Framing
While the daily activities of the framer may seem apparent, the designation belies the skills required of the work. In close collaboration with curators, exhibition designers, conservators, and often the artists themselves, the framer must devise presentations that preserve both the work and the artist’s intent while conforming to the aesthetic constraints and curatorial conceptions of individual exhibitions. Frames can often be ordered pre-assembled and finished, but most exhibitions require the custom milling, assembly, and finishing of new frames, along with the modification and retrofitting of older ones. The framing studio’s inclusion in the work of the Conservation Department allows for a close interaction between the framer and the conservators, promoting the safety of the artwork throughout the installation processes.
