How Do I Hang These Fuckin' Things?

October 30, 2006 3:40 PM

In about 48 hours, I need to hang the originals of these and these (polyoramas) at a local place. What is the best way to do this?

Each drawing is about 2" x 4", and between the two sets, there are about 30 of them.

I had thought it might be interesting to mount them on black foamcore—with no borders—butt them up against each other, and just go in there and move them around every couple of days. I'd tack them to the wall with poster-stick or something. Without glass, that's not so nice looking, though.

Frames present a problem, too: the border separates each image to the point where it may not be clear that the drawings are rearrangeable. I can put a couple together in several different frames, and make some sort of diagram explaining it, but that seems unsatisfying.

What is a good and classy way to hang these things, making it clear that they're modular, moveable, and individually for sale? I am open to spending money, as long as I can get the materials and put everything together fairly quickly (i.e., in 48 hours). Thanks!

posted by interrobang to media & arts (9 comments total)

What about some kind of variation of a velcro/flannel board, the kind that teachers use? You could mount each panel on foamcore, affix a bit of velcro to the back, and place them on the board. I'm sure there are much more elegant boards out there; I just linked to this one because it was the first one I saw. Table-top or wall mounted. You could also make your own.
posted by iconomy at 4:09 PM on October 30, 2006

Can you do a digital installation at the same time? Something like a looping powerpoint with different configurations? That way you can hang them behind glass and framed, in groups or individually and still convey their flexibility without using something as unsubtle as a diagram.
posted by b33j at 4:11 PM on October 30, 2006

Make up 10 different arrangements of the moo cards, and frame each one separately. Then put 5 arrangements on either side of the originals, stacked vertically.

The point being that they don't have to be able to move the originals -- they just have to see how it works.
posted by smackfu at 4:23 PM on October 30, 2006

The velcro/flannel idea sounds good but I fear you might put a lot stress on them and bend them as your removing them from board.

I'd suggest affixing small magnets to each polyorama and finding a metal board.
posted by Cog at 4:27 PM on October 30, 2006

Hi interrobang. I think you should frame the originals in a shadow box or your standard grid mounting behind glass. If at least one complete set of the cards has arrived from printing, hot glue a small thin magnet to the back of each, then stick them on a hanging plain black or white magnetic board. I think giving people at set to play with will really engage their interest.

I assume this is a cafe and that you can't set up a laptop because it won't be observed, but if it's a gallery, then I think it'd be super cool to have one set up with cortex's polyrama page, so people can play with the combinations that way.

I just wouldn't do anything with the originals that kept them unframed -- the likelihood they'd get ripped off or damaged is just too great, especially in a non-gallery setting.

I'm really looking forward to getting my sets!
posted by melissa may at 4:31 PM on October 30, 2006

Frameless glass clipped to masonite. Like this system.

Individual pieces of glass over each piece with 'gallery nails' (a simple, bent headless nail). Pieces may be mounted or not.

Single large glass over arrangement with gallery nails. Again, mounted or not.

Good luck!
posted by xod at 4:34 PM on October 30, 2006

What about magnets on the back? You can buy magnetic strips that are on a continuous roll - they range in width from about 1/4" to business card width and larger. You could trim the magnets to fit perfectly on the backs of the panels, and then affix them to a simple metal board or magnetic board of some kind.

On preview...what Cog said!
posted by iconomy at 4:34 PM on October 30, 2006

Okay, thanks very, very much, everyone! I'm going to try the magnet thing. It's a great idea—incorporates the playing aspect, uses the little cards, and can serve as an ad for the cards that are for sale. Thank you very much!

Cards will be in the mail soon.
posted by interrobang at 4:45 PM on October 30, 2006

(xod, I would have gone with your suggestion, but I'm not allowed to nail into the walls. It's one of those places where the hooks are on the ceiling, and you have to hang stuff down from them. Good idea, though!)
posted by interrobang at 4:51 PM on October 30, 2006