BEHIND THE CURTAIN Meet Joshua Thomas
How did you first discover Exclusive Collections? I was working for a lighting design company that was struggling to keep the doors open. My current employer informed me that the business was going under. I applied for a job as a shipping and delivery person for an art gallery, and when I showed up for the interview I answered a few questions that seemed at the time to not apply to the position at all. It turns out that I was offered a different job than the one I applied for, because my interviewer thought I would be good at it. Long story short, I am now a custom framer for EC and couldn’t picture myself doing anything else.
What do you like most about the ECG culture? I think for me what I enjoy about the culture and the environment I work in is the creative melting pot that we swim through everyday. It can be hectic at times but it can also be exhilarating and inspiring to see so many people dedicated to one idea and one goal. I am also most grateful for the skills I have obtained and the knowledge that I have gained working with so many talented people. That in itself is priceless.
Can you describe your role at the gallery? Although my title is “Framer” for ECG, I, like most of us, wear more hats than one. In addition to framing art like there’s no tomorrow, I’ve done bartending, home shows, installations and deliveries, gallery buildouts… No two days are alike and I think that is what makes it a great place to be.
What personal qualities do you feel you have that help you excel at your job? I strive to be the best person I can be at any given time and I feel that transcends itself into positive energy that can be applied to anything you do, not just at work. I also think that my interest and background in art and music has made it an easy transition into the fine art world of Exclusive Collections.
What is your favorite work of art? Why? I don’t really have to think about it to know that there is no sure answer here. Art is relative and everything that is considered art is categorized based on someone’s interpretation of it. That being said, I’d have to say that I just enjoy the freedom of expression, the human body and mind and the beautiful things that exist all around us.
What is your philosophy on collecting art? I have been to a lot of galleries and met a lot of amazing artists in my time. The one thing I have learned is that “you know it when you see it”. There are so many pieces of art I wish I had obtained while I could. I look back at and think, “You snooze, you lose”, because I know the artists and their works not only went on to do great things but also that I cannot get back that feeling I had when I first saw it.
How does your appreciation of art affect you in your role as a framer? Framing art is as much about creativity as it is craftsmanship. Seeing as I myself am an artist and take my craft very seriously, it is only right that I put the same love and energy into someone else’s work. It is a process that few people know of and even fewer witness but in my eyes it is as much a work of art as the artwork itself and is as important to the world of art and design because it can help shape how the piece will be interpreted.
What aspect of your job do you enjoy doing most? I really love being able to capture an emotion or an idea for someone and seeing their reaction. I have been fortunate enough to having the privilege of framing, delivering, and hanging some beautiful artwork and the most rewarding part for me is the embrace and the warmth that you get for quenching someone’s thirst for something beyond their own imagination.
19 EXCLUSIVE COLLECTIONS GALLERIES
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