Original Artworks : Paintings, serigraphs, intaglio prints, relief prints, drawings, photos, mix media – you name it we can do it!

Canvas Stretching : Got a glorious painting on canvas but no way to display it, let us stretch it onto a traditional wood frame.

Needlepoint : We can mount and frame embroidery, cross-stitch, needlepoint, crochet, crewel, tatting, tapestries and quilting – using archival materials.

Diplomas : High School, College, Masters, Ph. D – it doesn’t matter what level of education you’ve endured - show it off by framing it.

Licenses : Let folks know how legit you are by displaying your license in a snazzy frame.

Shallow 3d Artworks : Choose from a selection of shadow box frames. From jewelry to panels, consider this option when showcasing 3d works.

Movie Posters : Think it’s too big - it isn’t. We’ve done it before and we can do it again!

Family Heirlooms : Keep your heirlooms safe for generations to come.

Vacation Souvenirs : Remember your trips fondly by framing your souvenirs.

Birth Certificates : You had a baby, need we say more?

Wedding Announcements : Having a hard time picking out a wedding present? Frame their big day!

Mirrors : Can’t seem to find the perfect mirror for your newly renovated bathroom? Let us help you.

Got a specialty project but not sure if it can be done? Don’t worry we’ll make it happen. Contact jess@galleryup.com or call 803 980 5355 with any questions.

Follow us on Facebook and catch our tweets @Gallery_Up.

Setting up is easy, but there’s definitely a few steps that have to be done in order for things to work properly. Please follow the steps below and you’ll be up and running in no time.

Please feel free to contact us at our support forums if you have questions about setup or are experiencing any issues with the theme.

Setup Instructions

Step 1 — Permalinks

Go to Settings > Permalinks.
Select any options besides default. If your .htaccess file is not writable, instructions from WordPress will appear in a grey box below the “Save Changes” button for how you should set the rules manually.

Step 2 — Set Homepage

Go to Settings > Reading.
By default, WordPress shows your most recent Posts (the blog) on the homepage of your site (like the one you’re reading right now). But many WordPress users want to be able to choose a different Page as their homepage.

If you’d like to keep your most recent Posts as your homepage, you don’t have to adjust anything in this step.

If not, where it says, “Front page displays,” choose “A static page,” and select accordingly for your “Front Page”. Be sure to select “Blog” for “Posts Page”. If you’d like the Launch Effect sign-up page to be your homepage, choose “Sign-Up” for “Front Page”. Go to the Pages item in the WordPress sidebar to create new pages, which you can also select to be your “Front Page”.

Step 3 — Set Image Sizes

Go to Settings > Media.
Under “Thumbnail size”, set: Width to 140 and Height to 80.
Under “Medium size”, set: Max Width to 470 and Max Height to 9999.

Now when you create an image gallery, the thumbnails will be formatted accordingly. And, when you add images to your posts, if you select the “Medium” size, they will fit perfectly in width.

Step 4 — Create Nav Menu

Go to Appearance > Menus.
This is where your navigation menu is set up and controlled. At the top left, under “Theme Locations”, use the drop down menu to select “Launch Effect” and press save. Now you can use the options at left to choose what pages and posts you’d like to appear in your nav menu.

Step 5 — Select Widgets

Go to Appearance > Widgets.
Launch Effect is compatible with the standard WordPress widgets, as you can see from the ones that appear by default on the left-hand side of your website. Here you can select which widgets to keep and which to remove, as well as customize content specific to each widget.

Step 6 — Start Designing!

Go to Launch Effect > Designer.
Now for the fun part! The Designer is now divided into three sections: Global Styles, Sign-Up Page, and Theme. That submenu is located directly under the giant Designer/Integrations/Stats tabs. The best way to get started here is to just start playing around and gaining an understanding of what selections affect which parts of the design. Good luck!

In-House Framing Special

With an abundance of gorgeous moldings, and an amazing selection of archival mat options, it’s the perfect time to treat your most treasured items to framing! Through February 9, 2012 we will be offering incredible discounts on all orders placed using our in-house framing options.

Still Demanding

While we plan to close Up’s physical location this month, we are eager to continue demanding art in new, exciting ways. It has been an honor to work with countless amazing artists and loyal customers over the years. We are proud of the impact we have made together in our community and invite you to continue on this journey with us.

Always Demanding,

Tamara & Zan
Owners, Gallery Up

1.  First off, we have to know what inspires your work?

JB:  My work is inspired by beauty in the sense that I tend to synthesize elements or characteristics found in things, people, places that arrest my attention, make me take a second look, or disconnect me from my conscience mind into each and every piece that I make. More specifically, my work incorporates: the sturdy yet delicate nature of the petals of flowers, the curves and confidence of a fertile, voluptuous woman, the overlay of ornate architectural details, the repetition found on textile patterning, and often the flowing forms of avian critters. I’m also inspired by the general idea of creating objects that are involved in the act of serving food and presenting nuggets of nourishment to others. I think that basic act of breaking bread, engaging in conversation, and bonding with another human being can be enhanced by the manner in which that bread might be presented. If it is done so in a special way, it infuses the act with an air of extraordinariness, thus those involved are more aware of the mundane and everyday. The object serves as a symbol when not being physically used but instead set aside on display to view, reminding us of those meaningful moments of the past and helping us to look forward to those to come.

