I just realized that this blog has not been updated in 19 months. So let’s see, what’s happened in the past 19 months…pandemic, stay-at-home, riots, re-start, re-adjust, mask-on, mask-off, mask-on. Pretty much the usual, right?
We are okay. We are operating on an appointment basis (www.RochesterFraming.com or 507-208-4949) and that will probably not change soon. The customers love this and so do we. It makes it very easy to provide full attention to the client and their safety.
We are very busy and we have almost the entire team back, plus a new face. The Rochester shop received a lot of local love during the shut-down and I will always be grateful for that. Clare is running the Red Wing shop and we added new print shop space in March. Val manages both the Rochester and Northfield locations with help from Rikki. I still fix things and print things.
In 2019, we framed and preserved an influx of antiquated artworks, thrift store treasures, historical relics, and found family heirlooms and photos. So we are starting the New Year quite inspired by our customers’ “old is new” projects and we hope to see this trend continue. Nothing wrong with brand-spanking-new, but with so much societal focus on “reduce, reuse, recycle,” we’d love to motivate YOU to have some framing fun your “old” finds.
We have a few customers who are topnotch treasure hunters and well versed in the art of “lost art.” They’ll find old, discarded, and forgotten artworks in secondhand and antique stores as well as online (Etsy, Ebay, etc.). Originals, prints, etchings, drawings, paintings, needle works…the variety of media is endless, and the conditions of the artworks vary. The name of our game is both preservation and presentation—we prepare the art to be displayed in a fittingly aesthetic manner and ensure it will be protected for many ensuing years of enjoyment. Old family pieces and “lost and found” childhood artworks have also been high on the frame-worthy list. Check out a few of our favorite “up-cycled” artworks. Its amazing what a fresh frame and mat can do!
Another facet of the “old is new” movement is the restoration of old family photos. Our digital experts can revitalize, refresh, and digitally repair your old photos. Need some extra prints of Great Aunt June for your cousins? And yikes…does that photo have an old coffee stain across Grandma’s brow? We can fix that, and we can print that! We are also experts at caring for original photographs. The science behind preserving old photographs is special and extensive, and our certified professionals will help you make the right choices with materials and mounting processes to ensure safekeeping of your photographic heirlooms. The safest place for your old photos, if not in an acid-free album in the dark, is in a frame with UV glass and archival materials.
This photo had fade marks, poor color, and insect excrement. Our digital team brought the image back to life.
Great Grandpa’s military portrait had faded and torn. We proudly restored this photo and provided prints for the extended family.
The old photo on the left had tears, fading, and other flaws that we touched out before printing for our customer.
So what do you have under the bed in that old “family box” that might be worth displaying? How about that drawing your daughter did in 8th grade, or Great Aunt June’s cross-stitch sampler? Come across a painting at the Salvation Army that warrants a revival?
Art is all around us, and we challenge YOU to make the old new in 2020.
Since opening Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing in 2002, our goal has been to create a triple focus of certified custom framing shops which are easily accessible to a large portion of south central Minnesota and western Wisconsin. With the addition of Northfield to our Red Wing (2002) and Rochester (2014) outlets, our dream is being realized. We are grateful to our customers, friends, families, and business supports who have helped make this happen. Thank YOU!
Our new shop is located in the beautiful Bridge Square of downtown Northfield, MN. The area has ample parking along streets and neighboring lots, and our design and retail shop has fantastic mojo. Northfield is a community rich with industry, agriculture, arts and culture, a fantastic foodie scene, and two prestigious universities, Carleton College and St. Olaf College.
In addition to our wide selection of custom framing samples and fine printing offerings, we are excited to offer readymade frames, framed and loose prints, original art, artisan crafted jewelry, handmade quilts, bags, and notions, pottery and Motawi art tiles, art cards, and fine gift items. Please stop by and see us Thursday (11-7pm) and Friday/Saturday (11-5pm)! Shop our wares, design a project with our master framer, take a seat in our comfy chair, and enjoy the opulence and warmth of our brand new space.
Clare began her apprenticeship in professional framing at Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing in 2012 under Master Framer Valerie Becker. She manages production for Red Wing, Rochester, and Northfield locations.
“I am extremely blessed to be working under a Master Certified Professional Framer, and enormously proud to be serving our customers. I look forward to continuing my work as an archival framer, and advancing my skills and knowledge in this craft, which I believe is crucial to the guardianship of our individual and collective histories.”
The Certified Picture Framer examination is administered by the Professional Picture Framers Association. It demonstrates an expert skill set in framing, especially as it applies to archival and museum-level custom framing.
The Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) has served as the trade association for professional custom picture framers, art galleries, museums and framing manufacturers for 35 years. PPFA serves the art and framing industry as an advocate for its members and by offering programs that elevate professional standards and strengthen the industry through education and promotion.
At the tail ends of a challenging winter, (tons of snow = tons of shoveling!) February and March are often travel and vacation months for folks here in the north-Midwest. Vacation photos are still relevant, but more and more being stored digitally rather than in print. Thus, more and more vacationers are celebrating their travels by bringing home art that they purchased while visiting various locales. Original artworks and canvases, fine art prints, textiles and weavings, photographs, art postcards, and even art souvenirs can be purchased in galleries, museums, art fairs, gift shops, and street bazaars. We’ve seen customers spend thousands of dollars as well as mere pennies on their special mementos!
