Dexter Picture Frame Co.

Bring a Can of Food to the Circle of Art Party...

Once again we will be raffling off some cool stuff* donated by friends of the Circle. Bring a food donation and get a chance to win! *cool stuff includes $100 Zingermans Gift Card, A Larson-Juhl frame for any Circle piece, $50.00 Saline Picture Frame Gift Card, $50.00 Dexter Picture Frame Gift Card, a Circle of Art T Shirt and the "Mostly Michigan Ultimate PB&J Gift Basket" with Koeze Cream-Nut Peanut Butter American Spoon Foods Strawberry Butter, Nutella and a gift certificate for a loaf of Great Harvest Bread . Join us on Sunday for a fantastic party, great art, tasty food and much fun!

Circle of Art Entry #284

Entry #284 is a stunning oil on a maple panel that came to us from Jan Ruvido Stebbins, a brand new Circle of Art contributor who we met in Dexter. One of the nicest things about the Circle of Art in how it expands every year as more generous artists like Jan Ruvido Stebbins join the project. This little gem is already sparking some spirited bidding. Join the fun, find some favorites and start bidding! 100% goes to Food Gatherers and makes a real difference in our community.

First Annual Seconds Sale on the Third (of May - until 4)

We make a lot of frames - for our Dexter and Saline stores, for our commercial and online accounts and for our online store. As we make all these frames we accumulate a lot of "seconds". Our Dexter store basement storeroom is full to the brim and we are clearing out the accumulation at bargain prices. Come and choose from hundreds of frames starting at just $2.00 and piles of standard size mat blanks (with your choice of opening cut for free) sarting at just $1.00. Help us clear the racks and take advantage of some great deals!

Stephen Wolverine at the Side Door Gallery

On display now at our Side Door Gallery's spring show, a collection of recent paintings by Atlanta area artist Stephen Wolverine. Meet the artist at a reception at the gallery this Friday April 18th from 6:00 to 9:00

"Being Green: Spring Suite, a Celebration of Flowers"

April 11 - May 17

Turning Art into Food!

Things are ramping up for the 2008 Circle of Art. Above is the new Circle of Art graphic created by volunteers R. Keith McGuire of Inner Eye, Inc. and Kathy Rhadigan. We are thrilled with the new logo and the tag-line "Turning Art into Food", both of which capture the spirit of The Circle of Art. The artist donations are beginning to stream in and more than 50 of them are up on the website ready for your bids. Our resident tech guy, Brian Katke, has been furiously slinging code and has greatly streamlined the online bidding process. Give it a try and get the party started!

Artist Census

How many artists – performing, literary, and visual -- live and work in Washtenaw County…and why is it important to know?
As part of the county-wide cultural plan project, Dexter Picture Frame Company is working with the Arts Alliance to determine how many artists and creative individuals live and work in Washtenaw County. Why? Because artists are the spark that ignites our county’s creativity -- but without knowing how many painters, writers or photographers there are here, it’s hard to give individual artists the credibility and respect (not to mention the services) they deserve.
Artists of all types – visual, literary and performing, of any age and educational background – are encouraged to participate. The census is entirely confidential and includes only 10 questions.
If you’re an artist, take the census! If you know other artists, encourage them to take the census! This is an effort that will only succeed if we, as a community, work together!
Link to the Survey - http://www.artscount.org

Circle of Art 2008

Grab your paintbrushes, pencils and pastels, the Circle of Art is here again!
Food Gatherers and Saline Picture Frame Co. are excited to announce the 4th annual Circle of Art - a unique grassroots community project that brings together generous artists in a group show of hundreds of little works of art. Under the banner of "Small Works of Art for A Big Cause" the donated art is auctioned to raise money for Food Gatherers.
Wondering how you can help? Want to become part of the Circle of Art? You can donate a piece of art (Entry Form), You can view the art as it comes in and start bidding on it (here), You can help spread the word to more artists and art lovers, or you can simply bring in a can of food to help us help Food Gatherers fight hunger where we live. When? The 2008 Circle of Art has started! Bring in your donation now until by May 1, 2008. All pieces submitted will be posted on our website as they arrive. Pieces will be on display at Saline Picture Frame Co. from May 1 - May 18. All pieces will be auctioned on May 18, 2008. Where? Entries may be brought or mailed to either Saline Picture Frame Co, 7641 N. Ann Arbor St. Saline, MI 48176.or to Dexter Picture Frame Co. 8063 Main St. Dexter, MI 48130

Pictured above is "The Mask" a print by Denise Daividek, a first time Circle contributor. This piece is part of the current Circle of Art, you can view and bid on it here.

