A railroad spike is one of the few things that we never framed before. Framing any object presents two challenges: choosing a frame that’s deep enough and figuring out how to securely attach the item. We love a challenge, but this job a customer brought us required some unique engineering. He needed 3 of the same job, so we had to concoct a design that we could successfully replicate more than once! He was giving them as gifts to his children after a vacation they’d taken to Utah where the first transcontinental railroad was completed. So the spike was to be included in a frame with some text and two images. Now you
can begin to see the task in front of us.
We realized that the spike was far too heavy for conventional mounting solutions and had to come up with something special. Then we remembered that one of the framers at our Shrewsbury store had created a stage inside a shadow box for a wedding cake topper. That was the answer! The stage would mean that we could lift the spike up as high as it needed to be in order to be seen thru the mat opening. It also meant that it was in contact with two surfaces – a base and the wall behind it – making it a lot more stable so that it would last the ages.
That solved the structural aspect. Now we just had to make it look good. We peeled some red silk off of the mat that was already part of the design and used it to cover the surface of the stage. This way, it wasn’t so pronounced and the viewer’s eye focuses on the spike itself.
Here’s the finished result. Remember, there were a total of 3 of these, all identical. The customer thought they looked great. Let us know what you think of our solution.
Dimensional photo sculptures are not unique to Toronto artist Susy Oliveira. But her work is so striking that she’s definitely put a singular stamp on the medium. Gwon Osang’s work has a more organic style, while Oliveira’s pieces feel more technological, as if the figures stepped out of a computer generated landscape before becoming fully realized. She uses a series of photos mounted on archival card and foamcore. Oliveira says, “The photograph is used here as a record of reality and is manipulated with two and three-dimensional collage. In the sculptural work there is an added opposition between the round aspects of sculpture and the flat aspects of photography, much like bringing a virtual model into a real space.”
Museums don’t have to be inside a building and they don’t have to feature art hung on a wall. Check out Ferropolis, an open air museum showcasing ginormous industrial machines that are no longer in service. Located in Gräfenhainichen, a city near Dessau, Germany and opened in 1995, Ferropolis means “city of iron”. The metal behemoths can measure up to 30 meters high, 120 meters long and weigh up to 1980 tons. The traditional museum rule of “look but don’t touch” does not apply here. In addition to guided tours onto the machines, visitors are invited to climb certain items that have been fitted with a climbing frame made out of steel and rubber. In fact it sounds like there’s no end of activities in Ferropolis – concerts, bike excursions, festivals, swimming and diving, cultural and sport events – so grab your hard hat and let’s go!
You might’ve heard the term “yarn bombing” on ye olde internet and even seen pictures of what it looks like. But what’s it all about? How is it done? Who are these artists that practice yarn bombing?
American Hipster Presents is a series of video portraits that focus on trendsetters across the country. They’re doing 10 cities, 5 people in each city. In episode #12, they go to Philadelphia to visit Ishknit, a yarn bombing street artist. It’s interesting to see the how, why and wherefore behind this craft-meets-guerilla-art form.
Is it time for Halloween already? Nope, but it’s the perfect time of year for bicycling… like a superhero! Admit it, nobody looks especially cool in a typical bike helmet. You might as well be wearing a utility sink on your head. But with the help of Smirk Masks, you can race through the park or down the street and people will think you’re hot on the heels of an evil super villain. If superheroes aren’t your thing, these are still a great way to make a unique statement. Who says you have to wear it as a bike helmet? Just pop one on before you head over to the supermarket. We’re guessing you won’t have to wait long in the check out line.
We love how each of these is distinctly different from the next. Our personal favorite is “Hermes” – third from the bottom. Smirk Masks has styles like these that you can order, or they can customize one especially for you. Those start at $1250. Probably not in your budget unless you’re Bruce Wayne. Hmmmm…
Even if you’re not a photography aficionado, you’ve seen the work of Ansel Adams. His warm, black & white photos of natural wonders like those in Yosemite National Park have been reproduced in popular posters and coffee table books. Some of his lesser known works that revolve around water will be the focus of “At the Water’s Edge”, an upcoming exhibit at the Peabody Essex Museum. When we think of Adams’ work, we often think of rocky and desert landscapes. But he also had an interest in the many forms of water, including rain, fog, mist, ice and snow – even the waterfalls and rapids in places like the High Sierra.
“Ansel Adams: At the Water’s Edge” will be on view June 9 thru October 8 at the Peabody Essex Museum in their special exhibition galleries. So if you’re looking for something to do and a unique experience, here’s a chance at a deeper look into the work of an American original.
Custom framing may not be the first thing you think of when it comes to Father’s Day gifts. “Dad would absolutely love a framed watercolor of a vase of posies,” is not a commonly heard phrase. But who said the gift had to be framed art? We can frame all sorts of items that are important to Dad. Whether he’s a collector, sports fan, nerd, music lover, or a guy who loves style, there’s something he would appreciate in a terrific looking frame. Just take a look at the wide array of manly custom framing jobs we’ve done – golf putters, marathon medals, record albums, pocket watches – there’s no limit to the gift ideas we could frame for you this Father’s Day. And if it has to be a tie, please, put it in a frame.
A railroad spike is one of the few things that we never framed before. Framing any object presents two challenges: choosing a frame that’s deep enough and figuring out how to securely attach the item. We love a challenge, but this job a customer brought us required some unique engineering. He needed 3 of the same job, so we had to concoct a design that we could successfully replicate more than once! He was giving them as gifts to his children after a vacation they’d taken to Utah where the first transcontinental railroad was completed. So the spike was to be included in a frame with some text and two images. Now you
We realized that the spike was far too heavy for conventional mounting solutions and had to come up with something special. Then we remembered that one of the framers at our Shrewsbury store had created a stage inside a shadow box for a wedding cake topper. That was the answer! The stage would mean that we could lift the spike up as high as it needed to be in order to be seen thru the mat opening. It also meant that it was in contact with two surfaces – a base and the wall behind it – making it a lot more stable so that it would last the ages.
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