Appleton Coated announces the winning entries for the U360 Design Competition. An online gallery of winners can be found at appletoncoated.com by clicking on the U360 section. “Spark,” the 2013 Showbook will be available on request and distributed throughout North America.

Members of the Appleton Coated Design Council judge the U360 Design Competition. Entries were evaluated on overall communication, creative expression and execution, including environmental impact. Submissions must be printed all, or in part, on Utopia and/or Curious Collection, accompanied by a completed entry form, and produced in 2012.

“The creative minds behind the U360 winning entries are those who dared to up the ante, to feud with the familiar and to outwit the ordinary. They boldly stand apart from the rest. They deserve to be celebrated as extraordinary examples of all that vision, design and paper make possible, sparking inspiration and aspiration through printed communication,” says Ferkó X. Goldinger, Appleton Coated’s marketing manager.

Special honors are awarded for:

* Best of Show – “Nick Cave Magalogue” for Nick Cave; designed by Faust, Chicago; printed by Lake County Press, Waukegan, Ill.; paper grade is Conqueror CX22 Brilliant White 70-pound text

“We needed a lightweight sheet that felt unpretentious, but could perform like a star. It needed good opacity as well as compliment the oversized and unbound poster format and ziplock bag packaging. When coupled with UV printing, this uncoated sheet gave us a perfectly uncommercial result,” explains Bob Faust, principal of Faust.

* Design and Print Excellence Awards – “Myth, Modernity, and the Nature of Things by Salvatore LaRosa” for B Five Studio LLP; designed Tsang Seymour Design, Inc., New York; printed by The Avery Group, Shapco Printing, Inc., Minneapolis; paper grade is Utopia Premium Silk 115-pound text

“Our firm specializes in high-fidelity color reproduction and our projects have a very long shelf life. The Utopia Premium has been our first choice sheet for this reason for many years. It outperforms in look and feel, print and image, and it doesn’t yellow or age, as most coated sheets do. It is an ideal surface for art and photography reproduction,” says Patrick Seymour, principal of Tsang Seymour.

* Print Excellence Award – “2013 Cadillac Series” for Cadillac; designed by Fallon, Minneapolis; printed by Lithographix, Inc., Los Angeles; paper grades are Utopia U1X Gloss 100-pound cover and text

“Utopia has long been a favorite for us. We felt that with a new look and feel, we needed a new paper stock as well. With U1X we have experienced excellent results. In addition, the staff at Appleton Coated has provided us with outstanding service,” praises Kirsten O’Callaghan, senior producer at Fallon.

* Communication Excellence Awards
– “Fort Worth Opera Festival Campaign” for Fort Worth Opera; designed by The Matchbox Studio, Inc., Dallas; printed by Thinc Marketing Solutions, Dallas; paper grades are Utopia Two Dull 100-pound cover and 80-pound text
“We knew the photos would print well on this paper” and it “fits well with the client’s budget,” notes Thinc Marketing Solutions’ team.

–  “Networked & Social Systems Engineering Admission Brochure” for Penn Engineering, University of Pennsylvania; designed by karma agency, Philadelphia; printed by Epic Litho, Phoenixville, Pa.; paper grades are Curious Translucents Clear 75-pound cover and 36-pound text
“This paper was perfect because it reinforced our concept of challenging the reader’s intellectual curiosity to decode the world beyond its surface. Translucent paper enabled us to embed codes in the piece and create something truly immersive and premium,” states the staff at karma agency.

