Call for Artists, Making Money at Juried Art Fairs, Craft Shows and Festivals
Protecting Paintings during Transportation
A few weeks ago someone commented in this forum about a new product called "art bags" or "art pacs". They were designed to protect artwork during transport. It was NOT gallery pouch. I can't find it anywhere. Does anyone else remember, or know of this product?
Lisa Crisman
www.LeftEarArt.com
Lisa Crisman
www.LeftEarArt.com
Tags: packaging, painting, paintings, protection, transporting
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Geoff Coe on -
Hi Lisa,
The product is called a "ProArtPak". Visit ProArtPak.com.
I bought over a dozen of them and have used them for three shows. They are lightweight, built to accept labels, and easy to use. No more annoying cardboard corners! They cut my print-packing time from 45 minutes to 20.
I've already recouped the investment: they saved most of my display inventory when I was caught in a flash downpour right in the middle of a show breakdown.
The owner is named Hamish. Tell him I sent you.
Good luck!
Geoff
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Permalink Reply by Josh Trefethen on -
what would the advantage of ProArtPak be over the Gallery Pouch? Just curious...I am using the Gallery Pouches currently for some of my work and they are working well for me...
-Josh
http://JoshTrefethen.com
follow me: http://twitter.com/joshtrefethen
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Permalink Reply by Raya on
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Has an acrylic painter used these ProArtPacks and have you had any trouble with the surface textures getting imprinted on your paintings?
They are just what I need but…I’ve had bubble wrap damage my paintings in the summer heat…
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Permalink Reply by Hugo Cruz on -
Well, let me give my two cents / advise. I went to a couple of your sites and they sound rather expensive. Why not just go to wwwULINE.com and purchase pouches (they sell many styles and materials. Just type "pouches" on the search box and a drop-down list will show you all the options). For example, they have:
http://www.uline.com/BL_854/Foam-Pouches?keywords=Uline+Foam+Pouches
Also, Harbor Freight has some innexpensive yet very good quality black moving mats that will last indefinitely with care. I purchased about 30 of them. I just wrap each piece up, even stack multiple wrapped pieces and strap them with a canvas strap for easy multiple transport. I also had a local innexpensive at-home seamstress sew many of the moving blankets on three sides and make perfect pouches/sleeves for common sizes I make (24x36, 30x40, etc.). If you have sewing machine or know a friend then even better for you.
Here are some Harbor Freight links ... They often have sales and even coupons for 20% OFF. Also, if you have a local store, check the price online before you go... Print it, and they will honor the lower price. They also have other sizes.
http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47262
http://ww2.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=67386
good luck!
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Hugo thanks for the info.
Yes I checked Uline and some of their products would work. I’ve looked at the Proartpak and I do really like them even tho they’re $$$$. I live in a high heat area and will be transporting my large art in an open truck bed (to start) so the weather resistant aspects seem great to me. I’ve had the idea that you are using too (moving blankets sewed into pouches) but haven’t used it…is your work on panels or under glass? My work is mostly on canvas (stretched) and can get poked and stretched out, damaging the painting so I’d need to add a sheet of foam core or other harder surface; I might not need that with the Proartpaks.
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Permalink Reply by Lisa Marie Crisman on -
Yes, Hugo, thank you! I was considering the uline product, however, the moving blankets look like they'd be so much more protective.
=)
Lisa Crisman
www.LeftEarArt.com
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Permalink Reply by Mark Rogers on -
I am the owner of the company that manufacturers GalleryPouch™ bubble bags. We developed them in partnership with Andrew Darlow (Photographer and author of 301 Inkjet Printing Techniques). He was doing a gallery display of some very large canvas gallery wrap images when he discovered the hassle of transporting artwork. Below is a list of what we feel makes our bubble bags different from others.
If you are a member of Art Fair Insiders, I would be happy to send you our 8x10 sample bag for free if you would like to check the material out for yourself.
1. Large size – Bags such as the Uline might only go up to 36x48 inches. Ours are available up to 50x156 inches. If you need a wider bag you can get two bags with the opening on the long side, one just a little larger than the other place them on the artwork in telescopic fashion creating one larger cover.
2. Thickness of the polyethylene (the plastic material used to make the bubble) - Most companies make bubble from a variety of thickness levels from light weight to heavy. In the case of the company we are buying the material from they have lightweight, medium, heavy, and extra heavy. We are using the extra heavy. Most bubble bags are designed for one time shipping and packing use and therefore use the light weight material which is the lowest cost.
