BUSINESS

Turley Publications courtesy photo

Rebecca Fay is the Proprietor of Worcester Art and Frame Gallery in West Brookfield.

Worcester Art and Frame Gallery opens

Custom framing, wide variety of prints available

By Melissa Fales

Reporter

WEST BROOKFIELD – Rebecca Fay has taken the Worcester Art and Frame Gallery to new heights, literally. Two years ago, Fay purchased the 35 year-old business on Norwich St. in Worcester and has since relocated it to a large barn at 223 New Braintree Road, next to the home she shares with her family atop the purported highest spot in West Brookfield.

Fay, 43, was just 16 and a sophomore in high school when her art teacher recommended her for a job at a frame shop in Paxton where she lived at the time. “I learned a lot about framing there and I’ve picked up more about framing at each of the dozen or so frame places I’ve worked at since then,” said Fay. She said she has always enjoyed the precision work custom framing demands. “It’s hard work, but it’s a labor of love,” said Fay.

Despite her strong interest in art and even studying at the Massachusetts College of Art in Boston, Fay later became a successful real estate agent. She rode the wave during the market’s peak from the late 1990s to 2005. “I was in it at the right time,” Fay said. The money was good, but she wasn’t happy. “It just didn’t suit me,” she explained. “I realized that I wasn’t cut out for real estate. I missed art too much.”

Following her passion, Fay opened a little frame shop in the house she lived in, in Brookfield. “I wanted to start small,” she said. “I wanted to get back into the art field gradually.” That plan changed drastically when she paid a visit to Worcester Art and Frame Gallery to look at a press that was for sale and ended up buying the entire business. “It was one of those things,” she said. “It wasn’t something I planned, it just happened. I guess it was meant to be.”

Originally opened in the Worcester Galleria, Worcester Art and Frame Gallery had two previous owners before Fay, including its founder who was a true collector. “He had reams of remaindered prints that were never used for books,” said Fay. “There are all kinds of themes, from Asian art to religious images, from works by the great masters to the most wacky, kitschy stuff you can imagine.” When Fay bought the business, she inherited this magnificent print collection, well over a million pieces of paper. She has begun to organize the prints in a way that customers can easily browse through them. “There are some very beautiful prints here,” said Fay. “It’s like digging for treasure. I’m still finding new pieces every time I sort through.”

In addition to the vintage prints, Fay acquired a hefty collection of vintage moldings along with the business. “This is material you can’t find anywhere else,” said Fay. “If a customer wants something unique for a frame, this is it. It has a beautiful patina.”

According to Fay, customers benefit from her ability to work at home. “I have very low overhead here,” she explained. “That means my clients can usually get a better quality of work at a less expensive price.” Fay said she is extremely pleased with the shop she’s created in the barn and is looking forward to showing it off during the Back Roads Studio Tour event Oct. 2 and 3. Despite the shop’s now rural location, Fay continues to serve clients in Worcester and offers pick-up and delivery service.

For Fay, the decision to return to the art world was the right one. “The best part of my job is taking a print or document and ‘spiffing’ it up,” Fay said. “I love to create something beautiful. The end result is very rewarding.” Fay said she also enjoys the social aspect of her business and meeting new people. “It’s such a pleasure to be working with people who enjoy art, too,” she said. Fay said she is particularly patient with customers, showing them as many framing options as necessary before they find the one that is just right. “It’s going to be hanging in their home,” she explained. “They are going to be looking at it. I want them to love it.”