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By Marilyn Delk |
Although the many graphic delights displayed at Darke Councy Center for the Arts’ High School Art Show whiich recently filled the Anna Bier Gallery were matted rather than fully framed, it occurred to me that the act of framing works of art is in itself an art. The right frame enhances what is displayed within its borders; the wrong frame at its best does nothing, and at its worst, detracts from what should be the main attraction.
DCCA Artistic Directtor for Visual Arts Jennifer Overholser, herself a painter who works with oils, says that adding the perfect high-quality frame to a piece of artwork heightens its value as well as helping preserve and protect the art for years to come. The young artist then goes on to express great appreciation for the work of Julie Kessen, who owns and operates Granny’s Corner Frame Shop in downtown Greenville and who provided the matting for the high-schoolers’ art. “The craftsmanship that Julie offers is superb; she knows what frame is best to complete a piece of artwork, and to truly make it shine,” Jen explained.
So I decided to explore further the principles and methods utilized by Julie as well as others, which complete the look and protect the integrity of the works of art they hope to enhance. Following are some of the things I learned.
Julie told me that the first step in determining the proper frame is to learn where it will be hanging; the piece should match the décor of its surroundings, and the frame should be in line with the art’s time frame and style, be it traditional or modern, ornate or simple. The color for a mat should enhance the work of art, rather than detract from the piece. Matting is not always necessary, and is not used for oil paintings, as the oils need to breathe, something that cannot occur when the art is covered with glass.
The next step is choosing whether to use regular clear glass, non-glare glass, or conservation glass which keeps the item from fading and comes in clear, non-glare, and museum glass. Interestingly, museum glass looks like there is no glass covering the art, and offers 99% protection from ultra-violet light. Julie uses nothing but acid-free materials to help prevent deterioration of the art over time. She often is brought older pieces that have cardboard or wood backing which has caused fauxing, an eating away at the picture that leaves spots on the work.
Prior to purchasing Granny’s Corner from its founder Doris Anderson, Julie worked at Whirlpool for 26 years, starting out as a timekeeper at the facility on West Third Street and eventually moving up to become a material coordinator. It has been twenty years since she decided to take the leap into her “new” venture, and is somewhat amazed but happy that she is still there. She learned and improved her craft by attending framing suppliers’ seminars, which she still attends to keep up with what’s new.
The cheerful, friendly shop owner leads a busy life outside of her artistic activities; she and her husband Tom have three children and seven grandchildren. Julie is active in her church and helps maintain the park in Carthagena, scheduling volunteers to keep the park neat and clean; she gardens, raising flowers and vegetables, and works on her own arts and crafts projects. She appreciates Greenville, finding it to be an active vibrant community which in turn appreciates all that Julie and her shop offer.
Framing a tiny piece of needlework, a treasured crayon drawing, or an expansive oil painting to bring out the outstanding qualities of the work of art is truly an art, requiring painstaking thought and skill. Julie Kessen happily frames all sorts of treasures, bringing joy into lives throughout our community, helping keep beloved pieces alive for generations to enjoy well into the foreseeable future.