The additional 2013 winning entries are:
*  “Timberland Boot Company Men’s/Women’s Look Books;” designed by Timberland, Stratham, N.H.; printed by UniGraphic, Woburn, Mass.; paper grade is Utopia U2:XG Dull 100-pound text

* “Farm Credit Services of Mid-America 2011 Annual Report;” designed by Colle + McVoy, Minneapolis; printed by GLS Companies, Saint Paul, Minn.; paper grades are Utopia Two Dull 100-pound cover and text plus Utopia Matte 60-pound text

* “Merck Corporate Brochure;” designed by Weymouth Design, Boston; printed by Hatteras, Tinton Falls, N.J.; paper grades are Utopia U1X Silk 120-pound cover and 100-pound text

* “Heavy Metal Crusin’ Poster;” designed by and for Blue Torpedo, Minneapolis; printed by Big Table Studio, Saint Paul, Minn.; paper grade is Curious Cosmic Alien Green 133-pound cover

* “Williams College ’62 Center 2012/2013 Season Brochure;” designed by Transit Authority Figures, Inc., Northampton, Mass.; printed by Kirkwood Printing, Wilmington, Mass.; paper grades are Utopia Two Dull 100-pound cover and 80-pound text

* “The Color Run Brochure” for Randal Ford Photography; designed by BrandCory, Dallas; printed by Blanks, Dallas; paper grade is Utopia One Dull 100-pound cover

* “Temple University – Temple Made Undergraduate Viewbook;” designed by Neiman, Philadelphia; printed by Brilliant Graphics, Exton, Pa.; paper grades are Utopia Two matte 100-pound cover and text

* “Myths & Realities;” designed by and for School of Visual Arts, New York; printed by Brilliant Graphics, Exton, Pa.; paper grades are Utopia Two matte 100-pound cover and text

* “Love2 Book with Poster;” designed by and for Mario Avila Design, Boston; printed by Daniels Print Communications, Boston; paper grades are Utopia two Gloss 100-pound text and Skin Curious Collection Extra White 91-pound text

Entries receiving regional recognition include:
* East – “SVA Graduate Catalog;” designed by Visual Arts Press, School of Visual Arts, New York; printed by GHP, West Haven, Conn.; paper grade Utopia two Dull 80-pound text

* West – “TCU Football: Big 12 Brochure;” designed by Concussion, Fort Worth, Texas; printed by Cockrell Enovation, Fort Worth, Texas; paper grades are Utopia Premium Silk 130-pound cover and Utopia One Dull 100-pound text

The 2012-2013 Appleton Coated Design Council members include:
* John Connolly, principal and creative director at Ideas On Purpose in New York
* Michael Eads, principal and director of production at Sametz Blackstone Associates in Boston
* Bob Faust, owner and principal at Faust in Riverside, Ill.;
* Tim Hale, senior vice president of design management and marketing at Fossil, Inc. in Richardson, Texas
* Vicky Jones, president of Brand Fever in Atlanta
* Fritz Klaetke, principal and design director of Visual Dialogue in Boston
* Dana Lytle, founder, principal and design director at Planet Propaganda, Madison, Wis.
* Bryan Peterson, owner and principal at Peterson Ray & Company in Dallas

For more information about Appleton Coated’s U360 Competition and Showbook, and its Utopia and Curious Collection, visit appletoncoated.com and CuriousPapers.com.

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In honor of the 50th anniversary of the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Certification Gold Label, the association announced a search contest for the oldest in-service window, door or skylight bearing an AAMA air-water-structural certification label.

“It would be an honor for a manufacturer to be recognized for the oldest in-service window, door or skylight, as it is a testament to the product’s longevity as well as AAMA’s Certification Program,” says Rich Rinka, AAMA’s certification manager. “We are encouraging manufacturers to share the contest information with homeowners, dealers and distributors. In return, AAMA will work with the product manufacturer to promote the winning certification label.”

Contest Details
To be eligible for entry, a photo of the label, the product and the building must be submitted along with the entry form (PDF) to AAMALabelContest@aamanet.org. Three prizes will be awarded: $300 for first place, $150 for second place and $50 for third place. The contest runs from June 15 to September 15, and winners will be announced at the AAMA Fall Conference, to be held in Baltimore, Oct. 27-30, where the product manufacturers will be recognized.

More information on the AAMA Label Search Contest for manufacturers is available at www.aamanet.org/LabelContest. For those entering the contest, visit www.aamanet.org/Contest.

