Co-owner Corinne Lively and employee Mary Lyons of the Streamside Art Co. were designated Certified Picture Framers April 17. With Lively earning the Professional Picture Framers Association’s competition Popular Choice Overall and Best Shadowbox awards, the certification is just one of several celebrations the Granby gallery and frame shop has enjoyed in recent years.

As the first certification test for both, Lively and Lyons agreed it was challenging.

Required every four years for professional framers who want to go on to pass a master custom framing test (after a seven-year qualification), the 3.5-hour written test consisted of 150 questions from five categories. Inquiries included preservation, general knowledge and terminology (which included questions on art styles and time periods), mechanical, mathematical and questions about mounting frames.

“The CPF qualifications are rigorous, requiring extensive study and testing in several areas, including the care and handling of antique items, archival presentation of all types of items, and the identification of various printmaking and photographic techniques,” the company’s press release stated. “In 1986, the PPFA (of which Streamside is also a member) created this framers’ mark of excellence to raise the standards of the industry in preservation and presentation. Framing materials and techniques are continually being improved and the Association promotes the ongoing education of its member artisans.”

Lyons, who has been at the Streamside Art Co. for two years, said she was pleased to find out she passed. She and Lively said there was only one other person at the test (in Denver), a woman from Grand Junction.

“I don’t know how many certified professional framers there are, but we have two in Grand County now,” she said. Employees Karen Barks and Jill Tarkleson have also expressed interest in gaining the certification in coming years.

The two new certified picture framers said working at Streamside is interesting, fun, and they both love being creative and getting to see the variety of work that comes through the door. They and the other talented framers at the Streamside Art Co. encourage anyone to drop by to see their displays or to bring their prized items for framing “with the knowledge they will be handled with care and respect.”

Lively (who has owned the company with husband, Dave, for almost four years) and Streamside Art are also offering several upcoming art events. Mary Lyons is teaching a Beginning Watercolor class May 3 to 31 at Streamside. Kate Hamilton is offering a beginning drawing class May 8 to 29. Each four-week session, for ages 12 and up, is $59 and takes place in the Granby Community Center.

Streamside has also been asked to display a framing exhibit at the Granby Library during June. It will be host to an artists reception for Berta Post June 6, a “Celebration of Art, Small Art for a Great Cause” Habitat for Humanity of Grand County benefit Aug. 8; and its traditional reception for the annual Middle Park Land Trust photo contest next fall.

To make a reservation for one of the community art classes or to donate or volunteer for the Habitat art fundraiser, visit http://www.streamsideart.com, call (970) 887-1210, or just drop by the professional gallery and frame shop. It is located at 378 E. Agate in Granby, Colorado. Hours are 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday (and an hour later during the upcoming Fridays Farmer’s Markets, for whom they’ll also allow for more parking) and 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturdays.