Saline Picture Frame Co.

Featured Art Fair Artists

Ann Arbor Street Art Fair volunteer Stephen Kerr is a good friend and huge Circle of Art supporter. He has involved many artists in the Circle of Art over the last three years. He brought in the first entry of this years event, a beautiful pitcher which last years featured artist Nancy Gardner donated last July and he convinced this year's featured artist, Michael Nemnich to donate as well. Michael's original artwork for the 2008 Ann Arbor Street Art Fair will be unveiled at the Circle of Art Party on Sunday May,18th

Green Pitcher by Nancy Gardner

Circle of Art Entry #300

Entry #300 has got everything going for it; It's food related, it's a well composed lino cut, it was donated by Michael "Diesel" Davila, a first time contributor with a cool nickname and it was brought to us by Christine Marsh our good friend and loyal Circle of Art supporter. Christine runs the art program at the Saline Alternative High School and both she and her students have contributed to all four Circle of Arts. Spend some time exploring the entries - this is one of 384 and there are some real treasures. Fond some favorites and start bidding!

Circle of Art Entry #179

Wow - it has been a flood of Circle of Art donations coming in this week. We passed the three hundred mark yesterday. As always we are amazed and excited by some of the treasures being dropped off. One of our favorites Circle contributors, Julie Fremuth, returned this year with two nice pieces including this wonderful diptych "Please See Me". In other Circle of Art News we have a great new carrot orange Circle T designed by graphics volunteers Kathy and Keith, a official Circle of Art poster donated by our freinds at University Litho and Mary and Courtney have launched a Circle of Art Facebook page. All we need now are free spending bidders!

First Annual Seconds Sale on the Third

We make a lot of frames - for our Dexter and Saline stores, for our commercial and online accounts and for our online store. As we make all these frames we accumulate a lot of "seconds". Our Dexter store basement storeroom is full to the brim and we are clearing out the accumulation at bargain prices. Come and choose from hundreds of frames starting at just $2.00 and piles of standard size mat blanks (with your choice of opening cut for free) sarting at just $1.00. Help us clear the racks and take advantage of some great deals!

Circle of Art Entry #37

Tableside by Jill Stefani Wagner

Jill Stefani Wagner is one of the very generous artists who make the Circle of Art possible. Jill is a busy and talented painter who combines a demanding day job as a principal at Wagner Design Associates with a serious career as a painter. Despite that she has donated several exquisite little watercolors to all four Circles. In past years she has taken to us to Tuscany (I bought one of those), Montana and this year back home to Northern Michigan. Take advantage of a chance to own an original water color by a talented painter and to help Food Gatherers fight hunger in our community at the same time. You can see more of Jill's work at www.jillwagnerart.com and at the River Gallery in Chelsea

]]>

Volume II, Issue 3

April 14, 2008

The Picture Frame Co.

Dexter - Saline - Online - The Side Door Gallery

The 2008 Circle of Art has started! Join the Circle by donating a small work of art or by bidding on a piece. We welcome donations of small works of art (any media, 2D 9x12 or smaller, 3D 9x9x12 or smaller) up to May 1, 2008.

All pieces submitted will be posted at online as they arrive. You can place bids online until the day before the auction on May 18th. Pieces will be on display at Saline Picture Frame Co. from May 1 - May 18. All pieces will be auctioned on May 18, 2008. Entries can be submitted at either

Saline Picture Frame Co. 7641 N. Ann Arbor St. Saline, MI 48176

734.429.3353

www.salinepictureframe.com

Dexter Picture Frame Co. 8063 Main St

Dexter, MI 48130

734.426.1581

www.dexterpictureframe.com

About the Circle of Art

Artist Entry Form

More About the Circle of Art

Food Gatherers

2008 Circle of Art Entries

2007 Participating Artists

2006 Participating Artists

2005 Participating Artists

Turning Art into Food

The Circle of Art 2008

This year's Circle of Art is in full swing! The artwork is flowing in, bidding has started, we've got the first 100 pieces up on the website and Sara is cranking out mats as fast as she can. We have a snappy new poster thanks to Circle volunteers Kathy Rhadigan and R. Keith McGuire. If you are an artist it is not to late to make a donation. If you are an art lover it is not to early to start bidding. Help us help Food Gatherers fight hunger where we live. We are lucky to have an organization like this in our community. Food Gatherers has recently been recognized as a top-performing non-profit by Charity Navigator, an independent charity evaluator. Food Gatherers earned the number one spot in the Nation's best "food banks, food pantries and food distribution" category in the Annual Holiday Giving Guide. Please visit Charity Navigator for more information on how effectively your donations are used to fight hunger where we live.

At the Side Door Gallery...

