The 2018 International PPFA Convention Review
By Valerie Becker, MCPF
Annual Professional Picture Framing Convention: A Recap
In January, I spent an incredible week in Las Vegas for the annual Professional Picture Framing Convention, held at the Paris Hotel. It was a fantastic success! My first year on the Competition Board has flown by, and it has been immensely fulfilling to be part of a team with colleagues Robin Gentry (Bowling Green, KY), Alan Abeyta (Phoenix, AZ), and Elizabeth Hellsten (San Antonio, TX). Here are some highlights from the event:
Day 1: The first day was dedicated to unpacking the competition pieces that had been sent in for judging.
Day 2: The judges arrived at 8 am and worked late into the night to evaluate the numerous entries.
The PPFA competitions feature two categories:
- **PRINT Category:** Each year, the competition board selects a specific artwork. The challenge is to frame this designated print using proper PPFA established techniques and appropriate design.
- **OPEN Category:** This fun category allows framers to choose their own artwork or object to design and frame.
As a member of the Competition Board, I am not eligible to compete during my term. However, I greatly enjoy the educational benefits of being on this side of the competition!
Day 3: Before the tradeshow opened, we hung all the competition pieces for display. The winners were announced at the annual PPFA President’s Dinner. The display was enormous, inspirational, and showcased stunning craftsmanship.
Congratulations to this year’s PRINT and OPEN category winners!
Education and Networking:
After our initial competition duties, it was time for education. The Competition Board taught two classes: Understanding Competition and a Judge Update class. One of our key priorities is to train and recruit judges for the competition.
I also attended several classes to keep my Master Framing designation up to date, as my MCPF recertification is required every four years. I had some time to catch up with my frame vendors and hunt for next year’s competition PRINT. The final day was spent carefully repacking the competition pieces for shipment to their owners. It was wonderful to be surrounded by so many fantastic colleagues!
I have two more years serving on the Competition Board for PPFA, and I’m looking forward to an exciting year of industry competition, inspiration, and education.