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!"
Clare Lorraine Recognized as a Certified Picture Framer
We are absolutely thrilled to announce that our very own Clare Lorraine has earned the prestigious title of Certified Picture Framer (CPF) from the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA)! On June 20, 2019, Clare successfully passed her CPF examination, marking a significant milestone in her career and our company's journey.
Clare began her professional framing adventure in 2012 at Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing, apprenticing under the expert guidance of Master Framer Valerie Becker. Over the years, her passion and dedication have propelled her to manage production for our 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," Clare shares. "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 designation isn't just a title—it's a testament to an expert skill set in framing, especially when it comes to archival and museum-level custom work. Administered by the PPFA, this certification reflects a framer's commitment to preserving art with the highest standards of quality and care.
For over 35 years, the Professional Picture Framers Association has been the cornerstone of the art and framing industry. Serving professional custom picture framers, art galleries, museums, and framing manufacturers, the PPFA advocates for its members and elevates professional standards through education and promotion.
Clare's achievement amplifies our dedication to excellence. With her expertise, we're more equipped than ever to provide unparalleled framing services that not only showcase but also protect your cherished artworks and memories.
Have you ever considered how proper framing can preserve your valuable pieces for future generations? Archival framing is essential in safeguarding the stories and histories that art carries. Whether it's a priceless painting or a treasured family photograph, the right frame makes all the difference.
We're here to help you tell your story. If you have a framing project in mind—be it new or steeped in history—Clare and the rest of our talented team are eager to assist. Let's work together to ensure your art is preserved with the care and professionalism it deserves.
Feel free to reach out or visit us—we're excited to bring your vision to life!
The 2019 Annual Red Wing Pottery Convention
Exciting News: Sponsoring the Red Wing Collectors Society Annual Convention!
We are thrilled to once again sponsor the Red Wing Collectors Society Annual Convention, taking place this July 11-13 in Red Wing, MN. Collectors from around the world gather in our charming river city to celebrate their shared passion for Red Wing Pottery. This three-day event features auctions, socials, sales, swaps, workshops, education, networking, and more.
Last year, Red Wing Framing & Fine Art Printing presented three framed prints by the beloved local artist Larry Veeder for the Collectors Society auction. Red Wing Framing Owner and MCPF Valerie Becker, along with Red Wing Collectors Society Executive Director Stacy Wegner worked together in preparation for this year’s convention.
This year, Stacy entrusted us with a box of Collectors Society miscellany and said, "Have fun!" And we certainly did! Check out our delightful shadowboxes, filled with an eclectic mix of Collectors Society swag. These charming pieces will be auctioned off to raise funds for the Society's important work in preserving the legacy of Red Wing Pottery.
We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Red Wing Collectors Society and Ms. Wegner for the opportunity to support this wonderful organization and showcase our community pride. Learn more about the Red Wing Collectors Society on their website, and follow the action on their very active Facebook page.
The Art of Buying Art While Traveling (and then getting it framed)
more and more vacationers are celebrating their travels by bringing home art that they purchased while visiting various locales.
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.
-Twyla Tharp
Big Turn Music Fest - 2019
Big Turn Music Festival (BTMF) had their second season this month and we participated again with eight bands over two nights. It was every bit as fun and successful as the first year with the added element of a blizzard.
Art Inspires Music
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
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.)
The Parasol, Francisco De Goya
https://youtu.be/qiFmxPUddco?si=uq5KB8ioEVILoJrQ
Hokusai and Debussy
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.)
The Great Wave, Katsushika Hokusai
https://youtu.be/PNE27TSoJmI?si=uLRqZeHcqdCak_of
Seurat and Sondheim/Lapine
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 byStephan 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.)
A Sunday Afternoon on the Island of La Grande Jatte, Georges-Pierre Seurat
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PsTcuvuL5l8
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.)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VyYJOi3X898
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.)