Four Corners Gallery is very excited to announce we have added another layer to our in-house photo services. Partnering with longtime supplier, Larson Juhl, we are now offering Gallery Moments, a high-quality, photographic transformation service. We can assist you in bringing those cell phone photos you scroll through to a more tangible captured memory you can enjoy daily or share with friends and family. A favorite photo from a small screen can be made into a beautiful work of art on canvas, acrylic or metal.

The process is easy. Bring in your phone or email the photo you’d like to have converted. We will assist you in determining the best size and discuss the printed material options. Our added bonus is our in-house photo restoration service that allows us to make adjustments to your images if preferred/needed. Once the details are settled and you place your order, it can be shipped to us, straight to you, or to the doorstep of your loved one.

Painted Moments – Photos can become unique works of art on canvas. Choose from three styles: signature realistic, impressionistic, or modern painting. Academy trained artists first recreate the photo by digitally painting it. Once it’s printed on satin canvas, textural brushstrokes are added by hand to the canvas. The end result is very similar to an oil painting. Your painting can be ordered as an unframed gallery wrap, or you can select a custom frame for it that complements your art and personal décor. Canvases are available in 16 x 20, 20 x 24 or 24 x 30 and can be stretched to be framed or gallery wrapped to remain unframed.

Brilliant Moments – Images are printed and mounted directly onto the back of a 1/4” sheet of clear polished acrylic to produce a stunning presentation. This look gives maximum depth and richness of color in an ultra-brilliant format whether you choose to have it float away from the wall with a hidden hanging system, have it hang with silver standoffs in the corners, or dress it up with a frame. Acrylic-mounted photos are available in select sizes from 8 x 8 to 40 x 60.

Modern Moments – Printed on 1/16” thick aluminum, this process produces richly colored prints that are durable and lightweight with a high sheen that complements rich colors. A glossy, photo panel overlays the original photo print and there’s a built-in key-holed hanging block on the back. Art on aluminum looks great unframed or featured within floater frames to create a modern look. Metal-mounted photos are available in sizes from 8 x 8 to 40 x 60.

When selecting your photo, it’s important to remember that not all digital images can be enlarged and printed without losing clarity. For the best image and sharpness, printing from at least a 300 ppi (pixels per inch) file is recommended. The resolution of an image is affected by the pixels per inch or the number of pixels per inch of the image as seen on a computer screen. A pixel is the smallest visible unit of a digital image, or basically a small square of color. The higher the number of pixels, the clearer and crisper the image will appear on a screen, and the better the image will be when it’s printed. You’ll also want to keep the image proportions in mind. We can help you determine the image size and resolution if you aren’t sure. And our expertise in composition, color enhancement, and removing distractive elements will make your photos look professional.

Gallery Moments are meant to last. Canvas prints offer color quality and display permanence for 95 years, The inks used for acrylic prints are rated 100+ years and the paper substrate is estimated at over 60 years. Metal prints are rated 1.7x the lifespan of the best photo materials in the market. We know you’ll be very pleased with the high quality of your finished piece.

The finished piece can be shipped here to the gallery so you can choose a custom frame from our large selection when it arrives, or we can have it sent directly to you. Brilliant Moments acrylic prints and Modern Moments metal prints ship within 4 business days from the time the image is received. Painted Moments ship in 8 business days. We know you’ll be very pleased with the high quality of your finished piece. For more information about Gallery Moments, please visit www.ljgallerymoments.com.

What To Do with Water Damaged Art & Family Heirlooms in an Emergency Situation  

INSURANCE COVERAGE FOR WATER DAMAGED ART
& HEIRLOOMS

• Inform your insurance company about damaged artwork as soon as possible. Most homeowners have insurance coverage for their home’s contents. That content insurance is applicable to not only artwork but family heirlooms as well. They need not be scheduled or listed separately nor be of high value to qualify for restoration.
• Take detailed photographs of the water related damages to your artwork and heirlooms. You cannot take too many. Don’t forget the backsides; they often depict a lot of information.
• Accompany your insurance adjuster and all investigating persons and contractors. Keep detailed notes of all conversations. You may want to record them.
• In order to process an insurance claim for damaged artwork, you will need to get a professional evaluation and provide a written assessment of damages and cost estimates. Four Corners can assess, document and create condition reports for insurance purposes.

HOW TO DRY WATER DAMAGED ART & PERSONAL TREASURES

THE BASICS

• Place your treasures in the hands of a professional as soon as possible. We offer both art restoration and conservation of works on paper.
• Mold growth will be minimized by reducing temperature and humidity, and by promoting air circulation where the damaged artwork is stored.
• Find a cool, dry space and use fans if at all possible.
• Place an absorbent material (paper towels, uninked newsprint, blotters, etc.) under the objects being dried. If stacking is required place the absorbent material between wet items. Replace the absorbent material as it becomes wet.
• If wet books, documents, photographs and textiles cannot be air-dried within approximately 48 hours, freeze them. If freezing isn’t an option, keep the objects as cool as possible with air circulation until air-dried fully. This will help retard the mold growth.
• Do not hang wet objects without professional advice. Most materials are significantly weaker when wet and will be stressed with hanging.

DETAILS

Framed Paintings

• Remove frames from your paintings. Water weakens the bond between the paint and the medium used to prepare the canvas.
• Keep wet paintings flat and paint-side up.
• Our frame restoration specialist employs a three-tiered approach — from simple repair, to repair and refinishing, to complete restoration.

