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Brenda J. Clark celebrates 20 years in Leelanau
Business Feature, Local PersonalityAmong the pantheon of local artists, Brenda J. Clark’s paintings of Leelanau are so entirely unique—and so singularly vibrant—that they can easily be recognized as hers. This summer marks the 20th anniversary of Clark’s eponymous gallery, the Brenda J. Clark Gallery, which she founded with her husband, Johnston Mitchell. Located in downtown Suttons Bay, after a brief nascency in nearby Leland, Clark’s “working gallery” abides by an accessible approach: doors always open to encourage communal interaction.
Northern Lights: Finding the aurora borealis
Historical Feature, Poetry/EssayMany years ago, on a freezing February night, I walked outside my childhood home on Indian Hill Road—nestled in the middle of nowhere, between Empire and Honor—and was taken aback by the sight of a deep, dark red moon, writes Christina Steele. Confused by the color, I tipped my head up to gaze at what I anticipated would be a starlit sky. Expecting to see Orion and Polaris, I instead let out a gasp as I saw ribbons of red light moving above me. The ribbons, curtains, and strobes of red light danced in the sky and across the moon and came to a single point directly above me. I ran back inside, hollered for my mother and my three little sisters, and grabbed as many blankets as I could hold. My family and I sat bundled together in the cold, gazing at our first Northern Lights (aurora borealis) display.
Meeting an old friend for the first time
Historical Feature, Local PersonalityIn the summer of 1994, I met a northern Michigan writer—though not in person—who made a lasting impression on me: Leelanau County’s own, essayist Kathleen Stocking. I soon came across Stocking’s first book: Letters from the Leelanau: Essays of People and Place. After examining the front and back covers and conducting my open-any-page-and-decide test, I had to have it. Here was a writer who grew up in Leelanau County, whose family had a remarkable history in the area (notably, the Pierce Stocking Scenic Drive in Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore is named after her father), and who, as I would read, captured the essence of this special place. Little did I know that this would lead to an improbable encounter nearly three decades later.
Graham Powers settling in but not settling
Local Personality, Upcoming EventWhat do hospitals and theaters have in common? More than one might think. At least, that’s the contention of Graham Powers, the general manager of the Bay Theatre in Suttons Bay. Powers came to his position after working on the hospitality side of healthcare with Parkview Health System in his hometown of Fort Wayne, Indiana. “My professional background is in healthcare management and hospitality. There are a lot of parallels in theater management,” Powers says. Such as the fact they are both community-facing, serve large segments of the populace, and in the case of the Bay and Parkview, both are not-for-profits.
Tusen Takk features writers Jeremiah Chamberlin and Natalie Bakopoulos at The Alluvion
Upcoming EventJoin Tusen Takk artist-in-residence Jeremiah Chamberlin and writer Natalie Bakopoulos for an evening of literary conversation hosted in collaboration with the National Writers Series tonight, Aug. 3 from 7-8 pm at The Alluvion at Commongrounds in Traverse City. Click here to register for the event. Based near Leland, the Tusen Takk Foundation nourishes artists by giving them a place to work, engagement opportunities to enrich the culture of northwest Michigan, and a platform to share their work internationally.
Suttons Bay Art Festival returns Aug. 5-6
Upcoming EventJoin the festivities at the 43rd annual Suttons Bay Art Festival, Saturday, Aug. 5, and Sunday, Aug. 6; featuring artists young, new and friendly acquaintances from past years; always the first weekend in August with more than 100 artists.
Susan Yamasaki finds wonder in birch bark art
Local Personality, Upcoming EventSusan Yamasaki has been a Leelanau County resident for 18 years. Like many people here, she loves to walk in the woods. She lives on a hill up the road from Big Glen Lake and her home was in the line of devastation from straight line winds in the storm of 2015, when so many trees were downed. One of the trees was a very old birch tree. She began collecting bark from the fallen trees. Birch bark is naturally waterproof and does not rot easily. “They give and have given us so much in their lifetimes,” she says, “Their last stage is to decompose into the soil, providing nutrients and shelter for other living things. She decided she wanted to make something from that bark that honored the life of the tree. Come see Yamasaki’s birch bark assemblages at Lake Street Studios from Aug. 4-10. A reception for her will be held 6-8 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 4.
Run to support Sleeping Bear Dunes preservation
Upcoming EventThe 11th annual Port Oneida Run— an event held by the Park’s nonprofit partner Preserve Historic Sleeping Bear—will take place on Saturday, August 5. The run starts and ends at the big red barn and lawn area at the Olsen Farm/Port Oneida Farms Heritage Center, just four miles north of Glen Arbor. It is the only race that winds through the beautiful scenery of Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore’s Port Oneida Rural Historic District. With its historic farms and barns, Port Oneida is hailed as one of the most prized historic landscapes in the country and should be on every runner’s bucket list.
Joys and perils of open water
Investigative Article, NewsSix days in July, three emergencies on lakes near the Sleeping Bear Dunes National Lakeshore, two cases of people not wearing life vests, and one death. These stories yield cautionary tales about enjoying but respecting these waters which are beautiful but can prove perilous, too. Read about the young men rescued in Lake Michigan floating in inner tubes one mile off Platte Point, a death on South Bar Lake in Empire, and a family that survived a boat fire on Big Glen Lake.
Leelanau Christian Neighbors host fundraiser gala
Upcoming EventLeelanau Christian Neighbors will host their annual fundraiser, “Buy the Runway Gala”, on Sunday, July 30, 5–7 pm. This year the event will be held in the beautiful barn at French Valley Vineyard, located at 3655 S French Rd near Cedar.