JM:  I love fabric, wrapping paper and anything with lots of activity and color. The more the better! Also when I create my pieces I sort of think of them as little figures. I enjoy changing arms, adding feet and adding buttons, hats and scarves.

2.  Can you explain your process and elaborate on any techniques you currently use?

JB:  My work is produced through a combination of building techniques. Each piece starts as either a form thrown on the wheel or as a slab that is draped in or on a mold. Often these two techniques are combined to make one complete work. All of the work goes through a series of similar altering techniques using a wooden rib to dart, an exacto knife to cut scallops, and my fingers to pinch a delicate lip. I use a variety of hand drawn paper templates to transfer a design, or often with the simple patterns, I will free hand the application of colored slips onto the damp greenware. The work is then dried and bisque fired. Glaze is applied through dipping or pouring with stages of wax resist application in between to create crisp separations between colors. Everything is then fired in my electric kiln to cone 6 and–voilà! It’s like Christmas on a regular basis at my house!

JM:  I throw and alter all my pieces and then I add colored clay sprigs to the surface. After I’ve added the color clay I then cut into the clay and create images. After this step, I inlay various colored stains.

3.  Who are some of your favorite artists and why?

JB:  Most of my favorite artists are those that I know personally and call friends. I admire them for the work they make and the people that they are. Their work is made with sincerity and integrity…two qualities I admire above all others. If you want to know some of the oldies but goodies that I love, those include: Bontecou, O’Keeffe, Giotto, Kapoor, Weston. Some contemporary ceramicists hanging on my bulletin board or living in my cupboard: Kloppmann, Galloway, Hatch, McGowen, Borgeson, Orr. I love them all for the skill that they create their work with and the eye they have for surface and form.

JM:  I love Erté, Matisse, Kandinsky, and William Morris. All these great artists either had the “more” factor I love or a great color pallet. I think all these artists also had a very feminine aesthetic to their pieces.

4.  What kind of space do you work in?

JB:  My studio is one half of a two car detached garage at my home in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The total space is 22′ x 24′ with my car and gardening stuff getting one half and my clay the other. I purchased the home about a year ago and quickly set about insulating the bare stud garage space and installing a gas heater. I have an electric wheel, a few work tables, and a small electric kiln. Next month I am cashing in on my boyfriend’s Christmas gift which is to help me hang dry wall, mud, paint, and put a ceiling with a ladder and area for storage in the studio. I can’t wait!

JM:  I currently am working in my garage while I build my new studio out in our back yard.

5. When do you usually make your best work?

JB:  Anytime that I can carve out a full day to focus on work in the studio and not have to think about anything else. This generally happens once every other weekend. Having a number of hours available to work in the studio let’s me get a good rhythm going and the work just flows. I also should say I work best when the studio is tidy (makes me feel like I have a clean slate) and I’m rarely in the studio before 10 AM (I am totally a night owl and can find myself working away until 2 in the morning without even trying).

JM:  When my kids are away from the house, I have a full day to myself and no one else to worry about.

6. Both of you are busy and commendable women.  Besides your art form, what else are you involved in or passionate about?

JB:  I work full-time as the Executive Director of the Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts in Nebraska City, Nebraska. The center is home to a renowned year-round artist residency program for visual artists, writers, and composers from across the country. I also teach some after school clay classes for middle school students and really enjoy when I have the opportunity to do workshops or lectures about my work and my process. I am very involved in my community in working with various entities to develop tourism, the arts, and civil engagement in our town. I also love, love, love to garden and work on the landscaping at my new home. I love cooking and baking with my partner, Eric. I love sudoku. I love my house rabbit, Koji.

JM:  I think I’m really passionate about teaching. I recently starting teach art to very young children and I think it is amazing to see how their little personalities already are played out in what they create. I also really enjoy the young adults I teach at Winthrop. Once again I enjoy getting to know them and to be able to see how their personalities and creative process shine through in their work as well.

7.  What’s next for you?

JB:  In the short term, I’m looking forward to being in the Yunomi Invitational at AKAR and in La Mesa at NCECA in Seattle. Hoping to have a home studio sale as part of our local Arbor Day celebration towards the end of April. Have a little vacation to explore Ouray, CO on the horizon. In the long term, I think the next couple of years will see a continuation of my current balancing act between work-work, studio work, and life in general. I’m looking forward to getting involved in more public art projects in my region and hope to get a few more workshops or other opportunities to educate people about the ceramic process on the calendar. The plan is really just to keep making work and loving my life. Who knows where the path will lead me?

JM:  I’m really looking forward to finally having a space to myself. I use to work off our back porch in our old house so I could be right there for my children. Since our move and the opportunity to build my own space in the back yard, I’m anxious to see whether or not I can be successful at breaking that chain between mother and potter. I’m so use to multi-tasking that I’m almost wondering if I can just focus on me for once!

