Seventeen, if the business is Madison & Main Gallery.
In this artists' cooperative, painters, potters and jewelers are also accountants, shopkeepers and handymen.
Amid the ever-changing display of watercolors, photographs, jewelry, ceramics, paper art and sculptures stand talented people who must constantly shift between being artists and business people.
They may not always agree, but cooperation, tireless commitment and the idea of one artist/one vote have kept the artistic phenomenon thriving in Greeley for nearly 15 years.
"We wanted control over finances and the gallery and how it was set up and how it looked. And most importantly, we wanted a place to display our work locally," said Tony Clough, a founding member and jewelry artist.
What began as a casual annual holiday art show became official in April 1987. Fifteen artists put in $200 each and hundreds of volunteer hours to open a gallery space at the intersection of 8th Street and 8th Avenue downtown.
The name Madison & Main came from the original street names at that intersection.
Madison & Main Gallery moved to its third home last summer --at 927 16th St., beside the Book Stop. It's a bright, fun space with lots of windows to lure in both casual browsers and serious shoppers.
Members delight in drawing in people off the sidewalk. Clough giggles about the man smiled at through the window twice a week as he walked past the gallery to buy coffee at Margie's Java Joint. "Finally, one day he came in," she said.
Founding member and ceramic artist Rodney Barnes said he hates being a salesman, but sometimes he can't help it. He invited two men he'd never seen before into a show opening this month and they bought $250 worth of his pottery.
Artist never know who will buy their work, Barnes said. They're selling lots to University of Northern Colorado students in their new location. A young woman recently came in several times to look at one of his pieces. She left once again without buying it when he declined to lower the price, but her roommates later came back and bought it for her. "Artists love that," he said.
Nine sustaining members now vote on business decisions and share shopkeeper duties with eight friends of the gallery to keep it open regular hours. Nearly 20 more artists regularly contribute work and others are invited to participate in special shows.
The gallery is self-sufficient nonprofit organization. Participants who contribute more to business operations make higher commissions when their art sells.
The gallery opens a new show every two months. People appreciate the changing displays, Barnes said. Members review other artists' work once a month. "We try to have museum-quality work in here, so that means we have to say "no" sometimes," Barnes said.
Clough laughs hard and long when asked if the artist ever quarrel. "We don't have bloodbaths," she said.
"Nothing is ever perfect," Barnes added. "Our goal is so strong -- we overcome."
Clough was quick to agree. "We may have disagreements, but they're always resolved," she said. "Everybody's very philosophical about it. I think of us as family. We've learned to work together very well."
Working together sometimes means making tough decisions. "Occasionally, we'll be up against a wall," Barnes said. Members have even voted to pay dues a couple of times to keep the venture afloat.
"We've had The Big Meeting a few times," Clough said. "Should we close or not? But we've always wanted to go on."
