EXHIBITION AND GALLERY FRAMING HINTS (Cont ...)
Framing with exhibitions and reuse in mind
In your exhibition planning, start discussions with your framer early on - ideally a couple of months beforehand. It can take some time to decide on the
specifics, and even once decided, the framer will need to order in supplies and will also need to slot you into their schedule. There are enough last-
minute things to sort with an exhibition that you don’t also want to be stressing about framing too.How to keep costs down?
Find a local framer you click with and do all your business with them. The more they know and understand you and your art, the more help they will be
to you. Many framers will offer artists a discount in the anticipation of large orders, ongoing business, and customer referrals.Reusing frames at the NZ Art Show 2018. After this show, I decided to switch from
plain glass to UltraVue - those reflections are a real detraction from viewing the art
both in real life and when trying to photograph them. (Photo by Linton Miller)Consistent print sizes
Have consistent sizes and aspect ratios for your prints so you can reuse frames with new prints and so your framer can make the same frame in bulk.Making your own
Unless you have access to all the gear and the space, and unless you enjoy it, making your own frames is not cost effective, especially once you add in
your time. Most of the cost of framing is in the materials rather than the labour. But you might be able to make some savings if you do your own mount-
ing. Mounting does not need nearly as much specialist equipment. You may or may not want to cut your own mats. Cutting your own is doable but it’s
much harder to get a professional finish. A framer will have a precision cutter, and mats don’t cost much to cut.The most useful skill is learning how to hinge a print to a mat so you can reframe with a new print without having to return to the framers. All you need
is hinging tape, a bone folder to emboss the tape down, paper framing tape to reseal the back of the picture, and a utility knife or scissors. I also find an
air blower and a brand new microfibre cloth useful to remove dust.Buying ready-made or discount frames
You can buy ready-made frames online, and although they can be quite cheap, they are quite expensive for the quality of the materials used. They tend
to feel flimsy and chip easily. If you go this route, you will need to learn how to mount the prints, but there are lots of examples on the internet. Many
artists and photographers use the cheapest frames they can find from discount stores. Although sometimes a necessity due to time constraints and
budget, they do not do your art justice and may also damage the print over time because they are not likely made with acid-free archival materials.Vintage and recycled frames
Repurposing vintage frames is another option - check out second hand and charity stores, estate sales, garage sales, and the like. They usually need
refinishing, it’s unlikely you’ll get matching frames, and the quality may not be apparent. I’ve had some success using metallic lustre wax on old frames
to give them new life. You and everyone else are on the lookout for second-hand framing bargains so give yourself plenty of time to source them if you
go this route.