Forever Framed
In today's world, the phrase "commitment to quality" often sounds like marketing jargon. However, as certified professional framers, we take it seriously. This means using the highest grade of conservation materials when framing your artworks, photographs, special objects, and memorabilia. Over the past 30 years, the conservation and archiving industries have made significant strides, constantly improving standards and practices. As conservation-conscious framers, we adhere to the guidelines set by the Professional Picture Framer's Association to ensure your projects last a lifetime and beyond. As certified experts, we are dedicated to continuing education in this field.
When designing and building a framing project, we follow three essential principles: Protection, Preservation, and Presentation. Not every project requires all three, but we always prioritize "Do No Harm" by considering conservation methods and materials first.
Protection:
We use UV protective glazing (glass or acrylic) from TruVue, made right here in Minnesota, to mitigate the risk of light damage. UV glazing is recommended for all artworks, including oils, as all light can fade artworks, not just sunlight. Glazing also protects artworks from dust, grime, sneezes, fingerprints, and physical damage. Our projects are sealed in the back to guard against insects and other pests, with harder substrates included to prevent punctures. A gently sealed (not airtight) framing package creates a more stable environment, reducing temperature and humidity fluctuations and discouraging mold growth. Additionally, we seal the wood on frames to protect against acid and avoid direct contact between artwork and wood whenever possible.
Preservation:
We use archival quality mat boards, backing boards, and mounting materials. The term "acid-free" generally suggests the material is pH neutral. The highest conservation grade substrates are those that have been neutralized and buffered to slow oxidation or are alpha-cellulose mats with removed lignin. Solid cotton substrates meet preservation standards. For truly priceless projects, our mounting methods are non-invasive and completely reversible. In the examples shown, the artwork was in direct contact with an acidic wooden board and taped to a non-conservation grade mat board with masking tape. The glue couldn't be removed, causing the contact points to fade and burn the art paper.
Presentation:
We make it look GOOD! The appropriate style is relative to the client, the space, and the subject being framed. Browse our blog and social media for examples of our great designs. Because every framed artwork or item is unique, we offer appointments to ensure the time and care you and your projects deserve. Make an appointment today by calling 651-385-0500 or using our online scheduler at www.redwingframing.com.
Custom Framing-Pandemic Style
Reflecting on the past year, we find ourselves overwhelmed with gratitude.
Thank you, Red Wing Framing customers, for making us essential.
This past year, the word "essential" has taken on new meanings. It's become a label for nearly everything—essential workers, essential businesses, essential services, and even essential… custom framing?
Yes, indeed.
Dear customer and friend, by entrusting us with framing, preserving, restoring, and enhancing your cherished items, you have made us essential. We've seen a significant increase in family mementos, treasured photographs, personal crafts, stitchery and needle arts, children's art, sports memorabilia, spiritual art and icons, historical figures and items, political posters, and even "saved" thrift store artworks. Thank you. You are 100% essential to us. Our hearts are full, our shop is bustling, and we proudly continue as dedicated preservers of personal, collective, and public essentials. Make an appointment with us today to preserve and display your treasures.
A few favorites from our team:
Stitchery! Valerie shares, "Stitching is very comforting to me. It's one of my personal passions, and I was able to get some great stitching done this past year. Seeing how others have stitched through the COVID year has been a great joy. Our creative passions help slow down life's craziness and leave treasures for generations. Let's keep creating!"
Florals! Clare adds, "One of my favorite quotes is by Lady Bird Johnson: 'Where flowers bloom, so does hope.' This past year, hope has been in great need and short supply for many, so it makes sense that people want to be surrounded by the simple, timeless beauty of nature. Flowers don't care about pandemics or politics. They simply deliver elegance, grace, and steadfastness. Flowers bring hope of renewal and will always look great in a frame on the wall facing your Zoom webcam!"
Puzzles! John says, "Puzzles have boomed in the pandemic era, and we've had a lot of fun seeing what our customers have put together. Pandemic puzzles will represent various memories of these times. They bring a sense of comfort and maybe even exemplify a 'job well done' while waiting to go back to work. Or maybe a puzzle is just a puzzle!"
Revive the Past: Make the Old New Again
As we reflect on 2019, we've been inspired by the influx of antiquated artworks, thrift store treasures, historical relics, and discovered family heirlooms that have found their way into our workshop. Starting the New Year, we're energized by our customers’ "old is new" projects and can't wait to see this trend continue. While brand-new pieces have their charm, in a world increasingly focused on "reduce, reuse, recycle," we're excited to motivate YOU to have some framing fun with your "old" treasures.
We have a few customers who are top-notch treasure hunters, masters in the art of unearthing "lost art." They find old, discarded, and forgotten artworks in secondhand shops, antique stores, and online platforms like Etsy and eBay. Originals, prints, etchings, drawings, paintings, needleworks—the variety is endless, and each piece carries its own history and character. Our mission is both preservation and presentation—we prepare the art to be displayed in a way that honors its aesthetic essence and ensures it will be protected for many years of enjoyment. Old family pieces and "lost and found" childhood artworks have also topped the frame-worthy list. It's amazing what a fresh frame and mat can do to rejuvenate these pieces!