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At the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Summer Conference, held in Rosemont, Ill., June 9-12, AAMA’s Building Information Modeling Task Group met to review ballot comments on the draft document, “Voluntary Specification for Non-Residential Fenestration Building Information Modeling (BIM).” During the meeting, the task group made a motion to move forward with the document’s publication following revisions to figures contained within the draft.

Due to the need for standardization and quality assurance in product models for windows, curtainwalls, storefronts and skylights, the non-residential construction industry continues development and optimization of integrated workflow, leveraging BIM. Once published, “Voluntary Specification for Non-Residential Fenestration Building Information Modeling (BIM)” will outline minimum requirements for models of two types and will be intended to be referenced in other industry standards, contract documents, proposals and marketing materials as needed. The document also provides a guide for manufacturers in assembling BIM information relevant to their standard products and services.

The specification will only address those aspects of the BIM process related to non-residential windows, doors, curtainwalls, storefronts, entrances and skylights, which are collectively referred to within the document as “fenestration.”

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Kolbe’s online resources now include multiple audience-specific websites, social media channels, demonstration videos and expanded on-demand content within the Architect Library.

Kolbe’s main website, www.kolbe-kolbe.com, continues to address the architectural community and other building professionals. Helping simplify the research and specifying process, the Architect Library contains:
* a database of products’ sizes, architectural drawings, 3-D Revit® building information models (BIM) and specifications
* energy and product performance data
* interactive and calculation tools
* green and sustainability attributes
* tutorials, webinars and Kolbe’s E-News
* continuing education courses approved by the American Institute of Architects (AIA/CES)

Kolbe’s Architect Library also highlights commercial building project support tools, project profiles and an online photo gallery. In addition, commercial building professionals can visit www.kolbecommercial.com. This site presents detailed information about the Kolbe 4500 Series, a new window and door product line for commercial buildings. The online Professional Library offers architectural details, performance data and ratings, sustainable design practices and AIA/CES courses, as well as products, projects and contacts.

As homeowners play an increasing role in product choices, residential architects and builders are encouraged to direct these “prosumers” to www.kolbewindows.com. The term prosumer describes enthusiasts who buy products generally preferred by professionals, or products that fall within professional grade standards. Kolbe’s prosumer-friendly site showcases “My Vision,” an interactive tool to save inspirational photos, products, options and finishes to a Vision Board. This online portfolio can be shared with friends, family and design professionals as printed documents, via email and through social media.

Kolbe uses multiple social media channels to interact with homeowners, architects, residental builders, commercial building professionals, association leaders, journalists and others. Join the conversation on:
* Facebook
* Twitter
* Pinterest
* Houzz
* YouTube
* LinkedIn

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During the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Summer Conference, held in Rosemont, Ill., June 9-12, Dr. Tom Gloria, managing director of Industrial Ecology Consultants, presented information on developing Environmental Product Declarations (EPDs) using the Product Category Rules (PCR) guidance document.

The PCR guidance document currently is being developed by AAMA, along with a joint group of industry associations and manufacturer representatives, and is scheduled to be completed by fall 2013. The document is a response to a widely recognized need for a single ANSI-approved resource to use in developing industry recognized and uniform comparative EPDs and substantive LCAs.

“When finalized, the PCR document will offer manufacturers the tools needed to provide comprehensive, product-specific EPDs to their customers,” added Rich Walker, AAMA’s president and CEO.

According to Gloria, an EPD describes the following:
* A product’s materials and their origin
* The specifications on the manufacturing of the product (e.g., energy consumption, emissions released, treatment of waste, packing and transport)
* Information on product use
* Final disposition (e.g., reused, recycled, disposed)
* LCA results per impact category per life cycle stage
* Evidence and verification for calculations

However, Gloria emphasized that “an EPD is more than just a specification; it’s a new avenue to engage with consumers in this world of environmental sustainability.” Gloria also noted that it is important that all stakeholders, like AAMA, work together to develop PCRs, ensuring that they are “reasonable and science based.”

