Artists Frame Service

What our customers bring in to have framed is a reflection of trends in art and also important events in their lives that are deemed worth preserving. We get an extra boom of business whenever there is something of note that affects Chicago as a whole. Here is a long time, Artists Frame Service manager’s take on the Obama election memorabilia framing craze.

When I first started working at AFS it was the Bulls “3-Peat” that had people framing. I framed countless dream team jerseys, signed basketballs, tickets, posters and front-page headlines. And then the “repeat three-peat” brought a second round. Then we had a parade of Sosa signed bats and balls and photographs of Sammy landing on home plate while waving his love to the stands – a grand slam for Chicago framers.

This past summer we were hopeful that either the Cubs or the Sox would deliver us a pennant. I don’t know if it was the ghost of Mrs. O’Leary’s cow or the alleged goat curse but neither team was able to make it to the finish line. Wait till next year.

There is one big 2008 event that our customers are choosing to commemorate this year, the election of our 44th president. People are bringing us their items from the campaign for framing to preserve a part of history for themselves, their friends and families.

I am impressed by the volume and range of Obama images being collected. Along with the front-page newspapers and campaign paraphernalia, we are also framing Obama-inspired fine art prints and posters. The art community is inspired to spread Obama’s messages of hope and change in creative ways. Some pieces are individual expressions and others were sold en masse with profits going to the campaign.

For more info on Obama inspired art visit:
The Obama Art Report
Artists For Obama
The Art of Obama