Eight Feet for The Fralin at The University of Virginia

This spring, we have had the pleasure of working with The Fralin Museum of Art at the University of Virginia on a very special Project.  Their current exhibition, "Casting Shadows: Selections for the Permanent Collection featuring the FUNd", features works from a variety of artists and "explores the metaphorical "shadows" of the tragedies, ideologies, and controversies of the past that still influence contemporary societies across the globe."  
​For more info on this exhibition: ​http://www.virginia.edu/artmuseum/exhibition/

One of the works in this exhibition is by artist Daniel Reeves.  We were pleased to have Mr. Reeves work arrive in our design studio and later in our workshop.  A very large piece of artwork, the triptych measured over 8’ long, making it one of the biggest projects we’ve seen this year.
​This triptych arrived to us, mounted on foamcore, which created a bit of a mounting challenge.  Standard hinges would not be sufficient to hold the the weight of each of the panels, so we began brainstorming for a mounting solution that would be both supportive and archival.

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After much consideration with the standard materials in our own workshop, we decided that a visit to our local hardware store was in order.  We knew vaguely what we were looking for, but hadn’t laid eyes on it.  That is, until we found this hardware!  These allowed for the photographs to be supported without needing to attach anything to them.  Just what we needed!

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Given the size of this project, the frame would need extra support.  The long and narrow size of the frame could lend to bowing sides…which would then lead to the plexiglass popping right out of the front of the frame.  No way!  To keep that from happening, we built a strainer support that fit into the back of the frame.  With added cross-bracing, this provided structure that the frame lacked on it’s own.

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So, how do you hang something this large?  Screw eyes or D-rings and wire weren’t going to cut it.  The weight would need to be distributed more evenly than standard hanging equipment could provide.  We chose to attach a “Z-bar”  One strip is screwed into the back of the frame while another, identical strip, is screwed to the wall where it hangs.  Screws occur every 6 inches or so, which provides far more support than two D-rings ever could.

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​We are so pleased with the completed project.
​The design was simple and really allows the artwork to shine. 

​Be sure to stop by The Fralin to see it this summer!