Good Questions: Frames for the Fillmore?

Help! I want to frame my concert posters (ala the ones they give out at the Fillmore), but I'm having trouble finding cheap ones in that size (11" x 17"). I just want plain white ones, but at this point, I'd settle for any in that size.

Thanks AT! -Shannon

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Hi Shannon,

The best option we know of for inexpensively framing art that large is glass clip frames. QuadroFrames sells them in packs of 6 in the 11" x 17" size for $24, which is a great deal.

Any other ideas out there?

Comments (16)

Cheap Pete's on Geary has these frames and they even label them that way. If you go to their website, they might even have a coupon.

Hi,

I've had a few odd-sized prints professionally mounted rather than framed, and they look great. They're basically spray-mounted onto a block of wood (you can choose thick or thin, and black or white) that's cut to the exact size of the image, then the whole thing is polyurathaned. I had mine done at the Reprint MInt in Berkeley, and the cost ranged from about $20 for something the size of your Fillmore posters to about $100 for a gigantic reproduction antique map. Still less than framing.

Ironically enough, I got the idea from a neighbor who'd had a series of Fillmore posters mounted in this way, and hung them in a line along a long wall.

Best,

Leah

I too, love the look of "float mount" posters, if you don't need to spend a lot of money on this, it can be a good weekend project. We got a huge poster (50" x 60") last year that would have costed a fortune to get framed, and we bought plywood for backing (Foam-core backing material might be better, but they only come in limited size), spray can of glue, spray can of "artists clear acrylic", for about $20.

We nailed a wooden frame on the back of the plywood, along the edges so that we can lean the poster against the wall on a narrow ledge, if you just need to hang it up, a block of wood along the top could be enough.

You can get simple white, wood frames at Aaron Brothers. They carry all sorts of sizes and often have penny sales (buy one frame, get the second for a penny). I think, though, that the float mount suggested upthread would look much nicer, particularly if you give the posters a bit of a border to set them off from the wall around them.

However, if you choose to mount the posters yourself (dead easy, really), please make sure you use materials that are acid-free, archival quality. You'd be amazed how quickly posters can deteriorate if mounted without that in mind. Any good art supply shop (I like the Art Store at 6th and University in Berkeley) should be able to help you out with that, if you're not sure what to look for.

I'm jumping on the float mount option too! If you mount to Gator Board it doesn't warp and is a sturdier material than foam core. I think you can get it at University Art, Flax or Arch - all in the City. If you go the white frame route, Ikea has some simple, inexpensive frames.

remember, if you mount the poster with adhesive, you'll reduce the value of the poster. if you don't care about the future resale value, go for float mount!

American Frame is great for those odd sized prints.
http://www.americanframe.com/

I have show posters that I collect from the Pearl Jam shows I go to.

I frame them in a plain back metal frame with a low profile. I like the uniform quality it gives them while letting the art shine. I also choose uv glass to protect them from the sun.

you could do a mat too, but I choose not to.

When I visited EMP in Seattle a few years ago, they had a collection of Pearl Jam posters framed almost identically to mine.

Ana
I love pearl Jam poster design! Some of them are done by Ames bros. design company wich is my favorite! I was curious, are those posters off set print or silkscreen print?

Both but the majority are silkscreen, with some hand numbered.

I've got mostly Ames bros but a few of Brad Klausen's which I LOVE.

My Pearl Jam habit is not a cheap one and with this last tour I have officially run out of wall space...so I either need to stop buying the posters at my shows or get a place with vast amounts of wall space.

The latter will most likely be the course of action I take!

Ana
wow, you have great collections. i have only seen them in the book.
i wish i could see your walls!! what a gallery at home.

Thank you!

I love that my favorite band does this, It just gets pricey at times.

When Pearl Jam played the infamous Polo Fields show in Golden Gate Park they had a tent set up to silk screen your own poster.

Got to pick your own colors, it was too cool. It still is one of my most favorite PJ posters to date.

And I second the Cheap Pete's post on Fillmore/Warfield posters.

At The Framer's Workshop in Berkeley we have a large selection of Fillmore frames in all standard rock poster sizes and we will custom make these frames for you if your poster measurements vary slightly. Our frames include a metal frame, glass, mounting, backing , and hardware. We also have archival upgrades for valuable rock poster frames. Our price includes the labor for us to frame your poster for you, or you can use our tables and help for our do-it-yourself same day service.

See our web site and our new blog site for more details!
http://localbizblogs.com/framersworkshop

http://www.framersworkshop.com/

--from Kirstie at The Framer's Workshop