By Nancy Brumback, Contributing Writer
Northborough??”Gastonart & Frame, which has been providing custom framing and related services in Shrewsbury for 10 years, has opened a second location in Northborough.
“It was always in our plan to have more than one store,” said Harry Gaston, a certified picture framer who owns the business with his father, John, an artist, illustrator and graphic designer.
When the opportunity to purchase Northboro Photo & Frame came up, Gaston bought the shop on West Main Street.
“People have been coming here to buy frames for 30 years,” he noted.
This store offers the same services as the Shrewsbury location, specializing in custom framing.
“We can customize a frame for anything anybody can throw at us,” he said, recalling that his most unusual request was to frame a used, greasy pizza box.
“It was the pizza a couple had the night they became engaged, and the husband had the box framed for their first anniversary.”
Gaston and his staff can help customers narrow down their choices from the stores” wide array of frame styles and mats, and then provide the proper techniques necessary to preserve the artwork that goes inside.
The stores also offer a “Great Deal” custom framing option with a choice of over 20 frame styles, mat colors and types of glass “at prices that beat what anyone else can do.”
Gaston noted the Great Deal price is comparable to buying a good quality, premade frame, but provides a frame sized perfectly to fit the piece of artwork.
“Even though we'se grown to a second store, we are still focused on providing personal service to every customer,” Gaston said. “We continue to educate ourselves to be able to provide the newest products and services.
“We offer unique designs and are intent on maintaining a high degree of craftsmanship and quality, because everything has our name on the back,” he said. Gaston continues to do framing himself, along with his framing staff, and divides his time between the two stores.
“We are the people you can trust with all of your art treasures,” his father added.
In addition to custom framing, the stores offer digital printing, which can create reproductions of artwork or prints from digital photographs. They can also do digital restorations of old or damaged photographs.
Both stores stock a variety of ready-made frames and prints and gift items. Corporate and commercial framing and art installation services are also available.
Gastonart launched an art education program, ArtmakerZ, about three years ago, featuring classes for both children and adults, driven in part by declining levels of art instruction in schools.
“These are not arts and crafts classes. My first rule was no pipe cleaners or googly eyes,” Gaston said. Instead, “we are teaching the basics and fundamentals of art in a way that the kids have fun.” There are both summer classes and programs during the school year. Adult classes are also offered, and John Gaston has plans for a two-day outdoor painting workshop this summer. Currently, all classes are at the Shrewsbury store, but will be expanded to Northborough as well in the coming months.
Gastonart also hosts paint parties for both children and adults and children's birthday parties.
The business is a member of the Professional Picture Framers Association, and Harry Gaston is currently president of the New England chapter.
Both stores are open Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and are closed Sundays. The Northborough store is located at 58 W. Main St., 508-393-3800. The Shrewsbury store is located at 257 Boston Turnpike Road, on the westbound side of Route 9, 508-754-3700.
For additional information, visit the website, www.gastonartandframe.com, ?or on Facebook.
Editor's Note: The preceding is not an endorsement and is presented for informational purposes only.