About the Speaker
Tom Gloria, Ph.D. is Managing Director of Industrial Ecology Consultants. He has nearly 20 years of professional experience in sustainability management consulting and information technology engineering design. His work encompasses product innovation; environmental LCA and life cycle management; methods and policy implications regarding greenhouse gas emissions inventories; and energy efficiency feasibility analysis.

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The American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) celebrated 13 consecutive years of furthering the careers and education of students pursuing a degree related to the building products industry by awarding seven scholarships to children of employees of AAMA member companies. The scholarship award winners were announced during the 2013 AAMA Summer Conference, held June 9-12, in Rosemont, Ill.

“AAMA is pleased to acknowledge the outstanding students who have dedicated themselves to academic and extracurricular endeavors in order to pursue a career in architecture, engineering and related fields,” says Rich Walker, AAMA’s president and CEO. “By supporting these students on their journey to further develop their knowledge and passion, we are hopeful they will make valuable contributions in the building products industry upon completing their education.”

The AAMA Scholarship is a one-time award of $2,000. All children of employees of AAMA member companies are eligible to obtain this financial aid for higher education in pursuit of a degree in an engineering or technical field relating to the building products industry. Applicants are judged on grade point average, college entrance exam scores and a 500-word essay. Eligible candidates must be high school seniors or college students who are children of employees of AAMA member companies in good standing.

“Each year, AAMA awards a minimum of three scholarships. This year, seven scholarships were awarded due to the generous contributions of AAMA members,” says Janice Yglesias, AAMA’s association services director.

Each year, one of the AAMA-funded scholarships commemorates a significant milestone or achievement for the association. The commemorative award, known this year as the AAMA Certification Gold Label 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award, is given to the top-ranking scholarship applicant.

The recipient of the AAMA Certification Gold Label 50th Anniversary Scholarship Award is Sonja Postak, a sophomore at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), where she is currently majoring in materials engineering. Postak graduated from Laurel High School in 2011 with a 3.9 GPA, where she was a member of the cross country, debate and cycling teams, as well as a member of student government. Postak is also an active volunteer, where she spends her time helping children in poverty. Among her accomplishments, Postak is the recipient of numerous awards and honors, including National Forensics League All American Award, Outstanding Distinction by the National Forensics League and the City Award for chemistry. Her mother, Lori Postak, is an employee of Quanex Building Products in Solon, Ohio.

The first 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Ryan Sievers, a soon-to-be freshman at Iowa State University, where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Sievers graduated from Pella High School in May with a 4.0 GPA, where he was a member of the cross country, track and debate teams, as well as participated in the Physics Olympics, Science Bowl and Pella Explore Near Space program. In high school, Sievers’ favorite classes were engineering and design and digital electronics. His father, Bruce Sievers, is an employee of Pella Corporation in Pella, Iowa.

The second 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Melissa Hereida, a soon-to-be freshman at the University of Michigan – Ann Arbor, where she will pursue a degree in engineering. Hereida graduated from Pella High School in May with a 4.1 GPA, where she participated in extracurricular activities such as Battle of the Books, National Honors Society and the high school orchestra.  Hereida’s interest in engineering began when she took a principles of engineering class and learned about the impact engineering has on the world. Her mother, Sheila Heredia, is an employee of Pella Corporation in Pella, Iowa.

The third 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Michelle Hereida, Melissa’s twin sister and a soon-to-be freshman at Washington University in St. Louis, where she will be studying chemical engineering. Hereida graduated from Pella High School in May with a 4.1 GPA. During high school, Hereida was a member of the National Honors Society, as well as was a National Merit Finalist. Additionally, Hereida is an active volunteer, giving her time to the Pella Regional Health Center for more than 250 hours since 2011.