Art on Paper & Photos

• If possible, very carefully remove artworks from their frames and follow the procedures for air drying listed above.
• Use extreme caution when removing the artwork. Most art objects become weaker and are more likely to tear when wet.
• The artwork is most likely attached to the matting or backing boards with an adhesive and this could prove problematic to remove.
• If the artwork does not easily come out of the frame or if you encounter resistance when removing the artwork from the mat or backing board, STOP. Have the artwork evaluated by a professional prior to further disassembly. It is better to leave a work on paper in a temporary wet state rather than risk tearing it.
• If an artwork appears to be stuck to the glass/plexiglass, leave it in the frame and place glass-side down to dry.
• Leaving it in the frame insures the art and glass will not move in opposition to one another and create further damage.

Photographs

• Store completely wet photographs in a container of clean water. Dry or freeze them within 48 hours. If possible, interleave photographs with wax paper prior to freezing.
• Freeze or air-dry damp or partially wet photographs.
• Four Corners can return badly damaged photographs to their original detail using digital photo restoration techniques to fashion new, unblemished prints.

Documents

• Remove any plastic covers.
• Within 48 hours, air-dry flat in piles no thicker than 1/8″, or pack snugly upright in original paper folders and freeze. If there are no folders, pack flat.

Textiles

• Air-dry or bag wet textiles in plastic and freeze.
• Briefly immerse partially wet textiles in clean water, blot, and air-dry or freeze.

Books

• Remove two or three books from each wet or partly wet shelf to relieve pressure.
• Evacuate all completely and partially wet books. Pack snugly, spine down, and freeze.
• Damp books can remain on shelves if the space can be kept cool and dry.
• Contact a commercial dehumidification provider if the space is flooded.
• Air-dry individual books by standing them upright and opening their covers gently to support book.

This year Four Corners is proud to be a sponsor of the fifth season of the Alabama Backroad Century Series. The series promotes the growth and development of long-distance cycling in Alabama, encourages participation in established Alabama century (100 mile) rides and recognizes and rewards individuals for their accomplishments. In addition to cycling opportunities, the events promote awareness and provide an important funding source for various charitable causes across the state. The series started in April and will last into November. Hundreds of cyclists from across the state and the country participate in the series each year.

Five winners selected at random from cyclists who complete a full distance century will receive a personalized custom framed piece from Four Corners Gallery. “As far as we have seen, no other state offers a cycling series quite like this,” said Pixie Hicks, series director. “I believe our success is the result of recognizing and rewarding individuals for their accomplishments.” There will be one winner from each of the following centuries: Cheaha Challenge & Ultra, TriStates 100, W.C. Handy 100, Birmingham Bicycle Club’s 44^th Annual Century, and Glassner Autumn Challenge. The framed piece is a unique custom-designed and framed shadowbox with a photo of the winner, the collectible Centurion Finisher’s Medal awarded for the century completed, and an actual bicycle chain.

We have two winners already this year!

Kudos to Don Mrozcko, our winner for the Cheaha Challenge & Ultra on May 21. The appropriately dubbed Cheaha Challenge is a demanding route over Mount Cheaha, the highest point in Alabama, that continues to fulfill the event’s tagline promise to be “the toughest ride in the South.”

Congratulations to Sterling Catterton from Arkansas, our winner for the TriStates 100 on June 3. The TriStates 100 is held annually in Dothan and benefits the Dawn Pitchford Fund of the Children’s Hospital of Alabama. Proceeds for the fund help with non-medical needs of children across the state with cancer such as travel expenses, pajamas, stuffed animals, and head wraps.

The upcoming WC Handy 100 is near scenic Florence, Alabama on July 22. The ride is part of the WC Handy Music Festival, a week long celebration of the life and music of the Florence native known as “Father of the Blues”. The festival features music by both local and nationally-known performers.

The Birmingham Bicycle Club’s 44^th Annual Century will take place on September 30 in Ashville. Proceeds from this years event will be directed to the UAB Comprehensive Cancer Center for melanoma research and awareness. The club made this decision in reaction to the ride director, Wayne Spooner, being diagnosed last year with melanoma.

The Glassner Autumn Challenge will be held in Montgomery on October 14. This ride is held in memory of Dr. Jim Glassner, a long time friend and supporter of cycling in central Alabama. The ride supports Montgomery Bike Club Cycling Safety Classes, Cycling Awareness Activities, and Bike Month.

The Alabama Backroad Century Series has thirteen independent centuries. The Cyclepaths Challenge last April in Monroeville is a benefit for Camp Smile-A-Mile with its efforts to provide support to families with children fighting cancer. Also in April were the quickly growing 3^rd annual Tour Autauga in Prattville, and Tour De Blue’s 10^th annual ride to benefit the Urology Health Foundation. The 3rd Annual Spring Krusher in May is a new ride in the series in Elkmont and will benefit the counseling program of the Family Services Center, Inc. Cycling for Sight will be in Montgomery on June 24. This ride commemorates Helen Keller and benefits Montgomery Lions Club Community Foundation charities and the Ability Post Network at Huntingdon College. Now in its fourth year, the North Jefferson Century will be in Gardendale on August 26 to raise awareness and funds for the International Foundation for CDKL5, a rare neurological disorder. Gears & Beers: Bayou 100 will be in Mobile on November 11 benefitting the Delta Bike Project, a community bike shop in Mobile that teaches basic bike maintenance and repair skills.

The series has a new addition this year: the “Out-Of-State Invitational” Fenner Ride in Milton, Florida. This established ride will introduce Alabama Rides to Florida neighbors and boost participation in the event, which benefits Big Brothers ands Big Sisters of Northwest Florida. A goal of the addition is to serve as an example to inspire surrounding states to start their own series.

For more information about the Alabama Backroad Century Series, visit www.alabama-backroads-cycling.com