3. Flap - Many bubble bags just have an even open end. Ours has a two and a half inch flap at the open end.
4. Velcro option - Some bubble bags are resealable, but most do not use Velcro. Not only do we us Velcro but ours has a high temp adhesive ideal for adhesion to polyethylene. One of our Art Show customers based in Texas was graciously helping us test our prototypes and helped us discover that due to the heat buildup in his truck during the summer most Velcro products would fall off.
5. High quality edge seals. Most bubble bags are mass produced by hand on equipment using wire seals that basically stamp the bubble bags out on a roll. Wire sealers are fine for thin light weight plastics like those used in shrink wrap bags but on bubble they form an intermittent fuzzy seal. We had equipment specially made to provide a high quality seam that is much more reliable and solid than the wire seals. The equipment we are using is also used for bags in the medical industry (where you really don’t want things leaking out), and for making parachutes. My employees have actually made little pillows out of scrap material because the seals are pretty air tight.
6. Clear. We wanted the bags to be clear so that it is easy to determine which artwork is in the bag making it easier to line the artwork up along a gallery wall so you can leave them in the bag up until you are ready to hang.
7. Option for opening on the long side - Most bubble bags only have the opening on the short side. James Dunn told me he prefers the opening on the long side so he can leave the bags inside a carton and just slide the frames in and out. Clark mentioned it is easier to hold a large bag to put your artwork in with a long side opening. For example on a 40x60 bag with the opening on the long end you only have to lift your artwork 40 inches to clear the edge of the bag. With an opening on the short end you would have to lift it up 60 inches. Andrew was finding ways to place artwork in the bag on a table that were easier with the opening on the short side. After much discussion we realized we have to offer both options which basically doubled the size options.
Cheers,
Mark
President
Frame Destination, Inc.
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Permalink Reply by Munks on -
Oh, for crying out loud! What is everybody packing and moving - gold bars?!
If you are packing paintings larger than ACEO - walk, ride, drive, or hitchhike to your local U-Haul store and ask the kind gentleman (or the lady with the crew-cut and really scary tattoos) if you may purchase two rolls of green plastic mover's wrap. The clerk will kindly assist you in making your wise choice and purchase. I recommend the 6 inch roll because it has a spinning handle that facilitates a remarkable ease of application and portability.
Then, take your purchase proudly home and wrap your paintings or whatever in it. The plastic provides not only protection from the elements and various and sundry gremlins - but it also provides a means to stack paintings together in such a manner that they will not move in transport to your next little outing. If you use this material prior to shipping in a cardboard box to your Aunt Ruthie in Maine, or your goofy little gallery in Alabama - well then by golly, you'll be just set peachy keen!
Puh-leeze don't harp on me about the environment - the waste this stuff makes is about the size of a volleyball for each show I go to. And even if it was ten times that - it'll leave less of a damned footprint than your Sprinter van or your Honda generator that you insist on setting up behind my booth!
Now please folks, get some green wrap from U-Haul for about 6 bucks a 100' foot roll and get back to work!
Honestly!
PS: Works good for kidnappings too - less mess, less fuss!
Don't thank me, I'm just here to help.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Hoyt on -
"... (or the lady with the crew-cut and really scary tattoos) ..."
******************
I think I met her at the U Haul place once too!
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Permalink Reply by Sara Youngman on -
At the risk if irritating Munks... I'm a printmaker and my framed prints are all different sizes - never got into making standard sizes. And they can be as small as 10"x12", smaller actually, so I plan on hauling quite a few around and need the safest, driest, cheapest, most secure way to pack them. At this point I am already panicked about fitting everything into my CR-V.
Be kind. Please. I'm stressed.
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Permalink Reply by Munks on
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Wrap them in this green plastic stuff from U-Haul - takes about 10 seconds, then place them in the container of your choosing for shipping/transporting. If you need to criss-cross them so that the glass is protected, then by all means go ahead. This stuff is basically Saran Wrap on steroids without the 16 inch blade and in a much more user-friendly format - when you stack the wrapped items together in a box or whatever - the miracle of plastic keeps everything from sliding and vibrating which will of course damage your prints and your emotional well-being. There now - all your stress is eliminated - simple is good.
"My advice to you Benjamin - plastics."
The Graduate - (c. 1967)
Sara Youngman said:At the risk if irritating Munks... I'm a printmaker and my framed prints are all different sizes - never got into making standard sizes. And they can be as small as 10"x12", smaller actually, so I plan on hauling quite a few around and need the safest, driest, cheapest, most secure way to pack them. At this point I am already panicked about fitting everything into my CR-V.
Be kind. Please. I'm stressed.
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