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The staff of the Steamboat Art Museum's gift shop hopes to have broadened the representation of local artists and craftspeople when the shop opens May 21 for the summer season.

"We want to include as many local artists as possible, especially those whose work reflects a botanical theme or items that relate to the museum's mission, which is preserving the culture of Northwest Colorado," the museum shop's Barbara Flowers said.

The shop at the corner of Lincoln Avenue and Eighth Street closes for the remainder of early spring April 4. The museum itself closes April 12 and reopens Memorial Day weekend, with a new main exhibit of botanical illustrations coming to Steamboat Springs directly from a run at the Denver Botanical Gardens.

The illustrations will be beautiful but also very scientific in nature - suitable for taxonomy work and accurately reflecting the details of different species of plants.

During the spring recess when the shop is closed, Flowers said, artists and craftspeople with work in the shop all winter will be asked to replenish that work with fresh material.

"We're very happy with the artists we already have," Flowers said, "but we want the shop to be fresh and change with the seasons."

New work with a botanical theme will be especially welcome. New artists are urged to submit work for sale on commission. And they needn't be well-established artists with multiple art shows on their resumes, the shop's Betsy Chase said.

The museum shop is distinctly different from the museum itself, where works of fine art are not for sale. At the same time, Chase said, the shop is very sensitive to the need to avoid competing with local galleries and retail stores in the neighborhood.

"We're looking for unique items for the gift shop," she said.

For example, she is aware that one local artist already is working on a set of wine glasses with original paintings of wildflowers.

One of the most successful local artists with work in the shop during the winter was Bea Bograd, who had never sold her work before.

Her greeting cards decorated with needlepoint sold briskly at $8 apiece.

Other work suitable for the show this summer could incorporate pressed flowers or native wooden bowls, for example. Flat artwork must be unframed.

Craftspeople and artists interested in participating should call Chase at 870-1755 to arrange an appointment to show samples of their work.