The fourth 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Dominic Nickel, a soon-to-be freshman at University of the Fraser Valley, where he will be studying engineering mathematics. Nickel graduated from D.W. Poppy Secondary School in June with a 4.0 GPA, where he was a member of the volleyball team and was on the honor roll for four years. Nickel’s interest in the building industry started at the age of 13, when he began working a part-time job installing windows and doors. His father, Georg Nickel, is an employee of Innotech Windows + Doors Inc. in Abbotsford, British Columbia.

The fifth 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Ben Sharp, a soon-to-be freshman at Butler University, where he will pursue a degree in mechanical engineering. Sharp graduated from Franklin Central High School in May with a 4.1 GPA, where he was ranked eighth in his class out of nearly 600 students. While in high school, Sharp was a member of the National Honors Society, an AP Scholar and has been on the honor roll for more than eight years. He also has been an active volunteer, with more than 100 hours of service for various organizations since 2011. His father, Stephen Sharp, is an employee of Sherwin-Williams Co., in Hamilton, Ohio.

The sixth 2013 AAMA Scholarship Award recipient is Jenna Seaser, a sophomore at Michigan Technological University, where she is studying mechanical engineering. Seaser graduated from Owatonna Senior High School in June with a 3.8 GPA, where she was a member of the Pep Band, Math League, Society of Women Engineers and American Society of Mechanical Engineers. Seaser plans to use her degree in mechanical engineering to help people in Third World countries. Her father, Jim Seaser, is an employee of Truth Hardware Corporation in Owatonna, Minn.

“In addition to these national awards, AAMA member companies have the opportunity to participate in the Scholarship Partner Program to provide a scholarship opportunity for children of their own employees,” says Yglesias.

Quanex Building Products and Graham Architectural Products have been AAMA Scholarship Partners since the program’s inception in 2003 with Milgard Manufacturing joining the Partner Program in 2008. In 2013, Simonton Windows and Architectural Testing joined as Partners.

Paige Waskow, an upcoming junior at Texas A&M University, is the recipient of the Henry and Carole Taylor Family Scholarship from Architectural Testing, Inc. Milgard Manufacturing awarded two scholarships: Kyle Dupuy, a soon-to-be freshman at California Polytechnic State University, and Lauren Saunders, a soon-to-be freshman at Gonzaga University. Additionally, Quanex Building Products awarded two Ron Sandwith Scholarships to Alixandre Carman, a junior at Eastern Washington University, and Ryne Peterson, a soon-to-be freshman at Columbia Basin College. Caden Brooker, a soon-to-be freshman at the University of Akron, is the recipient of the Simonton Windows Scholarship.

For more information, visit the AAMA Scholarship Program web page or contact Jannine Klemencic, AAMA’s association services assistant. Videos of the AAMA Scholarship Award winners accepting their awards can be found on our YouTube Channel.

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Stephen Gold, president and CEO of Manufacturers Alliance for Productivity and Innovation (MAPI), delivered a keynote presentation on the recovery of the U.S. manufacturing industry during the American Architectural Manufacturers Association (AAMA) Summer Conference, held in Rosemont, Ill., June 10-13.

According to Gold, U.S. manufacturing “contracted more than 21 percent during the recession,” but began to recover faster than the gross domestic product (GPD) beginning in the third quarter of 2009. However, following a 10 percent growth in the first quarter of 2010, manufacturing recovery has slowed.

During the presentation, Gold noted the headwinds that have slowed U.S. manufacturing growth, preventing an “economic renaissance:” a weak global economy, high structural costs relative to trading partners, political gridlock and the worker skills gap.

In regards to the worker skills gap, Gold noted that this has been “a problem in the making” due to the canceling of many vocational programs, which has left five percent of manufacturing jobs unfilled because of the lack of skilled workers.

While Gold believes job growth for the U.S. manufacturing industry may never reach the levels of the 1990s (17.5 million jobs), it is possible to “regain the jobs lost during the recession if the right policies are in place in Washington.” Additionally, Gold noted that the energy revolution, narrowing age gap between China and the U.S., new shipping and supply chain strategies, as well as re-emergence in the U.S. housing market are all tailwinds for U.S. manufacturing recovery.

