News in brief A Taste of The Smithsonian This fascinating article appeared in the world-renowned Smithsonian magazine. You can read the full story by subscribing here Should the frame be recognised as an art form? John Marin, the early American modernist, is best remembered for his paintings of the kinetic desert of Taos Canyon, New Mexico and the razor-sharp dimensions of Red Sun, Brooklyn Bridge. But to Martin Kotler, a frames conservator at the Smithsonian American Art Museum (SAAM), the frames encasing Marin’s work are just as important as the canvases inside. Over the course of his career, Marin sought a “Blessed Equilibrium” between every painting and its frame. He worked with New York City frame maker George Of to create custom mounts, which he coated in watercolours to enhance the palette of the painting inside. Later in his career, Marin made his frames by hand, and steadily pushed his art over the edge: The black frame of Sailboat, Brooklyn Bridge, New York Skyline is streaked with silver, like the lines on a well-trafficked road. Copyright 2020 Smithsonian Institution. Reprinted with permission from Smithsonian Enterprises. All rights reserved. Reproduction in any medium is strictly prohibited without permission from Smithsonian magazine.
Webinars Thanks to everyone for the great feedback on our webinars – which is still coming in as the first eight webinars are all available on the website. The latest session covered pricing software in partnership with Framiac. You can view all the webinars at www.larsonjuhl.co.uk. • Pricing and upselling • All about digital marketing •F raming masterclass with Jon Price GCF (APF) •S elling from the design bench with Jo Palmer GCF (APF) Adv •D eveloping your USP with Graham Perryman •C ovid-19 business continuity with MHA accountancy • Re-opening your framing business • Interior design trends • Frame design – Jon Price GCF (APF)
SWLA sponsorship Larson-Juhl is sponsoring the Society of Wildlife Artists’ drawing competition again this year as part of The Natural Eye 2020 exhibition at Mall Galleries, from 28th October to 8th November. The initiative celebrates drawing or dry media, draughtsmanship and capturing ideas as an art form. The 2019 competition was won by the hugely talented Wynona Legg (show image from last year’s four walls) and we can’t wait to see this year’s entries which will feature in Issue 39 of 4walls. The winner will receive £500 worth of Larson-Juhl materials. www.mallgalleries.org.uk
Designs on framing with the BCFA Our digital marketing activity has extended into the world of interior design. Consultant Alys Bryan recently ran the first Larson-Juhl CPD event for members of the British Furniture Contractors Association (BCFA) focusing on the inspirational ways in which framing can be used by interior designers in the hospitality sector and how framing can broaden a scheme’s colour, texture and material palette.
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