Since opening 10 years ago, Linda Johnson’s frame shop has doubled as an art gallery, displaying the work of area artists for her customers. But it wasn’t until Johnson saw how the presence of a Tarrytown potter’s clay creations affected a room that she realized what her gallery was missing: 3-dimensional art.
Previously a draftsman, Johnson now sells custom frames out of Bedford Village Frame Shop & Gallery, both crafted in her shop and ordered from various suppliers, including CDNV Wood Carving Frames in Yonkers. She typically displays anything from contemporary art, old world paintings, and still-life photography, but the addition of her first sculpture show is an attempt to transform her gallery, found in a quaint house built in the 1800s, into a much more tangible experience.
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She’s enlisted the help of Danbury-based visual artist Eric Camiel, whose work has been featured at the Museum of Modern Art, The Library of Congress, the Sunday New York Times, and a Time magazine Man of the Year article. Camiel’s work, already on display in the shop, adds a balanced harmony alongside Johnson’s framed displays. Metallic hues and rusted blues craft a distinct character to each corner, prompting many of Johnson’s visitors to comment on the atmosphere.
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“Sometimes people don’t even use an adjective. They just say ‘I don’t know what it is but I really love the feel in here,’” explains Johnson.
While the show is in an on-going soft opening, Johnson hopes to have a meet-and-greet with Camiel in the near future. And as the word gets out, she will be looking for additional Westchester artists to display their work in her gallery as well. For now, Johnson wants her customers to see first-hand how the work of local artists can complement their home décor.
“If you’re seeking something unique and different, come to me to look further into your decorating and art needs,” says Johnson. “I want people to see that we’re more than just a frame shop.”
