Another grand opening atop the new Whistle Stop in Soldotna is happening this Saturday.
After nearly two decades of business at the Blazy Mall, Brian Erwin of Frames &Things has moved to its new location adjacent to the Soldotna-ooga-choo-choo known as Brew@602, with the official grand opening planned for this Saturday.
“We’ll officially open at 9:00 a.m., of course Mary at Brew@602 will have the coffee on as usual at 7:00 a.m. then throughout the day we’ll have games and give-a-ways with prizes like two huge stuffed toy moose. This is an amazing space for art work compared to where we’ve been over the years and showcases the synergy of our two businesses with the light and the high ceilings. Now when you see art here you can visualize what it’ll look like in your home and it’s just a really happy place to work,” said Erwin.
Mary and Brian credit Batir Construction with making their dream come true in an entirely unique space.
“The staff, Tasha and Heather, have done a lot of work on the entire design here to make this space truly Frames &Things. We’re also grateful to the Krulls for providing the opportunity to us, it’s amazing, it’s just wonderful space,” he added.
“It’s been a great collaboration,” said Mary Krull of her vision for Brew@602 on Whistle Hill. “You come off the train and you immediately see Brian’s door that’s always open so you just keep walking and your right here at Frames &Things and let’s underscore ‘Things’ because there are more unique things here than you’ll find collected in any one space,” said Mary.
“We have a lot of Alaskan-made items, that’s what we strive for. Of course there are some things you can’t get made in Alaska, but when it comes to Native arts and crafts Alaskans do it best. We focus on having unique and many one-of-a-kind items that focus on Alaskan art. This is our home, we love it, we love the art and we love artists and the folks that visit us. It’s just a wonderful thing to be able to share what we are passionate about with everyone else,” added Brian.
Frames &Things has also become well known for preserving family heirlooms and memorabilia of sentimental value taking them from where they were stored away and turning them into art that can be passed on for generations.
“We focus on conservation framing with our shadow boxes. They are amazing story tellers and we strive to get the background and heritage of the story when we design that box. We do it so that it’s not just so you can hang it on your wall for a few years, we do it so it’ll last forever as best we can from mounting to the glass to the backing we use. Everything is designed to keep your historical artifacts in your family forever,” said Brian.
You can go online or like them on Facebook, but if you don’t visit their new location on Whistle Hill you’ll be missing out on a new Alaskan experience. Just catch the next train to Soldotna-ville aboard the Brew@602.
Tasha with an example of a custom framed piece at Frames & Things.
Keep calm; Brian is a Certified Picture Framer.
Brian Erwin and Mary Krull invite you to the Frames & Things open house.
