Local man takes home framing contest award

Tommy Mann, Jr.

PINEHURST — Custom picture framing is more than an accessory to art. In fact, to one local businessman, it is at times an extension of the art itself.

John Nazworth, co-owner of Pinehurst Gallery Custom Picture Framing with his wife, Phyliss, has always belived this to be the case. Framing is not a job to him, but something that he loves and, in its own unique way, art for him as well.

Nazworth recently placed second in the Professional Picture Framers Association (PPFA) Print Contest for the Gulf Coast Chapter, which covers an area from Orange to Brownsville, Texas. It was the first time he ever entered such an event.

“I’ve said for several years that I have wanted to do this contest, but, for some reason, I just never got around to it,” Nazworth said. “This year I decided I would do it about three days before the deadline.”

There contest Nazworth entered qualifies him for the National Competition to be held in Anaheim, Calif. in Feb. 2010.

For this contest, the PPFA selects one specific piece of art. Each framer uses his or her talent and imagination to create a unique piece of work with the same central theme, thereby making it an even playing field for all entrants.

This year’s art piece was an abstract painting of a guitar, titled “Heart Rod Guitar.”

“You select the framing to fit the art,” Nazworth explained. “And every piece of framing I selected was based on the theme. The moldings I chose, with the finish and colors, reminded me of some electric guitars I have seen.”

Nazworth’s creativity is visible when viewing his award winning piece, which is currently on display at the gallery, located at 2498 MLK Drive in Orange. Not only did he use moldings which resemble the wood of a guitar, but he also added tuning keys on each side of the frame to further enhance the detail of the guitar.

“I like to look at a piece of art and see what I can add to it to make it unique,” Nazworth continued. “I wanted to add the guitar parts to it to give it a different look. Something kind of ‘outside-the-box.’

Judges score each piece on design and its degree of difficulty, as well as the methods and materials used.

Although Nazworth wanted to win first prize, he was not expecting to win anything.

“I just wanted to enter the contest and compete with other framers to see how I would do,” Nazworth said. “I wasn’t trying to win anything. It was a real learning experience though.”

Now that Nazworth has had a taste of success, he plans on entering more competitions when able and building on his recent success. And with each contest, it will only help to enhance his already impressive framing skills.

“This the kind of contest which will only help to make you a better framer,” he said. “The finals in California are only three months away, and I’m really excited. I already excited about the contest next year.”

Contact Nazworth at Pinehurst Gallery Custom Picture Framing at 409-882-9008 or stop in for a visit at 2498 MLK Drive in Orange to check out his winning piece or to view some of his framing options for photography and art.

John Nazworth, co-owner of Pinehurst Gallery Custom Picture Framing, holds his award-winning piece from a recent Professional Picture Framers Association contest. His design will be in the national contest in California in February 2010.

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