Low Cost Frames

A few weeks ago I asked advice on putting a portfolio together for a meeting with the chairman at the fine arts department of the collage I graduated from. The suggestions were very helpful. I wound up adding a few non street shots so I would have two stronger groups totaling 19 photos.

The chairman liked my work and wants me to display the work in their gallery sometime in October/November. To say the least I was very happy and he didn't suggest any changes. Just pop the already mounted and matted photos into frames and make up small cards for each naming and whatever info I wanted to add.

My dilemma is I need 19 11X14 frames. At a cost of approximately $25(US) thats close to $500. I'm probably not going to need most of the frames again and when the show is over I will take the photos out and put back in the portfolio. So they don't have to be archival. Just simple black frames. Do any places rent frames? Any suggestions would be appreciated.

One word... WalMart!! They've got a nice selection of frames and you can probably get them for a song. Just think... when someone inquires about buying your photos you will have a supply of frames, too! I do not know about renting frames. I would think you'd spend more to rent them than to buy them at *Wally-world*.

Jeanette

Target also has inexpensive frames.

Mike

Last week, I got an 11x14 frame at Target (plain black). Came with a matt but they are generic openning sizes on the matts. Discarded the matt and put mine in. It wasn't bad. Cost me $14 dollars. I'm sure if you go to a really good art store (here in Socal, there's Spectrum -- the equivalent to Perl Paints) they could probably cut you a deal for so many frames.

Several weeks ago American Frames [ http://www.americanframe.com ] had a great sale that was mentioned here on APUG. I bought a dozen 14x14 Nielsons CHEAP!

Even without the sale, 11x14 standard Nielsons, absolutely top quality aluminum frames, with hardware, are only $6.60, sans glass.

Ikea baby.. Ikea

American Frame

or

Contemporary Frame

"American Frame" has been reliable and the frames are excellent quality. You can purchase "washed glass" from a glass supplier (tell them the glass is specifically for picture frames). Buy a full case (23 pcs.) and you'll save the aggravation of having to clean each piece of glass. The cost for frames (16x20) and glass will be around $10. I've found the "inexpensive" frames from stores to be poor quality compared to Neilson frames. American Frame sells cardboard corner protectors for $.20 each. They are invaluable for protecting frames for transport and storage.
Also, since you live in New York State, check into a grant from New York Foundation for the Arts (NYFA.org). The SOS Grant for individual artists is designed especially for career advancement opportunities. If there is a local community arts council, they should have applications available and will perhaps provide assistance in filling it out. The grant is for up to $600 or so. Save any receipts for your supplies for your exhibition. After having received a grant, I was asked to sit on a selection committee and discovered they really want to make the money available to artists.

Morning Mark.... what's the name of the "washed glass" supplier you use?

Right now there's the ever popular "One Cent Frame Sale" at Aaron Brothers...buy one, get second for one cent...