Art and camaraderie in Glen Arbor
By Nadine Gilmer
Sun contributor
Just west of the Good Harbor Grill and Boone Docks, on the Lake Michigan side of M-109 in Glen Arbor, are several art galleries run by four women who have developed an interesting camaraderie over the years. They’ve even gone so far as to call themselves sisters. They are Ruth Conklin of Ruth Conklin Gallery, Mary Rokos of Bittersweet, Sue Hepburn of Hepburn Holt and Wanda Sobran of Sobran Studio. In Conklin’s words, “all four of us are very friendly, and help each other and enjoy camaraderie during business and after business. We feel like a family.”
Also part of the “family” is Conklin’s husband Mike Saddow and Joanne Rettke. Saddow runs the shipping business Pack Fax & Ship, located inside Ruth Conklin Gallery, takes care of the accounting and bookwork, handles the deliveries, assembles furniture, builds shelves and maintains both buildings.
Rettke — frequent photographic contributor to both the Glen Lake Chamber of Commerce and the Glen Arbor Sun — is the webmaster that keeps Conklin “glued together” and is definitely part of the close group.
How did they all come to exist in the same little area? Conklin and her husband built the gallery’s first building in 1990 and the second one five years later. They used to share the space with the Cottage Book Shop and Ken Scott photography. When those businesses moved to other locations, Ruth filled the vacated space with more of her American-made artistry. Once the building was constructed next door, she rented the space to Rokos, Hepburn and Sobran. Now four unique galleries exist in close proximity, each offering lovely and unique items.
At Ruth Conklin Gallery you’ll find colorful and artistic American-made items from over 100 artists. During the winter Conklin travels the country in search of new artists for her gallery. It was on one of those trips 16 years ago that she discovered Sticks, a line of furniture by Sarah Grant, at an art show in Miami. Iowa native Grant, who once vacationed in Leelanau County, draws designs into tables and other furniture, which are then wood burned and painted.
On July 27-29, Ruth Conklin Gallery will host a Sticks trunk show, featuring Sarah Grant and her work. Anyone is welcome set up an appointment with her and discuss a design for their personalized piece of furniture.
The first inhabitant of the building next door was Susan Hepburn of Hepburn Holt. Conklin met Hepburn at an art show in Traverse City and suggested that she open her own store. After similar persuasions from others, Hepburn arrived in Glen Arbor where she sells and creates handmade jewelry designs that Conklin says, “you don’t see anywhere else.”
Next to inhabit the building was Mary Rokos of Bittersweet — a gallery devoted to beautiful and tasteful home furnishings, clothes, decorative items and jewelry. In Conklin word’s, “Mary has the most beautiful store you can imagine. She has exquisite taste. Everything is very low-key in color and very subtle and beautiful.”
Rounding out the neighbors, Wanda Sobran at Sobran Studio settles in Glen Arbor in the summertime to sell gorgeous paintings by her husband, Greg Sobran, who works on site most of the time. She also carries b. may Bags—a line of handmade handbags created by a close friend, which are becoming world famous.
These four ladies and their friendships are as unique as the art they sell.
“I didn’t meet these girls until we opened stores here, but we’ve been friends since,” says Hepburn. “It’s not like we’re just shop owners and have a light friendship; we travel together and we do a couple of trips each year.”
“We also work with each other on design,” adds Sobran.
Hepburn adds that they “not only support each other, we’re using our creative selves to help each other with ideas.”
“We feel very blessed to be able to have our own businesses here in this special little town,” summarizes Sobran. “When you find three people that get along so well like Mary, Susan and I, it’s a very unique situation.”
Hepburn adds that “Ruth has been really supportive. I look to her like a mentor, and she’s just a great lady and very understanding.”
“She’s very, very good to us,” emphasizes Sobran.
If you’re looking for something gorgeous and original to take home, or just want to find an atmosphere of creativity and friendship, stroll past the art galleries on the north end of M-109. You won’t be disappointed.