Our customer acquired this mint condition antique mini calendar on auction for a hefty sum while visiting Red Wing, MN for the annual Red Wing Collectors Society Convention.
This Chinese palm painting was acquired on our customer’s business trip to the region. The street artist sold his work for a mere farthing of its worth. The value to the customer is far beyond monetary cost.
And at the ends of a challenging winter, we are grateful to be able to frame the beautiful works from all over the world (especially the warm places!). Each type of art has special needs, and our expert team is ready to help you both display and preserve your travel tokens.
One type of art we often see from foreign travel is original paintings on paper. These are often matted with non-archival materials for display and purchase, and we will recommend simple ways to #heartyourart such as archival and acid free matting and UV glass. Another common type of travel art is rolled canvas. We generally advise our customers to have these works stretched over an inner frame, with the options to add an outer frame and glass to further enhance the display and defend against fading, dirt, dust, and fingers.
This canvas was acquired in Cuba, and brought back rolled. We stretched it and framed it for display.
These four blocks are textile art from Hong Kong. We used archival mounting methods and framed them with museum glass.
A street scene acquired in Peru. The painting was bled to the edges of the paper, so we used matting methods to display as much of the artwork as possible.
This original acrylic painting by artist Peter Max was purchased on a cruise. Our framing methods will preserve the work for many years.
Beautiful works from Bali, brought back rolled. We stretched and the customer opted to display without a frame.
A poster to remember a great trip to the great city of Chicago merits museum glass and class-act framing!
This tapestry from Egypt was framed with a float mount and a traditional moulding profile to suit the customer’s aesthetic.
This Humuhumunukunukuapua`a (yup, that’s what its called) is the official state fish of Hawaii. The canvas print was mounted and framed without glass.
When considering “souvenir” purchases, travelers often gravitate toward what they can carry home on a plane. But don’t let that deter you from purchasing the dream piece you find on your wanderings! Gladstone Gallery owner Barbara Gladstone says to ship what you can’t carry. “Most artwork is shipped by plane, but with heavy pieces like furniture or ceramics, you’re better off shipping by boat,” she noted in a 2016 New York Times article. Gladstone also suggests that travelers not be afraid to buy art on the spot, especially at art fairs. “Because if you don’t, it will be gone,” she says. Now, we aren’t the types to encourage unfettered purchase decisions, but travel often arouses inspirations of freedom, peace, growth, rest, joy, and awe. And if an artwork is motivating the feelings that a trip represents, perhaps the “impulse” should be acted upon…
But back to vacation photos. These special snaps and portraits are equally worthy of display. We have many solutions to show your vacation photographs. Our fine art printing and digital department can print your photos on papers for traditional framing, canvas for gallery wrap hangings, high gloss acrylic prints, and we can even engineer custom digital collages. Multiple opening mats, ready-made frames, and easels are other choices for vacay photo presentation.
We printed this customer’s safari photo in house, and framed accordingly.
Our customer captured this mama bear on her trip to Alaska. We reproduced the photograph onto an acrylic print, and framed in a fun and fierce moulding.
So come see us with your travel art, vacation photos, or anything really (we’re not fussy)! We’d love to hear about your adventures, and help you preserve your mementos and share your stories.
Art is the only way to run away without leaving home.
As we prepare for the Big Turn Music Festival in the Red Wing shop (join us!) we are reflecting on the notion that art inspires music. There are examples of this throughout history. Here were a few we found interesting!
Goya and Grenados
The Parasol, Francisco De Goya
Enrique Grenados (1867-1916) was a Spanish composer who’s masterpiece Goyescas was composed as an expression of the paintings of fellow Spaniard Francisco De Goya (1746-1828). Both artists were influenced by the Spanish wars, nationalism, and the Romantic era of art and music. Goyescas was originally written as a piano suite in 1911, and later adapted into an opera which debuted at The Met in New York City in 1916. (Source. Source.)
Hokusai and Debussy
The Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai
Katsushika Hokusai (1760-1849) is the woodblock artist of the famed Under the Wave off Kanagawa, aka The Great Wave. It is suggested in the art world that this work inspired Claude Debussy’s (1862-1918) also famed La Mer. Author Charlotte Landru-Chandès stated of La Mer, “The work is unquestionably pictorial in nature.” Debussy had actually aspired to be a painter! Though he never took that artistic course, Debussy’s work as an art inspired composer has stood the test of time, as does Hokusai’s Mount Fuji series. (Source.)
Seurat and Sondheim/Lapine
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges-Pierre Seurat
Georges-Pierre Seurat (1859-1891) is noted for his development and application of the pointillism technique, seen in his most famous work A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte. This painting inspired an entire Tony Award winning musical, Sunday in the Park with George by Stephan Sondheim (1930-) and James Lapine (1949-). The entire production focuses on a “fictional” George Seurat and his immersion into both an outer and inner world that shapes the painting. (Source. Source.)