Another facet of the "old is new" movement is the restoration of vintage family photos. Our digital experts can revitalize, refresh, and digitally repair your cherished photographs. Need extra prints of Great Aunt June for your cousins? Discovered a photo with an old coffee stain across Grandma’s smile? We can fix that, and we can print that! We're also specialists in caring for original photographs. Preserving old photos is both a science and an art, and our certified professionals will help you make the right choices with materials and mounting processes to ensure the safekeeping of your photographic heirlooms. The safest place for your old photos—if not tucked away in an acid-free album—is in a frame with UV-protective glass and archival materials.
So, what do you have stashed under the bed in that old family box that might be worth displaying? How about that drawing your daughter created in 8th grade, or Great Aunt June’s cross-stitch sampler? Maybe you've stumbled upon a painting at the Salvation Army that deserves a revival?
Art is all around us, and we challenge YOU to make the old new again.
We're here to help you transform your cherished finds into stunning displays that tell a story. Whether it's in person, via email, text, or video, let's bring new life to your treasured pieces together
What We Did On Our Summer Vacation
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.
Welcome Northfield Framing & Fine Art Printing!
We are delighted to present Northfield Framing & Fine Art Printing, established in August 2019!
Since opening Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing in 2002, our goal has been to create a triad of certified custom framing shops that 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) locations, our dream is coming to fruition. We are immensely grateful to our customers, friends, families, and business supporters who have made this possible. Thank YOU!
Our new shop is located in the beautiful Bridge Square of downtown Northfield, MN. The area offers ample parking along the streets and neighboring lots, and our design and retail shop has fantastic mojo. Northfield is a community rich in industry, agriculture, arts and culture, a fantastic foodie scene, and home to 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 ready-made 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 (11-7 pm) and Friday/Saturday (11-5 pm)! 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.
"Come on in, the framing’s fine!"
New Gallery Collection: Alphonse Mucha
We are excited to showcase the first framed pieces from our collection of Alphonse Mucha prints. Mucha, a Czech artist (1860-1939), was known to have “drawn before he could walk.” His artistic career skyrocketed after he was urgently selected to create a poster for the Parisian stage star Sarah Bernhardt's production of Gismonda. Bernhardt was enamored with Mucha's work, and his creation transformed the art poster industry. For years, Mucha's talent was in high demand. Today, we can appreciate his works in various forms, including print reproductions of his production posters and decorative panels. Mucha was celebrated for making beautiful art accessible to a broader audience, offering his prints and posters at affordable prices. 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 delighted to present our first set of framed Mucha prints, now available for viewing and purchase in our galleries. Each piece is framed with exquisite, preservation-quality materials to honor the artist's compelling vision and the inspiration and beauty he sought to elevate for everyone. Silk mats, museum glass, and delicate-style frames highlight the magnificent women in Mucha's works, offering viewers a unique experience with each piece.
Learn more about Alphonse Mucha at www.muchafoundation.org and visit our galleries to see the collection for yourself! Both framed works and prints are available for purchase in our gallery.
Worth It.
What Makes Something Worthy of Framing?
Does it need to be a masterpiece by a renowned artist? Should it have a hefty price tag or historical significance? Sure, in May 2018, the Peggy and David Rockefeller family auctioned $600 million worth of original works by Monet, Renoir, and Picasso in New York City. These pieces undoubtedly fit all those criteria, and we would be honored to frame the work of such masters.
In the business world, perceived value is defined as "the worth a customer ascribes to a product or service." In our world of framing, perceived value extends beyond monetary worth to encompass the sentimental and emotional value a customer assigns to the artwork or object being framed. Our most cherished projects are those that resonate with our customers' stories—their hearts, histories, lives, families, memories, and hopes.
So, what if your project is just something your child drew in kindergarten, an old needlepoint your grandmother stitched, or simply a picture you found and liked? (Yes, we hear the word "just" a lot.)
Frame-worthy? ABSOLUTELY!
There is no price tag that can capture the true worth of such projects. Consider the value to you or your child who sees their artwork professionally displayed, fostering encouragement for creative and educational endeavors. Think about the value of preserving your grandmother's stitchery, a piece passed down through generations, keeping her name and story alive. And even if it's "just a picture you liked," that connection alone merits preservation. The reasons to frame something don't have to be deep or philosophical, but the impacts of these projects can be truly priceless.
You have entrusted us with your project to frame. We are honored to learn and share in your story. Fine custom framing is our passion and our story, and we are equally privileged to work with your $66 million Van Gogh or your late pup’s paw print in plaster. If it matters to you, it matters to us.
So, is it frame-worthy? Yes, and you don't need to justify it.
