The Collage Studio and Gallery is a studio, a retail shop and a shady garden spot. It opened this month at 12 S. Second St., and brings customers in through a courtyard, past a flower bed with unusual garden stakes -- wine glasses attached to long rods -- and into the art gallery. They can observe Kinney at work, purchase art and relax outside in the shade.

Kinney had been producing his art at home but "I missed the interaction with the customers and this led to my desire to have a studio space. I think people connect with an artist when they watch him work," said Kinney.

Bill Kinney, owner of The Collage Studio and Gallery, bends an aluminum wire into a shape to be used in a creative piece of glassware. -- Diane Uhley/Staff

His new, leased space on Second Street across from the Hampton Inn & Suites formerly housed the Island Juice Bar & Creamery. Kinney thinks he has a nice environment to offer shoppers. His courtyard has hanging baskets on a trellis, a white picket fence, awnings and tables with umbrellas. Straight ahead is the small studio with two window openings so visitors can see him in action. It may be metal garden art, his wire-and-bead jewelry, tile painting or pottery. There is usually music playing, and a mermaid waterfall in the courtyard. "I have told everyone that they can bring a lunch and come enjoy it in the courtyard," Kinney said.

In the studio, Kinney may be working on his popular line of decorative glassware and serving pieces called Squigglez, Curlz & Danglez. Items such as napkin holders, wine glasses or candle holders are decorated with wire and beads.

Pieces of art created by Bill Kinney hang together in his studio as a chandelier. "I like art that is also functional," Kinney said. Kinney and his wife also own The Unusual Shop -- Diane Uhley/Staff

"I like art that is also functional. The way the wire flows around or from the item makes it very visually pleasing, and the beads add the dimension of color," Kinney said.

He uses aluminum wire that won't tarnish or rust, and also has incorporated the "Squigglez" concept in his jewelry. Kinney works with a flat-back bead called a cabachon bead, made of PMC or precious metal clay, a material patented by Mitsubishi. The material can be worked like clay and fired in a kiln, and then the beads are soldered or glued. Kinney began making his own beads when he couldn't find the type he wanted. Using a torch and a glass rod, he makes them in pairs so the coloring will match and the two beads can be used for earrings, for example.

"I consider myself a craftsman; I feel only a very few special people really deserve the title of artist," said Kinney.

The gallery is in a separate building next to the studio. It was used for baking by the Island Juice Bar, and years ago was the back of Amelia's Fantasy dress store. The brick wall interior is a reminder that it's part of the historic Stark building, built in 1884.

The gallery needed some remodeling, so Kinney put in a full wall where a half wall had been, cleaned, painted and added racks and shelves. Besides his own work, he will display the work of up to 10 other artists from around the country. Everything in the gallery will be for sale, but Kinney plans to offer only work done by individual artists because he wants this space to feel like an art gallery, rather than a gift shop.