Who Do You Trust?

Create a Post
J

jframe

SGF, Supreme Grumble Framer
Founding Member
Joined
Jan 1, 1997
Posts
4,251
Loc
Fort Worth, Texas
Who do you trust to give you accurate, state of the art framing advice?

Is it FACTS, an industry educator, an art school instructor, an artist, a CPF, a Grumbler, conservator.......
 
Probably Pam DeSimone. She, at least pretends she doesn't mind answering my millions of questions. I also like that she will try anything as long as it does not damage the art.

Probably I mostly like that she answers all of my questions clearly and makes things sound doable. She knows what she is talking about.
 
Given that fact that the Grumble contains numerous framers of various experiences and some really good conservators, this is where I get most of my advice.
 
Generally speaking I trust Nona Powers and Jim Miller for framing information, Rebecca and Hugh for solid preservation advise and many other industry educators for other specific areas and FACTS.

I think you have to be careful about taking advice from the Grumble at large. Not because Grumblers willingly give wrong information, but because some questions draw answers (sometimes because of confusing questions) that are merely opinion instead of fact.

Opinions are good because they make you think and reassess your own thoughts and methods.
 
Because my daughter is a rabid X-Files fan, my first knee-jerk answer is to "Trust No One"!

It's very kind of Jo to include me in the preservation trust file - thank you!

I try to give thoughts and information that I believe are right, but really the best advice I can give is for everyone to keep learning. There is no single carved-in-stone answer to anything (except "no wire hangers ever"
).

It's always good to get more than one opinion - from reputable sources of course - and then figure out the best course of action based on the needs of the particular piece.

I am not one of those who believes that the customer is always right, nor do I believe that I am always right. "Caution is the better part of valour", that's me!

Rebecca

[ 07-10-2003, 11:56 PM: Message edited by: Rebecca ]
 
Originally posted by jframe:
Who do you trust to give you accurate, state of the art framing advice?

Is it FACTS, an industry educator, an art school instructor, an artist, a CPF, a Grumbler, conservator.......
Click to expand...
All of the above. You read everything you can lay your hands on then draw your own conclusions trying your best to include common sense and logic.

Remember what we are doing is preparing artwork for display with the minumum amount of damage done by us or by the materials we are using. With that in mind our job is relatively simple. Use materials that are considered conservation grade by the industry and try to mount the art in the least damaging way as possible. What else do you need to know?
 
Originally posted by Rebecca:
I am not one of those who believes that the customer is always right...
Click to expand...
I used to feel the same way. However, I have come to realize that the point at which "the customer is wrong" is the point at which you are willing for them to no longer be a customer.... therefore the customer is always right ;)
 
Oh oh, Dave, better put the cap back on the Unseal.

You're gettin' a little third-person thing going there. :D
 
ME and only me!

The last time I was wrong when I was in Little League and swung at an outside pitch.
 
It would be very difficult to place names with areas of framing that you would have no doubt about their advice. Reason being, I will bet good money that all of those mentioned in this thread are humble enough and truthful enough to tell any of you that they have some screwed up skeletons in their own closet and some recent additions. I know I do.

None of us here are true experts. If we were, there would be no need for any further discussion by those who frequent this forum. But, all of us, well the better part of our "family", are still in the state of learning new techniques and modifications to older techniques, trying new products and discarding older outdated products, and attempting to further our knowledge of framing. I don't want to end my "student" status. I enjoy learning new ways to do what we do.

This forum is such a diverse blend of framers and "newbies" that we are in a constant state of receiving new information. I have heard some really neat hints and tips from framers who have only posted 1 or 2 times on the Grumble. I have also been waiting for months for some Grumblers to say something valuable to the trade. Some become comfortable more easily than others, I suppose.

Point being, so many Grumblers contribute to the wealth of information on this forum that it would be extremely difficult to pick a "mentor".

Oh, if this includes all the people in our lives, I have no problem. My Dad stands alone on a very high pedestal as the one person that I looked to for information, answers, training, and sympathy. He was a great outdoorsman, knew so much about so many things, and did a pretty good job as a Dad also. He left me in 1983 along with my Mom and I still miss them both ............. alot.

Framerguy

Edit: Take all the advice you can possibly get. Ask all the questions you can think of, and then trust your "gut". If you are intelligent enough to be a successful framer, you should have "gut" instincts that will tell you the better from the good. (I don't believe in a "best" answer for much of anything)

I will always share what I know with others and look to others for the answers to what I don't know. Isn't that what life is all about?

[ 07-11-2003, 10:29 AM: Message edited by: Framerguy ]
 
No single source of advice is adequate. But of all the sources of information we have available, the one most complete and credible is FACTS. Manufacturers' published information is good, too -- after you realize there's a lot they don't tell you.

Most advice is simply one person's opinion on what factual information applies in any given situation. The more factual information one knows on the subject, the more credible the opinion. But who knows how much the advisor r-e-a-l-l-y knows?

I would seek advice from at least two credible sources, or as many as it takes to get what you feel is conclusive information.

That is, if you get six opinions and none of them agree, keep asking questions until you sort it all out.
 
Originally posted by Bill Henry:
The last time I was wrong when I was in Little League and swung at an outside pitch.
Click to expand...
Bill, are you really a woman? ;)

I thought I was wrong once, but I was mistaken!


i agree that you should get more than one opinion, because that is what they are opinions. When I testified in court as part of my job the ONLY person who was an expert when asked by council was ME. Persons who wrote books, or edited reference materials were just that REFERENCE. You and You alone are ultimately the one you should trust, if not check your references. Master Jim is a Heck of a Reference!
 
Thanks, Susan, for putting so much trust in me, but I would be the first to say I don't know everything. I think most of us have some things we know alot about, and other things we know a little about. There is so much to know about so many things, I don't think it is wise to put your trust in someone for everything.
When I think there is an area where I would like to know more, I will attend a class at a trade show. Sometimes a seminar given by the PPFA at our meetings will interest me. If there is not an immedeiate need for knowledge, but I need to know something, I will buy a book and read up on the subject. If there is an immediate need, I will call the PPFA. I also have saved articles from the trades in folders, rather than keep the entire magazine. I have an excellent refence library going because of this. I think I used the Grumble once when I had a bunch of fishing lures to frame. I got a few ideas, and came up with my own solution.
 
Originally posted by jframe:
Who do you trust to give you accurate, state of the art framing advice? ...
Click to expand...
Although it sounds like a rhetorical question, here goes:

The "state of the art" constantly evolves. That which we "know" to be "correct" today, may not seem to be, tomorrow. As such, like so many others here, I trust myself. In the final tally, we each reap the benefit or cost of every decision we make...

Having said that, to be able to access the knowledge and opinions that are so freely and graciously shared here, is truly remarkable! This is an incredible forum and, although I'm a newcomer here, I've found it (y'all) to be extremely helpful.

I am absolutely thrilled to have found the Grumble, and feel privileged to be (an albeit insignificant) part of it.

My sincere thanks to all!!!

I have to go now - sniff, sniff - there's something in my eye. ;)
 
Create a Post
Back
Top