Stephen Wolverine

Being Green: Spring Suite

April 11-May 17

Artist reception April 18 6:00 to 9:00

Currently at The Side Door Gallery

we are displaying new works by Atlanta painter Stephen Wolverine who is showing small subtle views of spring flora, a welcome tonic as we emerge from the gray of winter.

Come and meet Stephen, enjoy some refreshments and see some of his fresh takes on spring this Friday from 6 to 9 at The Side Door Gallery - our art space at The Dexter Picture Frame Co.. 8063 Main St. Dexter 48130 734.426.1581

Circle of Art Entry #78

"So's Your Old Man, A Grumpy Self Portrait with Peonies" By John Copley.

We love this little oil from the generous (albeit grumpy) artist John Copley, a contributor to all four Circles of Art. We purchased John's first donation "Mae's Carrots" and adopted it as a symbol of the Circle of Art. John went on to win the best title award last year - an honor he is vigorously defending with this piece. You can see more of John's work at www.johnacopley.com.

Circle of Art Entry 101

"Generous Ilsa" by Christine Cook

Preparing for the Circle of Art is a lot of work but it is also a lot of fun. Every thing stops when a new piece comes in and it is exciting to see the Circle expanding. We met first time contibutor Christine at our new Dexter store and she created this wonderful watercolor/colored pencil piece especially for this year's Circle of Art. Welcome Christine and thank you.

Artists Census

How many artists – performing, literary, and visual -- live and work in Washtenaw County…and why is it important to know?
As part of the county-wide cultural plan project, Dexter Picture Frame Company is working with the Arts Alliance to determine how many artists and creative individuals live and work in Washtenaw County. Why? Because artists are the spark that ignites our county’s creativity -- but without knowing how many painters, writers or photographers there are here, it’s hard to give individual artists the credibility and respect (not to mention the services) they deserve.
Artists of all types – visual, literary and performing, of any age and educational background – are encouraged to participate. The census is entirely confidential and includes only 10 questions.
If you’re an artist, take the census! If you know other artists, encourage them to take the census! This is an effort that will only succeed if we, as a community, work together!
Link to the Survey - http://www.artscount.org

Graduation Time

It's that time of year again - a new crop of bright eyed, fresh faced young graduates marching out into the world. We salute these young scholars as the hope of the future and encourage them to display their new credentials proudly. Our Letterman diploma frame will do the job nicely. At just $99.00 (a paltry sum compared to those tuition bills)it make a great gift for your favorite graduate. Order yours at Saline, Dexter or at the Picture Frame Co. Online

Turning Art into Food

Things are ramping up for the 2008 Circle of Art. Above is the new Circle of Art graphic created by volunteers R. Keith McGuire of Inner Eye, Inc. and Kathy Rhadigan. We are thrilled with the new logo and the tag-line "Turning Art into Food", both of which capture the spirit of The Circle of Art. The artist donations are beginning to stream in and more than 50 of them are up on the website ready for your bids. Our resident tech guy, Brian Katke, has been furiously slinging code and has greatly streamlined the online bidding process. Give it a try and get the party started!

Aged Metallic Frames

We are pleased to introduce the newest addition to our Stock with Style line. Available in soft silver or architechtural bronze, our Aged Metallic frames have a mellow transitional look. The combination of metallic base, simple shape and distressed finish make these frames appropriate for vintage posters, photographs, bookplates or botanical prints. See them in Saline, Dexter and online.

Meet Susan Amstutz

Susan Amstutz: Abridgement
February 1st -March 22nd
Opening Reception February 29th 5-8pm

We've been framing Susan Amstutz's work for a number of years - in fact both Sara and Mary have purchased pieces from her. We are excited about her current show both because we get to see a large body of her work and to find out more about her as an artist. Susan is modest about her art but we managed to corner her when she was at the gallery helping to set up the show and were able to ask her some questions.

Q: Susan, your landscapes are so evocative, are they real places?
A: Some of them are real locations, whether painted on site or from photos. I carry a camera with me so I can record places and color. Some of the landscapes are imaginary and some a combination of both

Q: What's your favorite medium to work in?
A:My favorite medium to work in is oil, including the encaustic work. I also enjoy water based paints, batik, cold water dyes, etc...

