October 5th, 2008
Termed an art incubator, the new RedLine art center will have it’s inaugural event October 24th, 2008. Self described as an urban laboratory to connect emerging artists with their potential, founder Laura Merage’s vision is to assist emerging artists as they build their portfolios and take their careers to the next level. Located in downtown Denver, RedLine received a design award from the AIA for the remodel of it’s facility, the former warehouse shell was filled with art studios, gallery space, administrative offices and a dramatic exterior face-lift. The center will host 15-20 resident artists at any given time for a 2-3 year period; in exchange for the affordable studio space artists agree to engage in healthy criticism and debate among the visiting artists, exhibits, lectures and direction from the centers judges and leadership board. Metropolitan Frame Company is working with RedLine and it’s artists providing framing and presentation expertise. For more information on RedLine and their inaugural event, visit redlineart.org or contact Sara Chaitin at schaitin@redlineart.org.
- Andrew Stemple
September 22nd, 2008
Working with Civic Entertainment Group out of New York City, Metropolitan Frame Company worked among the hustle and bustle deadlines of the broadcasting and political world helping CNN (Cable News Network) temporarily transform local restaurants in Denver and St. Paul into the “CNN Grill” during the Democratic and Republican National Conventions of August 2008. The production schedule was rapid and exciting; MFC was responsible for framing medium to large (48×72 inch) photographs of news correspondence and presidential candidates. The images were digital files sent from New York to Infinite Editions in Wheatridge, Colorado to be printed. Ron Landucci did an excellent job printing and delivering them to us (overnight, 10-20 pieces at a time) so we could then frame them either overnight or in the same afternoon to keep pace with the demanding schedule. During the last days of the Democratic National Convention, New York sent Ron the last ten images to print on a Thursday evening. He delivered those prints to us around noon on Friday; they were then framed, crated and in St. Paul on Saturday morning!
The project came to us at the referral of Gifford Ewing. Gif is an amazing photographer best known for his black & white images of Maine and the Rocky Mountain region. Civic Entertainment Group chose his work for the Denver CNN Grill to represent the local landscape. If you know Gif’s work it’s no mystery why he was chosen for this project, and if you don’t know his work you need to; please view his work and read more about Gif at ewingphoto.com.
- Andrew Stemple
May 10th, 2008
Best known for working among retail and creative markets, Metropolitan Frame Company has purchased TimeFrame Incorporated to enhance its position in the production framing market.
Metropolitan has always offered what many call wholesale discounts to the creative trades, basically discounts to artists, art consultants, interior designers, galleries, and museums, but these buyers need materials and treatments that cannot be achieved at true wholesale prices. Production or Wholesale framing refers to large volume related projects with hundreds of pieces over a specified period or all at once.
TimeFrame will essentially be folded into Metropolitan Frame becoming its wholesale division. The merger will add projects with names like Ritz Carlton, Westin, Hilton, and St. Regis to its portfolio.
- Andrew Stemple
January 15th, 2008
Founded in 1990 by Andrew Stemple, the company originally known as Animal Crackers Framing & Art Services was born in a college classroom. Writing a plan for a then fictitious business, it needed a name that was fun, easy to remember, and fell into alphabetical listings quickly.
The true inspiration came while working on the assignment at home. Mom sent a care-package full of cookies, fruit, and a big bag of Animal Crackers. The name did very well in the small somewhat unrecognized world of picture framing, but as the company followed Andy’s apatite further and further up the food chain it became increasingly difficult to make the name “Animal Crackers” synonymous with fine, museum quality picture framing. The name change process started in September of 2007 and was introduced to the marketplace in January of 2008.
We’ve never looked back, our new name has been a great opportunity to update the company, it’s allowing me to get out of bed and do my best work for the customers, employees and company as a whole, and I truly believe the new name has already helped solidify our position with collectors and museums around the country.
- Andrew Stemple
