When most think of frames, they picture family photos or paintings behind a piece of glass. But Nick Martin, owner of Art Box Custom Framing, said it is not just pictures customers look to frame.
One day a customer walked into the frame shop where Martin used to work carrying a pair of hand-embroidered shoes that she bought at a local marketplace while on a trip to China. She wore them while there to share in the culture and tradition of the country but returned home not wanting to wear them again, instead asking to frame them in a shadowbox.
A few months later she returned with a marionette doll that was a family heirloom she and her siblings played with growing up. It had been well-loved and was at least 60 years old, and the family wanted it preserved.
“They always make the most interesting pieces, and there’s always a really interesting story behind why you want to frame these shoes,” he said of the more unique items he has been asked to frame. “It’s not everyday somebody walks in and says here, this is something I need framed and it’s a marionette doll.”
The new shop on Union Street
Martin, the designer, framer and owner of Art Box Custom Framing at 246 Union St., New Bedford opened his new frame shop at the end of May. The store boasts a wide range of frames to suit all styles and tastes.
According to the store website, Martin “believes that framing is an art form and is essential to preserving, displaying, and enhancing the beauty of your artwork. Whether you’re framing a fine art print, canvas, historic object, or personal memento, I consult with you on every step of the process. I believe in going above and beyond to ensure a quality product that you will love, that’s why I will never compromise on craftsmanship or materials.”
The store offers custom framing, ready made frames, prints and poster framing, original artworks, custom mirrors and more.
Customers are typically greeted by his dog Harley from her window seat as they enter the front door before looking around at the variety of frames of all colors on the walls and on tables with artwork ready to be framed.
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Interesting framing projects
One of the oldest, most interesting pieces Martin has framed was a photograph of a family’s great-grandfather.
When he opened it, in the backing of the frame was the page of a newspaper with early election results for Abraham Lincoln stating where he was winning as of the date of the paper and how he was waiting for more election results from 12 states to come.
He framed both the picture of the great-grandfather as planned and the newspaper with details of Lincoln’s results.
Life as an artist
Martin grew up in Easthampton, and art has always been part of his life. He attended art camps growing up and has pursued other forms of creative expression through the years.
He attended Wheaton College in Norton where he was a psychology major and a studio arts minor, but as he was graduating, he realized it should have been the other way around.
He made collections with classmates who are also in the arts and has been working since college with a digital media production company out of Boston called HipStory that a musician and artist friend of his started to help create inspiring art.
After taking a job at the University of Massachusetts for six years, he moved to Boston to be closer to the media company and, because he needed a job, started working at a frame shop. He fell in love with framing almost immediately. When his boss at the frame shop suffered an injury after his first week on the job, he basically took over for her in a sort of trial by fire.
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“It was a great way to get tossed into it and find my way through it,” he said. “I thankfully had a lot of customers who were really understanding, and they all knew her and trusted her and they would say she trained you, so we’ll trust you.”
He eventually switched to another frame shop in Boston where there was much more variety, and he learned a lot about the intricate details of framing and making sure art is preserved and properly presented.
He said he really learned an appreciation of what framing does for a piece of art beyond simply serving as a decoration on the wall.
“It is a way to keep something safe that means something to you whether it be a painting, a photo, or a piece of memorabilia,” he said. “We really got into intricate framing there.”
Martin, who now lives in Portsmouth, Rhode Island, had the opportunity and some savings to open up his own space and decided on New Bedford for its antiques and arts community that reminded him of home. He really connected with the people here.
Martin enjoys being part of the arts community in New Bedford and every final Friday of the month intends to bring in a local musician to play music and air it over a livestream. He’ll call it Final Fridays at the Frame Shop.
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Framing a piece
Martin typically offers customers a two-to-three-week turnaround. He said he will frame pretty much anything that’s creative and meaningful to his customers.
Martin is aware how quickly framing can add up, so his goal is to work within a budget so his customers have access to art that tells a story of importance to them.
One potential customer has asked him to frame a television. He has embedded LED lights on the inside of frames. When people think of framing, he said they think of the typical black frame. But he suggests other options that may draw the eye to the piece more.
For example, he creates fully-custom, hand-painted color spacers that go on the inner edge of the frame to keep the glass off the artwork and adds a subtle pop of color.
“My goal is to not pick out what I think the best frame is, my goal is to pick out a frame that will preserve the piece properly but is also something that you as the customer love,” he said.
Standard-Times staff writer Kathryn Gallerani can be reached at kgallerani@gannett.com. Follow her on X: @kgallreporter. Support local journalism by purchasing a digital or print subscription to The Standard-Times today.