Stephen Gold is president and CEO of MAPI. During the past three decades, he has represented U.S. manufacturers in a variety of senior-level roles in nonprofit membership organizations, including in government relations, communications and operations.

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Kolbe’s Ultra Series folding windows allow architects to design open spaces that take advantage of expansive views, fresh air and natural light. Adored by restaurant owners, retailer owners and homeowners who enjoy entertaining, Kolbe’s folding windows will be on display at the American Institute of Architects (AIA) National Convention & Design Exposition in booth #334.

Kolbe’s Ultra Series folding window unit on display at AIA 2013 spans more than 8 feet wide and 3 feet high (99-3/32- by 37-5/16-inches). Each of the four panels is 24-by-42-inches featuring ogee casing with double pane insulating glass with LoE3-366 coating. The exterior aluminum cladding is finished in Gingersnap. The interior showcases fir with a Chestnut stain, along with hardware in Matte Black and a recessed sill.

For architects envisioning Kolbe’s expansive Ultra Series folding windows in their own projects, these windows may be specified with up to eight panels on each side, stretching more than 50 feet with each panel as wide as 39-3/8 inches and as high as 72 inches. Double pane insulating glass with LoE2-270 coating, 3-inch stiles and rails, and 1-3/4-inch-thick pine wood panels are offered as standard. Options for stiles, rails and panel thickness are available, as are different glass types, hardware, sills and divided lites.

Kolbe’s folding window complements the flexible customization, matching profiles, high performance and expansive sizes of its folding door product. The Ultra Series product line features interiors in a wide range of wood species and exteriors clad in low-maintenance, extruded aluminum containing recycled content. The outer, metal surfaces are finished in environmentally friendly, durable coatings and a broad palette of colors with up to a 30-year warranty to meet AAMA 2605-05 specifications.

Kolbe’s Architect Library and online resources can help simplify the research and specifying process. As part of its collection of more than 3,000 window and door models and building information modeling (BIM) tools, Kolbe shares Google™ SketchUp and Revit® 3-D models of its Ultra Series folding window. These models feature editable width, height, wall offset and number of panels. In addition to BIM tools and 2-D drawings, the website includes air, water, structural and thermal reports; warranties; installation and maintenance information; and online videos to demonstrate product operation and performance testing.

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Linetec will be exhibiting in AIA booth #3139

Supporting new and long-term customers, Linetec has added and expanded four of its service and distribution routes including its first regular route to Toronto, Canada.

Linetec operates its own fleet of trucks providing customers with weekly pickup and delivery services. In addition to Toronto, key stops in the expanded routes include:
* Colorado route – destination point of Denver with stops in Omaha, Neb., and in Des Moines, Iowa
* Texas route – destination point of San Antonio withstops in Dallas and in Oklahoma City
* Southeast route – destination point of Atlanta with stops in Knoxville and Nashville, Tenn. and in Indianapolis
* Midwest route – expanded destination point of Kansas City, Mo. and a stop in St. Louis

As the nation’s largest independent architectural finisher, Linetec provides customers with liquid painting, powder coating, and anodize finishing services for architectural aluminum. Examples of customers’ products include window and door systems, storefront framing, sun shades, light shelves, canopies, column covers, panels and flat sheets.

“Our customers know that material will be picked up and delivered on time and on schedule; typically, by the same driver, on the same time, on the same day, of each week. It’s as if Linetec is in their backyard, even if we’re actually many miles apart,” says Jon Close, Linetec’s vice president of sales and marketing.

He continues, “Our customers don’t need to spend time finding and scheduling a contracted hauler to make the delivery. They can rely on our dedicated carrier to provide convenient, safe and efficient transport of our customers’ materials. Using experienced drivers, we also ensure material is loaded properly to protect against damage.”

