I’m hoping that the readers of this post realize that I have taken GREAT literary liberties in the title of this essay. As an assistant to a master framer for the past five years, I can assure readers that nothing could be farther from the truth. On the contrary, framers are given the privilege to shortly peer into other people’s lives and create a safe place for keepsakes and create displays for admired works of art. From personal experience, I can attest that even the most strongly refrained framers cannot help but smile in admiration when seeing an original Harvey Dunn sketch or a Carl Grupp lithograph.
During this time of COVID-19, however, I’m reminded of the times I assisted Mary Selvig in handling and framing several historically significant art pieces. First, we planned; we laid out the tools and materials needed and also thought about how we were going to flip or turn the art safely. To assure that no oil or foreign substance touched these pieces, vinyl or white cotton gloves were worn. We never talked while working on these art pieces since we knew that this seemly harmless action could direct accidental water droplets onto these expensive artworks. (We were probably smiling on the inside.) Although the silence could be a little awkward at times, we altered our behavior because it was – necessary. Necessary, because we were entrusted with these valuable items which could not be replaced.
Currently, I feel like I’m being bombarded with “social distancing” limitations; it’s awkward, and I’m being asked to alter my behavior and go outside my comfort zone. But looking back on the responsibility of framing those precious keepsakes, I can see the similarities to the responsibilities of social distancing. This time, however, I am being entrusted with the most valuable and irreplaceable type of artwork – those people within my community.
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