6, 2015. The store has been welcomed warmly by our community. And though open only one month prior to the holiday season, had encouraging sales.The current group of 15 artists meet monthly. Each artist pays $60 per month and works 12+/- hours each month at the store. Artists receive 95% of their sales, aside from credit card fees and the 5% commission goes into the general operating fund. Most items for sale are original artworks and new pieces are brought in frequently.ALCHEMY artists are Lennie Poitras, Rosie Ratigan, Shawna Pickinpaugh, Melissa Strickler, Joel Newquist, Bill Yankee, Noelle Weimann-Van Dijk, Stephanie Harris, Mary Haper, Lori Hunter, Deb Zelanak, Laura Norman, Scott Copeland, Donna Yost and Marianne Vinich. Alchemy artists value quality, hand-made original arts and crafts, strength in numbers, working together, shopping locally, and community involvement.Our products include oil/pastel/watercolor/acrylic paintings, pottery, jewelry, textiles, woodwork, journals, sculptures, photography, home decor and more. Gallery hours:June through August: 10-6, Monday-SaturdaySeptember through May: 12-6, Tuesday-Saturday