Sherry Carroll, who is also known to her clients as Sheri Lou, and some fellow artists are pioneering a new business model offering works of art in Weyburn.
"We have had people come in and say it's such a good deal," said Carroll.
Carroll, Diane Forsberg, Jaren Bell, Nicole Griffin, Mandy Kerr, Angie Dunn and Darlene Martin all run The Underground together. The store, which is located downstairs in the Metro Centre, showcases art from all the artists.
Forsberg and Carroll have paintings and sketches for sale, Bell makes art from metal, Griffin does photography, Kerr makes purses and other sewn items, Dunn makes jewellery and Martin has clay pottery and crafts for sale.
The artists all pay part of the rent and take turns working a shift. The store is currently open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. except when there is nobody to work. Artists who are completely unable to work their shift pay a commission on the works they sell. They can't afford to pay staff yet and Carroll considers sweat equity a valuable contribution.
Carroll originally rented the shop space for four and a half years to run her own art and alterations business, but at the end of July this year she moved over to Mel's on Third with her alterations business.
"I needed some sunshine," said Carroll with a smile. Art is her first passion though and some of her pieces were too big to display at Mel's on Third where she does alterations. She didn't want to give up the space so she came up with a new way to use it.
"I didn't want to give up the space so easily," she said. "I just wanted to change. All good things evolve and change," said Carroll. "We decided to open up the space for artisans to showcase their own homemade works.
Here, they can get a taste for that without having to spend a lot of money for their own store."
Carroll said the basement store gained the name The Underground because she started calling it that as bit of a joke, but the name stuck and people liked it.
The Underground welcomes all artists, even if they just want to come in for a little while.
"Nobody is excluded," said Carrol. "I don't want people to feel they aren't good enough. Every artist is at a different place with their creativity."
The displays in the store are flexible and can be adjusted to accommodate all different types and sizes of art. Carroll said any artists who would like to be showcased in The Underground should get in touch with her.
