Mary Beth van der Horst
CGF, Certified Grumble Framer
I just finished a collage for a 2020 grad who didn't get the chance to walk. He was pretty beat up about not getting a graduation--come to find out this whole degree was the culmination of a cathartic reinvention of himself after going through a nasty divorce--lots of life changes. Usually for degrees, I keep it pretty simple, but considering we wanted a frame with all of the pomp and ceremony of the graduation he missed, we decided to make it big enough to include his stole and cords, as well as a patch from his uniform. Also a little unusual: we included a letter from the college to the grads acknowledging the hardships they had to overcome in the middle of a pandemic, changing learning styles and persevering through. We both agreed that it completed the narrative of the time and situation of the end of his studies. Alas, we didn't opt for museum glass, and the color scheme was a little dark, so my crappy cell phone pics are thrice compromised, but this project took on many more emotions than your typical degree and I wanted to share. Have any other framers gotten any interesting 2020 graduation projects?
Frame: Palmetto Deep Mahogany 1.25" (PF9960)
Fillet: Nurre Caxton Silver Frisson 3/16" (NC47042)
Mats: Midnight Suede (B4150), Super White (C9613), Rose (C9854)
Conservation Clear Glass
32" x 37.5"
Everything besides paper is sewmounted into place.

Frame: Palmetto Deep Mahogany 1.25" (PF9960)
Fillet: Nurre Caxton Silver Frisson 3/16" (NC47042)
Mats: Midnight Suede (B4150), Super White (C9613), Rose (C9854)
Conservation Clear Glass
32" x 37.5"
Everything besides paper is sewmounted into place.


