Parts to the whole: The Crew

I like to say I am a junior on a 24 year maternity leave from Montserrat College of Art. It was an interesting time in my life. I had an undergrad degree from Bates in psychology, an interesting job at Pingree that basically extended my college summer job, and the flexibility to go to art school part time. Many lessons came from that time in my life. The amazing professors at my small New England art school bestowed many gems during studio classes and I have found that “Art Mimics Life” holds true in many ways.

One of my favorite professors at Montserrat was George Gabin. As one of the founders of Montserrat and a very accomplished painter, he had years of experience and a quiet confidence that added a richness to his teaching. For me hearing first hand life experiences, opinions and anecdotes from a wise and accomplished painter was like food. He spoke of sleeping in the bathtub of a shared apartment in Brooklyn during his art school years. His love of atmosphere opened my eyes to Edward Hopper. He was prolific and represented by Chase Gallery on Newbury Street. I took Realist Method painting with him and Figure drawing. I so admired him. He invited a group of us to visit him in Boston at his studio. It was magical and I feel so lucky to have been his student.

George Gabin’s lessons have lasted beyond his years. I remember him saying, “Look! you made something out of nothing.” He also taught me to see “the parts to the whole.” Things quickly become disjointed without consideration for their surrounding. This is so true in drawing, but I can’t really come up with a scenario that it wouldn’t be true. Family dynamics, relationships, sports, all function more beautifully when the interconnectedness is honored. I see it in my everyday life. It is a reminder that the waves I make, for better or worse, affect my surroundings and those I am with.

My time at Montserrat ended and I moved on to raise my family. I was lucky enough to be home with them for 19 years before I took over Newburyport Framers. Since then I have grown quite a bit and learned that parts really do effect the whole. It rings true here every day. We are a small but mighty crew here at the frame shop and each person’s strengths fill an important role.

Abby Tracy

The shop hums along so smoothly thanks to Abby. A 3 year veteran, she is completely in sync with the needs of our customers and the rhythm of the shop. Her eye for color and detail is unsurpassed and there is nothing she cannot do: design, build, fit, graphic design, printing, marketing and more. Fun-seeking, with a quick wit and cheery demeanor, Abby is the total package.

She gets the award for Best Conversation Starters. Would you rather…? Describe your perfect day., etc. You never know what she will come up with to keep us laughing. And that, to me, is gold.

Matthew Klos

Me: “Can we do this?”, Matthew: “Yes, I will figure it out.” This describes the invaluable qualities of Matthew in a nutshell. As a return crew member Matthew’s collective time at the shop totals 4 years. His experience is vast in a variety of fields. Teaching, woodworking, entrepreneurship. just scratch the surface. He has worked with some of the finest print houses in the country. And oh, by the way he is a master photographer with an impressive body of work.

When you visit the shop you may catch a glimpse of him out back building frames. He usually has air pods on underneath his ear protection while listening to podcasts and audiobooks. He can effortlessly shed that role and dust himself off to come out front and deep dive into your framing project. Customers love him and his love and enthusiasm for the shop comes through in his work.

Anilton “AJ” Vilimarim

Kismet is the word that pops into my head when I think of AJ. Quickly approaching his first year anniversary with us, AJ was hired to work at our new sister shop, ARTIPLAQ™. It was just one of those things, he was the first resume I looked at and the only person interviewed. He was a perfect fit.

With a wide range of skills and a can-do attitude AJ has worked hard to set up shop at our 18 Graf Rd ARTIPLAQ location. His good qualities and skill set are vast and varied, ranging from strong organization, inability to get frazzled, amazing work ethic, and the ability to adapt. He handles all things ARTIPLAQ™ including the process of plaque mounting, schedule management and shop upkeep. AJ is a gem and we are lucky to have him on board.

Cooper Swanson

Just when I thought I had the best team on the planet, along came Cooper. As Newburyport Framers offers more, we needed an extra set of hands to help. With an art degree and a great deal of work experience, Cooper happily helps out in all departments. A quick study, Cooper is efficiently fitting frames and holding his own in the design department.

Cooper can be found splitting his time between the frame shop and ARTIPLAQ. He will quickly switch gears, he works well with everyone and makes it all look easy. He seems to thrive with the variety of tasks and I have never heard one complaint from his mouth. Really. Never. Everyone is happy to see him and his contribution to both shops is noteworthy.

So I guess you could say I hit the jackpot. Each person has their own unique strengths that play into our success as a team. The really cool thing is that we all encourage each other, help each other out and pick up slack when needed. It isn’t competitive, no one is petty, and if one person is down, everyone offers support. It is amazing to be part of something like this; everyone’s role is very important and everyone is truly rowing in the same direction. It’s that “parts-to-the-whole” thing that dear George Gabin was talking about.

So thank you George Gabin and cheers to the Crew.

-P