Linetec offers several managed trucking options, including partial loads, which help manage freight costs by effectively sharing a truck with other customers in the delivery area. Its over-the-road tractors also are optimized for efficiency as each is outfitted with an auxiliary power unit to reduce unnecessary fuel consumption by more than 85% while resting and to prevent pollution discharge. Further supporting its customers and their environmental initiatives, Linetec minimizes packaging waste by offering the option of a re-usable container system to protect the shipments year-after-year.

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Abelardo Morell. Tent Camera Image on Ground — View of the Golden Gate Bridge from Battery Yates, 2012. Courtesy of the artist and Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York. ©Abelardo Morell, courtesy of Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

Opened June 1, 2013, the Art Institute of Chicago’s “Abelardo Morell: The Universe Next Door” exhibit features 110 photographic works framed with Tru Vue® Optium® Acrylic Glazing.

The Art Institute of Chicago exhibit is the first retrospective of Abelardo Morell’s photographs in 15 years. Showing a range of works and series made from 1986 to the present, it includes many of his famous “Camera Obscuras” and of his newer color photographs never before exhibited. “The Universe Next Door” exhibition traces Morell’s innovative career as he continues to mine the essential strangeness and complexity of images.

“Tru Vue provided all the glazing for the entire exhibition,” says Elizabeth Siegel, associate curator of photography at the Art Institute of Chicago. “This museum-quality, non-reflective glazing is ideally suited to Morell’s work. Made with a large-format camera that allows a great range of detail, Morell’s images are carefully printed, with rich blacks and subtle tones. Optium allows us to present this work free of any distracting reflection or glare, greatly enhancing the viewing experience for the thousands of viewers we are expecting this summer.”

Julie Heath, Tru Vue’s museum liaison, adds, “Optium’s anti-reflective quality provides immediacy to Morell’s work that is not possible with regular glass or acrylic.”

Abelardo Morell. Book with Wavy Pages, 2001. Courtesy of the artist and Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York. ©Abelardo Morell, courtesy of Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

Siegel elaborates, “One can’t speak enough of the importance of carefully selected framing and glazing materials. First, they protect the work — from touch and, in the case of UV acrylic, UV exposure. Second, it is an integral component of display within an exhibition.”

Gemini Moulding supplied Tru Vue’s Optium Acrylic Glazing for each of the 110 works included in the Art Institute of Chicago’s “Abelardo Morell: The Universe Next Door” exhibit. “There’s nothing else on the market that performs like Optium. The clarity is so clear that it’s almost invisible. It’s the only product of its kind and the best for enhancing and protecting the artwork. When a museum selects Optium, you know that it’s been chosen for an extraordinary, valuable and important collection,” says Gemini Moulding’s vice president, Don Berg.

“It’s been exciting to be a part of the Morell exhibit from the earliest stages,” Berg continues. “Once we had the dimensions for the pieces, we ran multiple calculations to maximize the yield from each Optium sheet. Rather than relying on a traditional CNC router, which requires a wider margin, we cut them by hand to optimize the material for a custom fit.”

Tru Vue has worked closely with the museum community to develop this product to meet superior, aesthetic standards, as well as conservation standards. As a Tru Vue Fine Art Market partner, Gemini Moulding has been involved with many museum’s special collections and exhibitions, including the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM) in Phoenix. “After two years of continual exhibition, the MIM’s display cases with Optium look as good today as they did when they left our facility.”

Abelardo Morell. Camera Obscura Image of the Empire State Building in Bedroom, 1994. The Art Institute of Chicago, promised gift of Daniel Greenberg and Susan Steinhauser. ©Abelardo Morell, courtesy of Edwynn Houk Gallery, New York.

Tru Vue Optium Acrylic Glazing is relied on by museums worldwide including Greece, Italy, France, Spain, United Kingdom, Canada, Hong Kong, as well as throughout the United States.

The “Abelardo Morell: The Universe Next Door” exhibit is organized by the Art Institute of Chicago, in association with the J. Paul Getty Museum, Los Angeles, and the High Museum of Art, Atlanta. It will be open for viewing at the Art Institute of Chicago, June 1- Sept 2., 2013. For more information, please visit http://www.artic.edu.

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