Brenda Zlamany has painted portraits of people all over the world. In our digital age, sitting for a portrait offers a rare opportunity to be truly seen and heard. The extended, focused attention creates an environment where subjects reveal truths that they might not otherwise share. In the fall of 2025, Zlamany took up residency at Tusen Takk located in Leelanau County. What she learned about the people here and their connection to the land along the forty-fifth parallel may come to a surprise, or it may not.