By Brooke Curley
brooke@gilavalleycentral.net
SAFFORD – Where do art, oil, and bath bombs combine? That’s the secret of the Secret Window.
Colorful artwork and the welcoming scent of essential oils and incense beckon the passerby out of curiosity to one of the newest shops in Safford, the Secret Window. Now, however, the secret is out. Located at 612 S. 5th Avenue in Safford, the Secret Window is the newest art and oil hub in the Gila Valley.
Secret Window is a shop filled with handmade items created by local artists. Kathlene Wood, the manager of the Secret Window, told Gila Valley Central that most of the items for sale are created within the shop itself.
Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Valley Central: Standing beside their handmade bath bombs, from left, Arthur Tapia, Kathlene Wood, and Sierra Norton are ready to greet the customers.
“Most of our products are handmade at the shop,” Wood said. “We have used these products ourselves and want to extend this experience to the public. Our bath bombs, body scrubs, bath salts, candles, and lotions are made with the best ingredients.”
Arthur Tapia is the owner and one of the residing artists of the shop. Working a plethora of mediums, Tapia told Gila Valley Central that wood burning is his favorite. However, Tapia also enjoys creating bath bombs, as well as the multiple varieties of soaps that are available at the shop. Interestingly enough, Tapia said most of the artwork he sells is sports related because he can take the image of anyone’s favorite player and create a work of art around it.
“During football season is usually when I sell most of my artwork,” Tapia said. “They want specialty players like Larry Fitzgerald, Gerri Bryce, Chris Walker. I can pretty much pick up an image and make what they want.”
Brooke Curley Photo/Gila Valley Central: After many trials and errors, the Secret Window group figured out the perfect recipe for a bath bomb.
As soon as an individual strolls into the Secret Window shop, it is easy to tell that there is more than just one artist at work. To the trained artistic eye, there is a myriad of styles on display, and this is because Tapia is not the only artist selling his work. Aside from Tapia, Wood’s daughter, Sierra, also creates artwork for sale. In fact, the shop is open to all local artists who would wish to contribute. What sets the Secret Window apart from other galleries is the fact that it does not charge a percentage of the money made on behalf of the artist. Instead, the Secret Window sells the piece for slightly more than the artist requests and collects on behalf of the shop as rent for floor space.
“We add a little bit on top of the artist’s price, usually just two or three dollars per item,” Tapia said. “So, they’re getting everything they want from their product. We just want to help them (the artists) out.”
A variety of artwork is embraced by the shop. Also, homemade magic wands are sold along side rollerball essential oil blends. Wood has been working with oils for years and told Gila Valley Central that she has had so many individuals ask her what she uses as personal blends, that she decided to start selling the oils at a reasonable price. The next essential oil class will be at the Secret Window on Aug. 16 at 6 p.m. Also, Tapia and Wood stress that everything can be made to order, from artwork to bath products. For those in search of the unique, the search is over and the secret of the Secret Window at 612 S. 5th Ave. is definitely out.
For more information visit their Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/kmbt.secretwindow/ or give them a call at (928) 792-2641.
This is a sponsored article
