New artwork installed at a client’s home. We just wanted to highlight this service as it’s something that can be more complex than you’d think. And it’s something we have a great deal of experience with, and we’ve even mastered the ability to do it over stairs.
The square artwork is by Jacob Hashimito (1973-) and the the round artwork is a woven wooden circular and the artist is unknown.
The 12th president of Hope College, Dr. John C. Knapp, served from 2013 to 2017. It was a tenure that saw the launching of “Hope for the World: 2025,” a 10-year strategic plan to grow the college as a place of academic excellence, faith development, inclusiveness, and global engagement. He furthermore established the Presidential Colloquium lecture series that brings notable speakers to address national and global issues. And in 2016, the college joined the World Affairs Council of Western Michigan as an educational partner to bring international experts to the campus through the council’s Great Decisions Global Discussion Series.
The portrait artist was Larry Blovits (1936-). He is known for oil and pastel portraits, as well as landscapes. He has received numerous awards and honors in national shows since 1962.
We prepared an American Impressionist frame with 22 karat gold, detailed with a leaf motif, after the Twachtman style, and installed it professionally at Hope College. All but three of the frames in the portrait room were made by us, and the others we were restored by us. We are very grateful to be able to lend the portrait an esteemed quality, as well as an overall theme of tradition and excellence for the leaders of such an important and local institution.
With a French mat prepared in the handmade manner: attaching watercolor paper to museum board and then with a ruling pen, creating lines and panels, and with watercolor washes incorporating color tones connected with the art, we gave this George Catlin (1796-1872) print an archival fit. A new American Impressionist frame with feather and ripple carving, gilded in 22 Karat gold, was created to complete the conservation of this magnificent print. We are very happy with the results, taking the artwork from a state of discolored foxing and staining, to accenting its qualities with a French Mat, and then making it the centerpiece of a grand and ornate, gilded frame.
George Catlin Catching the Wild Horse Cleaning
George Catlin Catching the Wild Horse
With the help of our new space, and its extra room, we were able to easily fit these wonderful textiles into shadow box plexiglass frames. Another variable caused by their size, was transportation. To return them we ended up renting a delivery truck, and then carefully installed them in the client’s home–a beautiful home that superbly presents these textiles. The shadow boxes are mahogany with custom liners covered in black linen with wool felt as a conduit to safely attach the textiles. This was our first large project in our new space and we couldn’t be happier with the space and with what it allows us to do.
