Sunday, April 29, 2007

101 Prints 2007


Malaspina Printmakers Society invited me to have a table to represent Frame of Mind at their bi-annual fundraising event “101 Prints 2007”.
This year it was held at the Roundhouse Community Centre, which is an impressive building that has lots of open space to view the works. It was an exciting evening full of artists and collectors mingling and appreciating a multitude of talent.

101 Prints is a unique fundraising event put on bi-annually by Malaspina Printmakers Society in Granville Island. The way it works is there are 101 original prints by talented and well known artists in the city and 101 tickets for sale. The prints are displayed for you to preview, this is when you make your 1st, 2nd, 3rd choices. Every ticket is numbered, when your number is called you quickly choose the print you want and take it off the wall.

You can buy more than one ticket and pick another print if you want, and that’s just what happened during the intermission. Most people had their first choice and still saw prints they liked so they bought more tickets before the night was over.

As I predicted, the first piece to be chosen was the Gordon Smith print, then a Susan Point and then a Ross Penhall. All of the prints are worth more than the ticket price of $250. For example the Gordon Smith print which was the first chosen is worth $1200! All of the artists are very generous with their donations and believe in promoting printmaking and their artists. This is a perfect venue for such a cause and I was proud to be a part of it.


















This is such a creative and unique event that not only raises money and interest for the local printmakers in Malaspina, but is a fun and exciting way for collectors to pick up a print for much less then its original value.















Thursday, April 19, 2007

Shadow Boxes

When you decide to frame an object or a piece of artwork in a shadow box you are changing it in many ways. The piece now has an importance unto its own. By placing it under glass in a shadow box frame it is transformed into a treasure that invites you to take a closer look. You could be framing a precious memento like a war medal, or just an object of nature like a pine cone or a butterfly! You would be amazed at how this method can amplify the beauty and simplicity of the object.






Of course framing the item in this way may not always create an aesthetic appeal. Just as the shadow box encourages you to look more closely at the item, it can just as easily focus your attention on its flaws. Your custom picture framer should be able to point out any potential problems when it comes time to frame your item.



Every object does have its own problems to solve regarding attaching or mounting the item in the frame. As always, the number one rule is to make sure that the method used is reversible and causes little or no damage to the item.



Shadow boxing is a very effective way to bring a 2 dimensional image to life. For instance, framing old photographs this way not only showcases your memories in an unusual and striking presentation, but it lets you notice the medium too. The paper the image is printed on has its own beauty and history to be admired.



Thursday, April 12, 2007

What is Conservation Framing?

The custom picture framer has two main responsibilities to their clients.

1) CONSERVATION: The primary responsibility is to insure that the works of art are not damaged in the framing process and the framing process is reversible.

2) PRESENTATION: The other important consideration is to present the artwork in a visually interesting and appropriate manner designed for the client’s tastes.

The picture framing industry has its own lingo like any other trade. You may hear some terms like conservation, archival, acid-free, hinging and mounting. I put together a few of these terms with short definitions to help you communicate with your picture framer next time you are in with your artwork or item to be framed.

Conservation: refers to the protection and preservation of the artwork with the use of acid-free and archival barriers.

Archival: means that the materials will not disintegrate under their own power or contaminate the object it is in contact with.

Acid-free: refers to the matting and backing material as acid-free or neutral ph. An acidic mat board or backing can cause mat burn.

Dry mounting: adhering the paper or artwork to a board (foam board, cardboard, etc.) using heat, pressure, and usually a tissue laminate.

Wet mounting: adhering the paper or artwork to a backing board using wet glue and pressure.

Spray mounting: adhering the paper or artwork to a backing board using a spray adhesive and pressure.

Hinging: adhering the artwork to the mat or backing board using an appropriate acid-free hinging tape. There are many different hinging materials and techniques to be used depending on the particular job.