Last weekend I ran across a receipt that tells a bit of a story from my days as a design student at Spokane Falls. RA-TEL’S Art Supply, owned and operated by Darrell and Karen Sullens, was one of only two local art supply stores back then—a place where students could buy sketch books, pens, markers, paint, special papers, spray mount, and so on for their school projects. Though it was a small store at the time (they later moved to a larger space) RA-TEL’S was one of my favorite stops. It was like my very own Cheers: friendly faces, funny stories, and lots of laughs. The kind of place where you lingered a little longer; where relationships were formed that outlasted the immediate need for student supplies. In fact, over the years, both Linda and I remained friends with Darrell and Karen, who, sadly, recently passed.
Many thanks to Chuck and Linda for saving, framing and commenting on the receipt. Those days are cherished by me and that was true for Karen. We made many life long friends while running our little business. Chuck and Linda being at the top of the list. It is wonderful to see how many students from that time frame have made a success from their time at SFCC.
by Darrell Sullens