I like Igor.

As time winds down straight to the wire and I fail repeatedly to get a hold of 12x12 frames for my second exhibition I do what I should have done a month ago. I go 2 blocks down the street to Masterpiece Framing. After AI Friedman saying ‘Ja, it’ll take a month’ and Michael’s ‘sure that’ll be $500’ I was feeling like a cornered rodent (preferably a mouse or squirrel). I expected a privately owned shop to cost way too much and refuse the time restraints I had, which was now 6 days.
Igor saved my life, or at least my sanity. Even as a fidgeted about, hopping from foot to foot and waving my arms frantically like a baby bird ready for take off, he remained calm and went through my options. I hope everyone has an Igor in their town imported straight from Russia and ready to wrestle the craziest of us artists into a more reasonable state of panic.
The newest panic being, how the heck do I get to Nyack without a car?
The Moral of our story:
Never overlook the little man, small businesses rock. Also, Russians seriously rock. And lastly, getting stuff done ahead of time (for instance, having your work framed and ready before submitting to open calls) is really the best way to go.
Happy printing!