Van Gogh and Dutilleux
Henri Dutilleux’s (1916-2013) orchestral work Timbres, espace, mouvement was subtitled La nuit etoilée (The Starry Night). This reflects his inspiration which was drawn directly from Vincent Van Gogh’s (1853-1890) renowned work of the same name. Dutilleux’s choice of prominent solo instruments for his composition (wind and percussion) “represents the movements of the clouds and the light of the stars and the moon.” (Source. Source.)
Van Gogh and McLean
Van Gogh had an eclectic 20th century fan club, with Don McLean (1945-) composing a hit song who’s lyrics tell the story of Van Gogh’s struggle with psychosis and society. Vincent (Starry, Starry Night) is somewhat of an ode and certainly a validation of Van Gogh’s under-appreciated brilliance as an artist. The song references a number of Van Gogh’s works as well as his artistic style and process. (Source.)
Our customers had a busy and fun season, which means so did we! Stop in with your summer vacay projects and keep the smiles of the season going strong all year long…
We are pleased to exhibit the first framed pieces from our collection of prints by Alphonse Mucha. Mucha was a Czech artist (1860-1939) who “could draw before he could walk.” His career as an artist took off after he was chosen “in desperation” to fulfill an immediate art poster demanded by Parisian stage star Sarah Bernhardt for her production, Gismonda. Bernhardt fell in love with Mucha’s work, and his creation revolutionized the art poster industry. Mucha worked in high demand for years after.
Today we enjoy his works in various forms, including print replications of his production posters and decorative panels. Mucha was championed for bringing beautiful artworks to a wider public, making his prints and posters affordable and available. According to the Mucha Foundation, “It was Mucha’s belief that through the creation of beautiful works of art the quality of life would be improved. He also believed that it was his duty as an artist to promote art for ordinary people.”
We are thrilled to present our first set of framed Mucha prints, for sale and view in our galleries. Each is framed with exquisite and preservation quality materials to honor the compelling vision of the artist, and the inspiration and beauty he aimed to elevate for all people. Silk mats, museum glass, and delicate style frames show off the magnificent women, and the interpretation of each work will be an individual experience that viewers will enjoy. Learn more about Alphonse Mucha at www.muchafoundation.org, and stop in to our galleries to see the collection for yourself! Framed works as well as prints are for sale in our gallery.
In June 2018, we were given the great privilege to support a fantastic local art exhibit developed by Riverside Central Elementary School in Rochester, MN. Over 530 students at Riverside created collages and artworks featuring their own portraits. Students were encouraged to let their personalities shine, and truly be the individuals that they are. The artwork is exhibited at the Minnesota Children’s Museum of Rochester and will eventually be incorporated into an outdoor mural painted onto the school. (Media source.)
Our job? Framing and printing! Six students were chosen to have their artwork reproduced and professionally framed for the exhibit. Additionally, the framed pieces will be auctioned to benefit arts education at Riverside and the mission of MCM Rochester. We were thrilled to work with the project coordinators and of course, the amazing artists.
Our framing choices were made to honor the individuality of each artist and his or her piece. Frames were selected to reflect the student’s portrait, coordinate with the collaging, and sync with each artist’s personality. Each student also completed an artist profile, which was displayed along with his or her framed artwork.
As we always say, we *heart* kid’s art, and this project stole our hearts in a big way. Show your support by visiting the exhibit, running through September 9, 2018 at MCM Rochester.
What is it that makes something worthy of framing? Should it be a work from a notable artist? Should it cost X amount of dollars? Should it be historically significant?
Sure! In May 2018, the Peggy and David Rockefeller family will auction 600 million dollars worth of original works by artists such as Monet, Renoir, and Picasso in New York City, USA. These pieces surely fit all of the above criteria, and we’d certainly be proud to frame the work of such masters.
Son’s Stormtrooper Mask
Grandmother’s Needlepoint
In the business world, perceived value is defined as “the worth a customer ascribes to a product or service.” In our business world, perceived value can be used to describe the non-monetary value a customer ascribes to the artwork or object considered for framing. Our very proudest projects are those that connect to our customers’ stories—your hearts, your histories, your lives and families, your memories, your hopes.
Travel Postcard
So what if your project is just something your son drew in kindergarten class, or, just this old needlepoint that your grandmother stitched, or just some picture you found and liked? (Yah, we hear the word “just” a lot.)
Frame-worthy? ABSOLUTELY!
Puppy Paw
Van Gogh Print
Literally, JUST Wrapping Paper! Why not?
There is no price one can use to describe the worth of such projects. What is the value to you or your son who sees his professionally displayed artwork and is encouraged to continue creative and educational endeavors? What is the value of preserving your grandmother’s stitchery, passed down through generations of family who will remember grandma’s name and story? And what if its “Just some picture you liked”…well, there is a reason it drew a connection, and doesn’t that connection merit saving? The motives to frame something don’t have to be deep or philosophical, but the impacts of these projects can be truly priceless.
You have brought us your project to frame. We are honored to learn and share in your story. Fine custom framing is our heart and our story, and we are equally privileged to work with your $66 million Van Gough or your late pup’s paw print in plaster. If it matters to you, it matters to us.