These distinguished portraits were in chipped gold frames with green velvet mats, circa 1925. It was definitely time for an change. In fact, it’s important to note the condition of your frames every 5 to 10 years – look for signs of sagging, warping, mildew, or creepy crawlies.

Face Lift

We wanted to update the packages with better preservation materials, and select a frame that would let the portraits breathe. The mats were cut in-house on our oval mat cutter and hand wrapped with deep green faux suede. A dark walnut frame with gold fillet better reflects the period the art was created. Museum glass will protect the work from environmental pollutants with minimal glare.

Handmade for someone special

Flora comes from an idea of bringing the highest quality vase work and ceramics to Old Town Rock Hill just in time to surprise that special someone for Valentine’s Day. Up will also provide the “flora” for those patrons purchasing a vase during the opening reception on February 9.

Both Jenni Brant and Jennifer Mecca make elegant and carefully crafted vessels and ceramic ware meant to ritualize, celebrate, and bring merriment to the traditions found around the dinner table. Their elaborate surface treatments bring a level of sophistication and excitement to their utilitarian forms.

Jenni Brant

Brant comes from Nebraska City, NE and is also the Executive Director of Kimmel Harding Nelson Center for the Arts. She received a BFA with honors from the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater and an MFA from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln.  She was named an Emerging Artist of 2008 by Ceramics Monthly and was recently recognized as a finalist for the Lydon Emerging Artist Program through the Society for Contemporary Craft in 2010. Her work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, 500 Plates & Chargers by Lark Books, and as a Nebraska Story on NET television. She is represented at Terra Incognito (Chicago, IL), Artisan Gallery (Paoli, WI), Lost Coast Culture Machine (Fort Bragg, CA), LUX Center for the Arts, and Sheldon Museum Store (Lincoln, NE).

Jennifer Mecca

Mecca maintains a home studio in Gastonia N.C. as working potter, and teaches ceramics at Winthrop University. She earned her M.F.A. at East Carolina University, and during that time she studied abroad in St. Petersburg, Russia, Estonia, and Finland through an exchange program sponsored by East Carolina University. Her work has been featured in Ceramics Monthly, Clay Times, 500 Cups by Lark Books, and Introducing Ceramics. Mecca’s work can be seen in several fine-craft galleries on the east coast, and she has also exhibited work at the North Carolina Pottery Center, the Rocky Mountain Museum of Art, Greenville Museum of Art, Genaseo State University, and the Odyssey Center for Ceramic Art.

The Picasso Project is a student art competition for South Carolina students grades 6-12. The project is designed to recognize artistic excellence in South Carolina students while helping raise funds for the The Children’s Trust of South Carolina through the sale of donated student artworks.

The Children’s Trust of South Carolina

The Children’s Trust of South Carolina is a statewide organization for the prevention of child abuse, neglect and unintentional injuries. They develop creative solutions, such as The Picasso Project, while providing resources and technical support around the state.

The Picasso Project is a great opportunity for students to share their talent and gain exposure while supporting a great cause. Our very own Ashley Herron participated in the contest as a high school senior and won 1st place for her region and for the state. Years later Ashley is able to contribute back to The Picasso Project by serving as a regional judge.

Submitting

South Carolina is divided into 9 regions. Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and York county students can submit their works for Region 3 at the Chester County Library the week of March 5- 9, 2012. Up representative Ashley Herron will serve as Region 3 Judge. Regional winners go on to compete at the state level juried in Columbia.

Region 3 :  Chester, Fairfield, Lancaster and York counties
Judging Date : Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Location : Chester County Library, 100 Center St., Chester, SC 29706
Set-up time : 11:30 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Judging Time : 1 p.m.
Contact : Tally Johnson, 803-377-8145, tjohnson@chesterlibsc.org

For more details on how to submit please click here.

Not only do students win but so do teachers! State Level winners receive a certificate and a VISA gift card.

• 1st Place Winner for art & photography -  $250 to student – $250 to teacher
• 2nd Place Winner for art & photography - $125 to student – $125 to teacher
• 3rd Place Winner for art & photography -  $75 to student – $75 to teacher

Call us at 803.980.5355 for more information.

Follow us on Facebook and catch our tweets @Gallery_Up.

Framing Heirlooms is a great way to keep memories fresh and celebrate your heritage.

Pocket Watch
To showcase and protect this gorgeous pocket watch, we chose a dramatic shadowbox and Museum glass.

The back of this watch is just as cool as the face; an oval cut and Museum glass in the back of the frame was a perfect solution!

As always follow us on Facebook and catch our tweets @Gallery_Up.

Check out new artist and new work from Up’s retail shop throughout the month of January featured in the gallery.

• Harriet M. Goode
• Yoko Sekino-Bove
• Taryn Backus
• Eclectic Orchid
• Marge Loudon Moody
• Mike Gentry
• Human Shaped Robot
• Kyle Morrissey
• Heather Knight
• Paula Smith
• Jay Owens
• Ashley Gierke
• Coey Kuhn