Mothers And Daughters

hree sets of art gallery owners
have mastered the art of close
mother-daughter relationships —
Judith Primak and Pamela Pri-
mak Shulak at the Detroit Gallery
of Contemporary Crafts, Madeline
and Karen Posner at the Posner
Gallery, and Elaine and Eve Redmond at the
Clique Gallery.
When Mother's Day rolls around on May 11,
they can add a palette of professional successes to
their personal reasons for celebrating.
Although the art-selling duos do not know each
other, they seem to have found the same mix for
smoothly enjoying their combined workaday worlds
— shared artistic tastes, divided business re-
sponsibilities, mutual respect and separate house-
holds.
Judith Primak and Pamela Primak Shulak have
worked together for eight years in the gallery
opened 20 years ago. At their location in Detroit's
Fisher Building, they carry functional artwork
such as furniture, home accessories and cloth-
in•
"Neither of us likes trendy, faddish or whimsi-
cal works of art," explained Primak, whose daugh-
ter joined the business after moving back to the
area from Cleveland. "I always have wanted to
show things that people could use and enjoy for
years — things they could pass down to their chil-
dren."
Shulak, who goes by her maiden name in busi-
ness, was a career counselor who counseled her-
self into a new career. On the job, she addresses
her mother as Judith.
"My mother's strength is buying and taking care
of the day-to-day details," Shulak said. "rm more
of a people person, so rm on the sales floor."
Although neither was an artist, both studied art
history.
"At work, I feel I can do anything my energy lev-
el allows me to do, and I couldn't do that employed
by someone else," Shulak said. "Being the parent
of a young child, I appreciate [my
Elaine and Eve
mother] understanding when I
Redmond share
have to stay home."
Together, this mother daugh res po nsibilities at
the Clique Gallery
ter team enjoys buying trips to se-
in Royal Oak.
lect art for the gallery. And back
to basics, Shulak enjoys the daily home-cooked
lunches her mother brings in especially for her.
As the Posners work out of their Birmingham
location, Madeline Posner believes that any dif-

THE DETRO IT JE WISH NEWS

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Three sets of gallery
owners bridge the
generation gap.

SUZANNE CHESSLER SPECIAL TO THE JEWISH NEWS

ferences in the choices of art for the gallery or in- the two went off on their own after being in busi-
dividual clients come from a difference in age and ness with another woman. Before locating at 523
not a difference in taste.
N. Woodward two years ago, they had a place in
While the mom in this duo prefers the more rep- Farmington Hills.
resentational works, her daughter prefers the ab-
Regardless of location, their emphasis has been
stract.
on original paintings and glass sculpture.
'We agree 95 percent of the time," the
"Both of us always have been inter-
Pamela Pri mak Shulak
senior Posner said. 'The rest is a mat- and
ested in art," Karen Posner said. "Al-
Judith
P
rimak
work
ter of compromise."
togethe r at the
though we plan all the shows together, I
The agreement and the compromise
Detroit G allery of
do more of the hanging and organizing,
have been going on for nine years, when Contempora ry Crafts. and she works more with the clients."