The Right Frame of Mind

Enhance treasured artworks with custom framing

By: Bernadette Yannacci

"Mike
Staff
photo by Mark Czajkowski
Mike


Yahr displays a Tibetan thanka (a religious painting on coarse cloth) he
framed with hand-wrapped silk matting and three moldings.

 
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   For many people, making a house feel like a home means adorning their dwelling with things of beauty. Blank walls are turned into showcases for those things held dear: a family photograph, an ornate mirror or a perhaps a beloved painting.
   Choosing the framing, however, for these precious items can often be as daunting a task as selecting the artwork itself.
   Fortunately, there are experts out there who know what’s what when it comes to custom framing.
   Mike Yahr, owner of Trade Art and Frame in South Brunswick wants his customers to not only walk away happy, but educated about the art of custom framing.
   "We take every element and explain it to them," he said.
   On a blistering July morning, Mr. Yahr spoke from his shop about the importance of quality workmanship. Mr. Yahr is an exam-certified picture framer with the Professional Picture Framers of America and a past-president of the organization’s New Jersey chapter. A great deal of Mr. Yahr’s business comes from other professionals who know what to look for when they are seeking exceptional framing. These professionals include interior designers and decorators, artists, architects and photographers who have entrusted Mr. Yahr and his colleagues with very valuable pieces of art, including two Rembrandt etchings.
   Another segment of Trade Art and Frame’s clientele is homeowners who, while they may have a framing idea in mind, may not be quite as technically savvy as those professionals. While some homeowners may think of framing as a simple task, Mr. Yahr pointed out that quality framing is essential to preserving the integrity of a work of art. Shoddy framing can result in damaged art, a sad consequence Mr. Yahr has seen firsthand after being asked to repair the work of others.
   "Often the damage that has been done can’t be undone," he said. Mr. Yahr’s shop strictly adheres to museum-quality framing standards as outlined by The Library of Congress. This includes the use of "kozo," an acid-free Japanese paper for matting, and rice starch as an adhesive. Mr. Yahr said the materials used to make mat boards are of the utmost importance.
   "They need to be not just acid-free but archival. They are usually 100 percent rag content or alpha-cellulose, a de-acidified wood pulp," he said.
   If a glazing is used as part of the framing, customers can choose between glass and acrylic products.
   "Whatever glass or acrylic is used should have a UV filtering component," said Mr. Yahr.
   When framing paper art, such as photographs, Mr. Yahr said choosing a glazing with a UV filtering component can mean life and death to the work. "Ultraviolet light and florescent light do the most damage to paper art," he said.
   As far as aesthetics are concerned, customers of Trade Art and Frame have a dizzying array of moldings to choose from. Mr. Yahr’s shop boasts more than 8,000 moldings and a vast selection of matting materials. Prices for the moldings can range from a few dollars to several hundred dollars per foot. If a customer is unsure which framing style would be appropriate for their work of art, Trade Art and Frame has the expertise to guide them to an appropriate choice. Design Director Dave Lawson has his bachelor’s degree in design and has worked at numerous art galleries. While keeping the customer’s vision in mind, Mr. Lawson also helps them avoid framing mistakes that would detract from the art’s beauty.

"An
An Indonesian mask is arrayed with six hand-carved Italian moldings.

Staff photo by Mark Czajkowski

   "We’re trying to do what’s right for the artwork," he said.
   Mr. Lawson said part of his job is to help customers realize that the style choices for framing a work of art run the gamut.
   "The lay consumer has a limited sense of possibility in terms of design with what can be done with their piece," he said.
   From simple metal moldings to finely detailed gold leaf embellished wood moldings, the options available are seemingly endless. Additionally, custom-made mats and liners crafted from almost any fabric are also a possibility. Mike Vecchiarelli, operations manager for Trade Art and Frame said fabric covered liners and mats can do much to dress up a work of art.
   "They give it a more refined look," he said.
   Mr. Vecchiarelli, who holds his bachelor’s degree in fine arts, proudly oversees Trade Art and Frame’s state-of-the-art workshop. The most up-to-date equipment allows the shop to handle almost any sized work of art. "We’ll even do large pieces for smaller frame shops that can’t handle them," said Mr. Vecchiarelli.
   The result of maintaining an exceptionally equipped workshop allows Trade Art and Frame to adhere to its most important standard.
   "The one thing we really strive for is quality," said Mr. Vecchiarelli. Along with maintaining up-to-date equipment, Mr. Yahr and his colleagues continually educate themselves on the latest possibilities in framing.

"Design
Design Director David Lawson chooses matting to accentuate an artwork.

Staff photo by Mark Czajkowski

   "I go to all the trade shows and we look for something new and different," said Mr. Yahr.
   As well as educating himself, Mr. Yahr strives to educate others on proper framing techniques. Through his work teaching a class at the Princeton Adult School, "Picture Framing for Non-Framers," Mr. Yahr helps average consumers learn what to look for in framing.
   "The real objective is to make them better informed," he said.
   In addition to framing artwork such as paintings, posters, photographs and mirrors, Trade Art and Frame can also frame three-dimensional works of art using a technique called "shadow boxing." This process enables customers to encase virtually anything they wish. Mr. Yahr said the shop has seen everything from fertility masks to tiny pieces of sandstone to computer motherboards. Mr. Lawson spoke enthusiastically about the technique as he gingerly held a Civil War rifle that was about to be shadowboxed.
   "This is the stuff I have the most fun with," he said.
   Regardless of the type of art being displayed, Trade Art and Frame strives to showcase the work through the use of high-quality techniques and materials. "Our customers love to buy from us, our employees love to work for us and our vendors love to sell to us," said Mr. Yahr.
   Trade Art and Frame is located at 45 Stouts Lane in Monmouth Junction and can be reached by calling (732) 438-0484.
Bernadette Yannacci is a free-lance writer who often writes about gardening and home design for The Packet Magazine. She is a former staff writer for the South Brunswick Post and The Cranbury Press.