Local cooperative gives artists new opportunities

Yawu Miller

Monica Hasan began dabbling in art two years ago. After just one year, she had an exhibition of her multimedia work at Roxbury Open Studios.

The experience, and the business opportunity, gave her a taste of the art world. This year, Hasan has combined her newfound passion for art with her business sense.

Joining forces with half a dozen other artists, she opened Creative Souls in unoccupied retail space in Dudley Square.

The artists and artisans have packed the unoccupied retail space on the first floor of Hibernian Hall with clothing, jewelry, pottery, paintings, photographs, etched glass and other artwork.

“The only thing that’s really important to us is that you have to say you made it yourself,” Hasan said as she and the other artists prepped their work for the shop’s opening last week.

The artists cut a deal with the Madison Park Community Development Corporation to secure the space through the holiday season. If the project does well, they will seek permanent space, according to Hasan.

Under the arrangement they have worked out, the artists pay their manager, Tina House, a fee that covers rent and her time. She in turn sells their work and gives them 100 percent of the profit.

That works well for Bernadette Johnson, a full-time employee of the Boston School Department.

“I’ve always thought about opening up a cooperative that other artists could share,” she said. “We’re sharing our resources and we’re combining our talents to give people a little bit of everything.”

Johnson’s own work includes decorative plates, jewelry and objects d’art. Next to her display space, artist Bobby Johnson had neatly arranged several shelves of his fine made leather creations, including many one-of-a-kind handbags.

Hasan’s current focus is mixed media collages of women, some made from thin strips of exotic African wood. The differing grains and colors of the woods contrast and evoke the flowing fabrics seen in West African dress.

“This space is people from our neighborhood doing this with their own hands, showing who we are though our art,” Hasan said.

While Creative Souls will not likely stay in its current space beyond the holiday season, the shop provides an important outlet for local artists, according to Candelaria Silva, director of the Arts Culture and Trade Roxbury Consortium.

“This is a small fraction of the artists who participate in Open Studios,” she said. “There are a lot of people who don’t have outlets for their work.”

Creative Souls will be open on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays through December 31.