I am going to have a solo show in November focusing on my many daily art projects over the last two decades, and I'm getting serious about what pieces to exhibit and how to display them. I decided that the best way to show four years worth of collage work on index cards would be to choose maybe 20 of the cards and pin them to a foam core board, and put the file boxes with the rest of the cards on a table where visitors could leaf through them at leisure.
So I needed some big foam core boards.
After not finding them at my local office supply store, I went online and discovered that Office Depot had a pack of ten for sale. Great! But they were not available for instore purchase. Instead, they would deliver them to my house tomorrow for free. Seemed like a great deal, so I bought them.
Tuesday came and went, but nobody showed up to pick up the boards. I called. She looked up the order -- and there was no pickup scheduled. I should dispose of the boards myself, and did I want her to put the replacement shipment in.
I asked if they were just going to send a new pack of boards in the same packaging. She consulted something and finally came back to say there was no way to request special packaging, the next shipment would be just like the first one. I declined. Could I have the boards delivered to a store so I could see what I was buying? She consulted something and finally came back to say no.
So now I own ten FREE foam core boards with busted-in corners, but none that are pristine enough to be put in a gallery. One friend suggested that our local art store might be able to cut the corners off neatly. (Because if you've ever tried to cut foam core, you know that home tools just give you a big mess.) I will pursue that. But if they can't, I guess I will have a search for some place in town other than Office Depot that can sell me big foam core boards.
I'm glad I have started on this show planning with plenty of lead time.
You might try Joann Fabrics or Preston Art Center.
ReplyDeleteoh dear. I hope you get something that works.
ReplyDeleteBy the way, my cataract surgery was postponed (letter came some time ago) to the 21st August. At this point, I am glad because I was still recovering from the Festival of Quilts on the 14th. Really, Really getting tired of seeing through (or not seeing through) a blur!
I just postponed mine till early January. Too much to do this fall, between teaching gigs and getting ready for my show. I am tired of the blur, too, but decided I couldn't deal with surgery right now. Hope yours goes well!
DeleteOh well. Much anticipation and much misunderstanding. This was a 2 hour assessment of my eyes; drops, measuring, shining lights and more tests. and Now I am on a waiting list. Seems we might be having it around the same time.
DeleteHey ho. Back to work then.
I seem to remember buying them at Home Depot.
ReplyDeleteI've cut foam core by using a rotary cutter (old blade!) and it's worked well. I'm guessing you need larger than 20" x 30"? Dollar Tree has that size for $1 each, in black and white. Usually they don't have rumpled corners. At least not until I bang them up getting them in and out of the car :-/
ReplyDeleteI really want 30 x 40 -- but if all else fails, maybe I will get two of the smaller ones and put them together!!
DeleteO no!! This is a little nightmare.
ReplyDeleteI wonder if the art store could sell you some of these boards????
ReplyDeleteWish I could help you! I get 4'x8' foam core from a local package store - they sell blank cards, boxes, bags, etc. Maybe there's something like that near you.
ReplyDeleteI have a special tool that I’ve had for years made especially to cut foam core. Made by the same company that makes exact knives and uses the same blades. I don’t know if it’s still available but you might want to check it out. It's adjustable so it will cut different thickness of foam core. Works like a charm. I’ve also ordered large pieces of foam core from art supply companies that were well packed and still had a few with messed up corners.
ReplyDeleteMaybe try https://www.dickblick.com/ I'm guessing they would pay a lot more attention to packing the boards.
ReplyDeleteDo you need the large dented sheets to have square corners? I got to wondering if they'd work with corners trimmed off at an angle...
ReplyDeleteThese will be hung in a gallery and I want to put a grid of cards on the sheet, so I guess cutoff corners would look kind of weird. (for another situation, probably that would be a plan)
Delete