After four years of owning Luckystar Gallery and curating almost 90 shows, Bridget Griffith Evans and Gene Evans are moving on. The couple closed the gallery on August 13 and forges ahead with a new gallery cooperative called M-80.

"We recently came to the conclusion that we would have to either devote our time to Luckystar or to being artists. We couldn't be both anymore," says (Gene) Evans. "So since neither of us had ever wanted to be gallery owners in the first place it was a pretty easy decision."

M-80 is located in the Marshall Building, 207 E. Buffalo St., suite 110. The first show, called "M-80: The Biggest of Bangs," takes place Friday, Aug. 26 at 5 p.m. and features a silent auction to benefit the new coop. The exhibit comprises new work from the group's members and friends. Bidding runs until 8:45 p.m. and winners will be announced that night.

"This is a great way to help out, meet the artists and get a great deal on some original artwork," says Griffith Evans.

Other M-80 coop members include painter Beth Bojarski, sculptor Mark Winter, photographer and former assistant curator for the Milwaukee Arts Museum J.W. Lawson, painter and print maker Eric Von Munz, painter Chris Miller, photographer and network news cameraman Mark Cherek and photographer Katerine Biehl.

The Evans are also spearheading "Luckystar Studio: World Domination Tour," traveling exhibits that will appear in galleries all over the globe. Confirmed dates for the traveling exhibits are: Sept. 9 at Lanza Studio in Chicago and Oct. 15 at Workhorse/Millicent Gallery in Los Angeles. Baltimore and San Francisco shows are also on the horizon.

"We were having a good time. But, it snowballed us right out of doing what we love. Not that we haven't enjoyed it but ... Nothing last forever." says Griffith Evans.