North Shore Festival of Art, Skokie, Illinois

Jan Marion was recently selected to a panel of judges to jury two of Amdur Productions’ outdoor summer art fairs. The first, North Shore Festival of Art in Skokie, Illinois, took place over the weekend of July 25-26. Located at Westfield Old Orchard, this festival realized its second year of success, catering to a discriminating clientele of collectors and patrons of the arts on Chicago’s North Shore. Carefully juried, the festival brought a diversity of paintings, sculpture, photography, jewelry, fiber, wood, glass and mixed media to the public.

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H. Marion Framing Reaches Out To Creative Talent Of Local Junior High School

H. Marion Framing Studio, the North Shore’s premier art consulting and framing business, is hosting an art exhibition at its Wilmette location in the Edens Plaza Shopping Center for one night only on Thursday, March 12, 2009, from 6 to 8:30 p.m. But the artists there can’t stay too long: they’ve got homework.

More than 80 Marie Murphy Junior High students from the Avoca School District No. 37 will have an exciting opportunity to bring their artwork from the classroom to the showroom for all the public to view. Community members are invited to stop in the store and peruse this eclectic, original collection.

“This is a great way to give back to the community,” says gallery co-owner Jan Marion, who opened the chain’s second location in late fall ’08. “The kids are the real stars of the show.”

Jan Marion and his creative team of art consultants are known for giving back to the local community. In today’s scholastic world, where gym and art are typically the first programs cut from a budget, Marion realizes it’s more important than ever to foster art appreciation among schoolchildren.

Stay posted for information on upcoming art exhibitions at both H. Marion locations in Wilmette and Glenview, IL. - subscribe to our blog!

Magis (pronounced màh-gis):
Founded on the principles of Diversity, Service, and Spirituality, Magis creates in men, lifestyles which strive to do “more” for humanity.

One of our give-back programs involves a day at the Ronald McDonald Children’s Hospital, dozens of acrylic paint colors, a crate full of raw wood picture frames and the enthusiasm of the young patients and their families to paint with us. Some activities take place in an activity room, others bedside for those too sick to venture out. At the end of the day, not only have we provided a break in the cycle of day-night-day and seemingly endless barrage of tests, but an art therapy project which yields a hand-painted picture frame that may be proudly displayed for years to come.

I am grateful for my relationship with LUMC, which affords me the opportunity to touch the lives, albeit briefly, of some brave young patients and their families.

In appreciation, one hospital administrator offered a Jesuit interpretation of our contribution:

     “On our campus we have a favorite Latin word, “Magis.” We recognize Magis behaviors among our staff and faculty and promote this as a way to provide excellence in service. Your work here is a great example of Magis.”

before renovation

When we first considered leasing the retail space in Wilmette, we were challenged by the expansive wall of windows that took up nearly 40% of the pie-shaped store. We required more display space than our walls offered and so we were challenged to come up with an efficient & user-friendly way to display not only our gallery of framed artwork, but thousands of frame moulding samples as well. We solved this problem in a successful and space-efficient manner: by developing an innovative system that incorporates stacked, hanging panels which slide open to reveal additional layers of fabulous frame mouldings.

With just 815 sq. ft. of space, the new H. Marion Framing location is highly illuminated, with two walls of natural light beaming through the heavily windowed store. These unique features allowed us to implement a dramatic, yet neutral color sheme, and to employ unconventional hanging systems and display easels to effectively showcase a range of artwork sans the walls on which to diplay it. This method of layering creates the illusion of a much deeper and more spacious showroom than actually exists.

“We’ve made creative use of a small space,” explains Marion, “the new store is as visually striking as it is user-friendly. We succeeded in creating a design that showcases our beautiful collections of moulding and gallery of fine art in a way that is inviting from any angle, either from within the store or to window-shoppers and passers-by.” The space is itself, a work of art.

Serving the design needs of the North Shore since 1973, H. Marion Framing first opened up its doors in Wilmette, but moved its operations to other northern suburbs. Now, Marion has circled back to the company’s roots and couldn’t be happier. “It’s a really beautiful space; we’ve risen to the occasion in designing the new store and I can’t wait to share it with the people in my hometown.” says Marion.

Clients trust H. Marion Framing Studios because of employees’ artistic knowledge, use of conservation framing techniques and superior end-product. Regarded as an industry leader in every sense, H. Marion Framing Studios are committed to satisfying their customers no matter what challenges arise.

We are excited to announce that our second location is now open for business to serve all your art and framing needs! Visit our new Wilmette gallery & showroom at the Edens Plaza shopping center located at the corner of Lake Ave. & Skokie Blvd., just off the Edens expressway. We are by the Carson’s entrance, across from Starbucks.

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