Q: What can you tell us about your technique?
A:About the abstracts -" I layer alot of color and textures. I use a lot of "found" objects to push and scrap the paint. Cardboard works well because its easy to adjust the size easily.On "Straw" I used wood glue and strips of wood to build up the surface, painted it, let it dry and them pulled off the a significant amount of the wood to create more texture. On "Control" I layered a significant amount of acrylic paint, then oil paint of a lot of different colors and shapes. Next,. I painted it all red (oil). Once dry, I covered it with furniture remover and let it bubble up and almost completely dry. Next, I used a putty knife to cut and scrape a random kinetic pattern. All the abstracts are mixed mediums, a combination of acrylic and oil, with, of course, the acrylic used first, to prevent peeling. I also use combinations of gold leaf, oil pastel, oil sticks, tissue, etc.
About oil encaustic -This is a highly toxic technique. You need lots of ventilation. I don't use pre-mix waxes. I make my own. On top of an electric griddle, I place a cake pan with an inch or two of water in it. Inside the cake pan I place a cupcake tin. Each of the wells in the cup cake tin holds a combination of beeswax, paraffin, damarr varnish, and oil paint. Before the oil paint is added to the mix, I let the excess oil leech out of it by squeezing it out on cold press board and letting it set for a few hours. It works like a double boiler. The painting is done with palate knives and brushes in one had and a hairdryer/heat gun in the other. The paint has to be applied, quickly and remain hot.

Q: When did you start painting?
A:My mother and aunt painted. She taught me about line and color at an earlier age. She also taught me how to use oils when I was in elementary school, around age 10 or so.Later she gave me her oil paints, pastels, everything she had. It created a very supportive atmosphere.

Q: Do You do commissions? How much?
A:Yes, I'm happy to do commissions. Pricing depends on size and complexity.

Q: You've been a generous contributor to Circle of Art. What are your thoughts about the event?
A:The COA is a wonderful event. Its makes a difference in people's lives. It benefits people in need and it enables others to help people in need. Both are gifts to those of us participating. Also, along with honor of being able to help others the COA allows artists to meet fellow artists.

Q: What's your day job?
A:I'm a Graphic Designer for the Sprinkler Fitters located in the Great Lakes Building at Washtenaw Community College. I have also been a teacher in the Visual Arts and Technology Dept, Graphic Design at Washtenaw Community College for ten years. I teach Design History, during which, I show the students gold leafing, paper making, calligraphy, wood block relief, silkscreen and more. I also have taught other design and application courses as well.

Pictured above, from top left, "Straw", "Hendershot Highway", "Michigan Fence Row I", "Azure"

Introducing The Side Door Gallery

"By My Father's House"

Announcing the newest member of The Picture Frame Company family - The Side Door Gallery! Our new exhibition space will showcase some of the many talented area artists we have gotten to know over the last 20 years.

Our inaugural show features the work of our friend Susan Amstutz. Her luminous landscapes and abstracts will be on display in The Side Door Gallery through March. A opening reception will be held on February 29. Visit www.TheSideDoorGallery.com for more information about Susan Amstutz and her work, or view images from the show online here.

Attached to The Dexter Picture Frame Company, The Side Door Gallery is part of our growing roster of Picture Frame Companies - Saline Picture Frame Company, Dexter Picture Frame Company and The Picture Frame Company online.

Warhol Words

Pop Art pioneer Andy Warhol has, with the passage of time, himself become a Pop Art icon and subject. We are amused by this series of quotes from an artist whose 15 minutes of fame is extending well into the new century. Mary designed this fun series of 10x10 Warhol quotes in Neilsen �Pop� bright anodized frames. At $69.00 each it you can inject some Pop Art sensibility just about anywhere. See all the Warhol words here. Read more about this strange and fascinating man here

SpartaCraft Flag Cases

SpartaCraft is one of our favorite vendors - a small company that takes pride in what they do and does it well. Situated in the famed High Point furniture area, they make flag cases (which they were the original manufacturers of) by hand from select American hardwoods.

Flag Cases are specialized picture frames designed to display and protect the flags provided to drape the caskets of honorably discharged veterans of the military. We are resigned to the globalization of modern life but are pleased that we can carry this particular item from an domestic maker. I know my dad, Captain, US Army 1940 - 1945, South Pacific theatre probably rests easier with his flag in a case made by good old boys from North Carolina.

We carry SpartaCraft flag cases for both the 5'x9.5' burial flag and for the smaller 3'x5' commemorative flags. You can see our selection here.

New Stock Mouldings

We're excited about our new Casual Colors line of clear aniline dyed wood moulding with eased edges. The combination of bright colors, wood grain and a crisp square shape make these new mouldings fun and versatile. They've become our new favorite poster frame. As part of our expanded "stock with style" line these frames are quick, affordable options where a fashionable flash of color is called for. At Saline, Dexter and online soon.

Holiday Hours

We will be open Sunday Dec. 23 from 12-3 and Monday Dec. 24 from 10-1. We will be closed on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day, Dec. 26. We will have regular hours Dec. 27 - 29. We will be closed Monday Dec. 31 and Tuesday Jan 1. Beginning January 2 we will be back to regular hours. We wish you and yours a wonderful holiday.