Introducing The Side Door Gallery

"By My Father's House"

Announcing the newest member of The Picture Frame Company family - The Side Door Gallery! Our new exhibition space will showcase some of the many talented area artists we have gotten to know over the last 20 years.

Our inaugural show features the work of our friend Susan Amstutz. Her luminous landscapes and abstracts will be on display in The Side Door Gallery through March. A opening reception will be held on February 29. Visit www.TheSideDoorGallery.com for more information about Susan Amstutz and her work, or view images from the show online here.

Attached to The Dexter Picture Frame Company, The Side Door Gallery is part of our growing roster of Picture Frame Companies - Saline Picture Frame Company, Dexter Picture Frame Company and The Picture Frame Company online.

Adam Jacobs

We've been enjoying the work of Adam Jacobs, a photographer hailing from North London who has been here in Michigan for the past six months being treated for severe migraines at the world renown Michigan Headache and Neurological Institute Adam brings a unique perspective to the iconic Michigan Stadium and has produced some startlingly fresh images of that landmark. Come and see some of his work at the Dexter store. You can also check out or purchase his photo, Shimmering Seats 2, online.

Out of the Milk Crate and onto the Wall

Got some classic vinyl you just can't bear to part with even though your turntable was discarded years ago? Pull it out of the milk crate in the basement and make a statement in your den or in your cubicle. You may be a sober pillar of the community today, but it never hurts to recall the glories of a misspent youth. We've put together a collection of colorful, affordable record album frames that make it easy to show off your favorite cover. Stop in to Dexter to see some fun examples or see them online here

Holiday Hours

We will be open Sunday Dec. 23 from 12-3 and Monday Dec. 24 from 10-1. We will be closed on Christmas Day and on Boxing Day, Dec. 26. We will have regular hours Dec. 27 - 29. We will be closed Monday Dec. 31 and Tuesday Jan 1. Beginning January 2 we will be back to regular hours. We wish you and yours a wonderful holiday.

Beautiful Bountiful Michigan

Michigan has been a tough place for the last couple of years. Buffeted by economic woes we sometimes forget what a great place this state is. The beauty and the bounty Michigan tile from Detroit's historic Pewabic Pottery is a nice reminder. At $19.95 a great gift for your favorite Michigander. available in a range of classic Pewabic glazes at Dexter, Saline and online. Click here to see other great gifts under $35.

Measuring Made Fun!

Can this measurement be accurate?. Pull Pinocchio's nose! Scales in inches and centimeters. We love these whimsical tape measures that measure distances of up to 60 inches / 150 centimeters. At just $5.95 they make humorous and trendy stocking stuffer of gift for everyone on your list. See Pinocchio and more at Dexter, Saline and online. Click here to see more great gifts under $35.

Buy Local Week

We are supporters of Think Local First. Why? Obviously because we are a local business, but also because we personally believe local businesses are important. Where you spend your money is a reflection of what you want your community to look like. If each member of our community spent just 10% more of their purchasing dollars at locally owned businesses, it would make a huge difference in the viability of many of our independent businesses this holiday season. But best yet, you'll be able to find unique, interesting gifts that your family and friends will love. Take the Buy Local Challenge at www.thinklocalfirst.net. When you shop at locally owned businesses, 60% more of your money stays in our community. With the challenges facing our local economies, your holiday purchasing can help make a difference in the vitality of our community. The Holiday Local Challenge is a fun and easy way to help you make the switch to locally owned businesses. As a thank you for taking the pledge Think Local First will select 10 people to win gift certificates to variety of great places.

New Frank Lloyd Wright Tile

This great tile, from Motawi Tileworks, is part of the new Frank Lloyd Wright Coonley Playhouse Collection. The playful designs are adapted from Frank Lloyd Wright’s design for the Coonley Playhouse Light Screen Triptych, build in Riverside, Illinois, 1912. We like everything about this tile, the bold cheerful design, the arts and crafts history and the fact that it was made by the really nice folks at Ann Arbor's own Motawi Tile Works At $34.95 it is a great gift for the arts and crafts buff on your list. Available at Saline, Dexter and online. Click here to see other great gifts under $35.