Attleboro Arts Museum: Framing Guidelines

All works included in the Fourth National Juried Monotype/Monoprint Exhibition must be securely framed, wired, and ready to hang according the Attleboro Arts Museum’s standards (see framing guidelines). Unstable or improperly framed work will not be included in the exhibition. No clips or saw tooth edges. Mats should be white or off white and frames should be neutral.

Framing Guidelines

• The 
finished 
presentation
–
front, 
back, 
top, 
bottom 
and 
sides
–
is 
part 
of 
the 
whole 
work. 
It 
should 
appear
 to
 be
new
 and
 well
 crafted, 
without
 scratches.

 All
 work
 should
 be 
sturdy,
 not
 flimsy
 or 
fragile.
• All 
work 
must
 be
 presented
 as 
ready‐to‐hang upon
 delivery.
• All
 2D
 artwork 
(including
 framed
 works,
 canvases
 and
 panels) 
must
 have
 a
 wire 
hanging 
system.
 The
 wire
 should
 be 
attached
 to 
the 
back 
of
 the
 frame 
between
 one‐third
 and 
one‐quarter
 of
 the 
way 
down 
the
 piece.
 Stainless
 steel
 braided
 picture
 wire
 works
 best 
for
 smooth hanging
 and
 deters
 rusting.
• Do
 not 
use
 sawtooth
 hangers. 
They 
are 
not 
strong 
enough 
to 
support 
the 
weight 
of
 most 
frames 
safely.
• Some 
grand
 masterpieces
 are
 well
 suited
 for 
hand‐carved
 gold
frames; 
however
 most
 pieces
 look
 best 
in
 modest
frame
moldings
 with 
clean
lines 
and
 black, 
neutral,
 or
 natural
 wood
 finishes.
• Photographs
 and
 all
 two‐dimensional
 work 
on 
paper
 should
 be
 matted
 with 
neutral
 tones
 (white
 or 
off‐white) and
 covered
 with
 clean,
 scratch‐free
 glass
 or
 Plexiglas.
• Float‐mounting 
the
 artwork 
over
 the
 mat,
 so
 that
 the
 edges
 are 
seen,
 is 
an
 option
 when
 an
 artwork
 has
 a
 deckle
edge 
or
 is
 constructed
 with 
handmade
 paper.
 A
 spacer 
within 
the 
frame 
should
 be used 
to 
keep 
the 
art
 from
touching
 the
 glass
 or 
Plexiglas.
• When
 framing 
a
 stretched
 canvas,
 no
 glass 
or
 Plexiglas
 is
 required
–
as
 the
 canvas 
needs 
to 
breathe.
• Large
 oils
 or 
acrylics
 on
 heavy‐duty
 stretchers
 with
 a
 gallery 
wrap
 do
 not
 need
 to 
be 
framed.
 The
 canvas
 should
 be
 stapled
 on 
the 
back 
and 
the 
edge 
should
 be
 painted.
• Instructions
 for 
installations
 must
 include
 a
 photo 
of
 the 
installation 
in 
final
 form
 and
 required
 hardware
.
• 2D 
and
 3D
 work
 cannot
 weigh
 more 
than 
100 
lbs.
• Sculpture
 can 
be
 displayed
 on
 pedestals
 provided
 by 
the 
exhibiting
 artist.
• Quilts
 and 
other 
fiber
 work
 should 
include
 a
 sleeve 
or
 other
 place
 for
 your 
hardware
–
and
 be
 ready 
to 
hang.
• Technology
 and 
display 
instructions 
must
 be 
provided 
for
 all
 digital
 works.

These 
guidelines 
are
 designed 
to 
yield 
simple,
 successful 
presentation
 solutions
 that
 spotlight
 your 
art.


 Please know 
that 
costly 
frames
 are
 not 
required.