ARTS + CULTURE
A FEW MINUTES WITH DIXIE FINLAYSON We asked the owner of Artmount & Framing Matters to tell us her story... Firstly tell us about your history.
I stumbled into framing in my early 20s. A student friend had a part time job in a workshop and said they were looking for help. My initial reaction was “framing, is that even a profession? What on earth?” However, after a few weeks I knew that I had found my place and tribe! I first started my own framing business working from the basement of a friend’s house in Grey Lynn. An opportunity then arose to move into a workspace with Artmount on the Strand in Parnell, where I stayed for 27 years and purchased Artmount, changing the business name from Framing Matters to Artmount & Framing Matters. Earlier this year AMFM moved into 82 Newton Rd, which has been a great opportunity to create and design the space to fit my vision of my dream workshop. What is your favourite part of your job?
The people and the art! I love our client’s reactions when they collect their work and see the transformation of their piece once it’s framed, awesome! What do your customers say about you?
I have been very fortunate to have worked with some amazing and very skilled staff over the years and I think
this really shines through with customers who appreciate the knowledge that we apply to their artwork - whether design or technically speaking. At present I have such a great team and am very proud of their accomplishments and skill. I am also exceptionally lucky to have amazing loyal customers! Every day we get to meet interesting people, some of whom are only discovering us now we are on Newton Road. We frame for several key galleries so get to work alongside very talented gallery owners and staff who are so passionate and specialised at what they do. I am often amazed and inspired by these people! What has been your biggest challenge of late?
Relocating our business to the new premises was a massive undertaking, but we got there with the support of staff and close friends. Covid-19 has been a real challenge for myself and staff but we have adapted by constantly “hunting the good stuff”, and the support of our regular customers has been humbling! We are now well versed at managing the supply crisis that had a massive impact on the framing industry and we are now stocked up and have the ability to meet our client’s deadlines in a post-Covid world.
ARTMOUNT & FRAMING MATTERS, 82 Newton Road, T: 09 309 2020, www.artmountandframingmatters.co.nz
PONSONBY NEWS+ June 2022
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