Lydia

For nearly 17 years, Lydia has been my best friend. When she was little, she would get up with me at 5 a.m. and ride to work, wait in the car while I worked for a couple of hours and then ride home. We'd cross the bridge over Brush Creek in Johnson City and see the ducks and I'd yell, "Duck, Duck!" Lydia would go nuts barking at them. For the past 4 1/2 years we've lived in the gallery, she would sleep near my desk during the workday and bark at folks when they came in the gallery. After losing her hearing a couple of years ago, she would stare at people trying to understand their motives. It was disconcerting.

Lydia, 5/1994 - 2/14/2011

Repost of excellent advice

I don't usually repost other peoples suggestions, but this is great advice and can be adjusted for different regions. Excellent ideas!

2010 Keepsake Ornament

The 2010 Johnson City Keepsake Ornament is available – the First Science Hill High School! Brass & 24K gold with a numbered certificate which includes the history of the school. Packaged in a gold foil, velvet lined box. All for a donation of $12/ornament.

Proceeds go to historic preservation activities in downtown Johnson City such as the Lady of the Fountain Plaza and the CC&O Railroad Station. Ornaments can be purchased from Nelson Fine Art, Johnson City Development Authority (423-928-2988) and other Downtown businesses.

Interesting Shadowbox

This shadowbox created and built by NFA was presented by the ETSU Buccaneer Athletics Department to Paul Hoilman during halftime of the basketball game Saturday, 11/20. (BTW, ETSU won the basketball game.)

Cheap Price

I went to the local "mall store" and said "I want a navy Armani suit." The salesperson said, "That will be $1000." To which I said, "But at Sears, I can buy a navy suit for $200. I want all the quality, design, and features of the Armani for the same price." What do you think the salesperson said to me?

One of the common obstacles in custom framing is price "comparisons." It is so easy to look at 2 similar framings and wonder why one costs more, maybe a lot more, than the other. I can't speak for any other custom framers, only Nelson Fine Art and Tree House Custom Framing. You will never find corrugated cardboard in anything we do. The only mats and backing we use are conservation grade. On top of that, you get the experience and expertise. We've been framing for more than 20 years. The 2 shops have combined 66 years of existence. We read trade publications on framing, color, design and trends. We can do budget, but we also guide you to excellent framing decisions.

Besides, do you want the cheapest?

Latest exhibit at the Nelson

Transverse Orientation: recent paintings & drawings by ETSU students- opens Friday November 5 from 7-9 p.m. If you've never been to an opening at Nelson Fine Art, then you are missing the biggest ongoing event in Downtown Johnson City. For the past 9 years we've hosted hundreds of local artists in our monthly shows. The ETSU painting and drawing students represent the future of the field. Be prepared to be intrigued and challenged and maybe even offended a little. We will have food from Earth Fare and wine and music from Pat Whisnant. It's always fun.

Gallery going Solar

Nelson Fine Art is the recipient of a Solar Installation Grant to help pay for the installation of solar array modules. $9M of federal stimulus money was allocated to Tennessee with applications accepted beginning June 21 this year. By late September it was completely awarded. 2 upper East Tennessee businesses were among those statewide receiving the grant. We were one! Our application was in by the beginning of August and we made it through the approval process in just 6 weeks. I must give credit to Lightwave Solar for making the process smooth and seamless. They will be handling the whole project. The local newspaper, Johnson City Press, had a nice piece in todays (10/4/10) paper.

I realize this has nothing to do with art or framing, but it puts us in place to be better stewards of energy not to mention instant savings on our electric bill!