1712 Sherman Ave. Rear 2 (down the alley) Evanston, IL 60201

Frequently Asked Questions:

1. Are you the book store?
2. How long have you been in the alley?
3. How do I find your shop?
4. Where do I park?
5. How much does framing cost?
6. Can you frame odd-shaped objects?
7. What is conservation framing?
8. Do you have ready-made frames?
9. What is the turn around after placing an order?
10. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg to frame my poster. Are there more economical options?
11. What forms of payment do you accept?
12. Can I have some hangers for my wall?
13. Do you perform appraisals?
14. Do you offer artwork installation?
15. How big are your guns?
16. I want to browse for posters in my underwear at 3 in the morning. What do you recommend?
17. Do you show original artwork?
18. What form of divination do you prefer?
19. What's the hot album this week?
20. What's the point of the Euro?
21. Do you really serve genuine fair trade coffee to customers for free?
22. Can I pet your bird?
23. How long do parrots live?
24. How old is Jessica?
25. I hear there is a famous Italian director that shot a film at your gallery. Is this true?
26. Can you recommend somewhere to eat in downtown Evanston?
27. On the gallery premises, have you successfully measured the earth's gravitational pull?
28. During coffee break, could I find gallery's empoyees in the alley throwing a frisbee?
29. What is the employees favorite posters?
30. Is there a childern's book written about Jessica?

1. Are you the book store?
No, but our neighbor is a bookstore. Bookman's Alley is a fantastic place for used books. No better used bookstore in the country. People come from all over the world to check it out. It makes an appearance in the book "The Time Traveller's Wife" by Audrey Niffenegger.

2. How long have you been open?
We've served downtown Evanston since 1986.

3. How do I find your shop?
The Alley Gallery is the most discreetly located frameshop in Evanston! We're in the alley connecting Sherman & Benson Ave., between Church St. & Clark St.
Here's a map!

5. How much does framing cost?
Mounting, glass, and mats are directly linked to size of the piece. The largest fluctuation of price depend on the frame you choose. We have many options; from simple durable aluminum frames to custom-finished hand made italian mouldings. The best way to understand the cost of framing is a free estimate by one of our talented artist-types. We will be glad to show & explain the options to you and can work within your budget.

6. Can you frame odd-shaped objects?
Yes. We frame the unframeable. We love a good unique design challenge. Plates, Coins, Tiles, Elevator Buttons, Harp Backs, Used Tea Bags, Rusty Nails, you name it.

7. What is conservation framing?
There's no one standard. Broadly, it's framing that doesn't introduce harm to the artwork.

8. Do you have ready-made frames?
No. We do only custom framing. We do offer some economical framing options, like dry-mounting, and Plasticpac.

9. What is the turn around after placing an order?
We like to be evasive about it. Pressure on the craftsmen tends to lead to problems, and we like to make the perfect. Usually 2 to 3 weeks, depending in the complexity.

10. I don't want to spend an arm and a leg to frame my poster. Are there more economical options?
We do offer some economical framing options, like dry-mounting, and Plasticpac.

11. What forms of payment do you accept?
We accept cash, check, Visa & Mastercard.

12. Can I have some hangers for my wall?
Yes!

13. Do you perform appraisals?
No, but we can recommend someone we've worked with over the years. Give us a call!

14. Do you offer artwork installation?
No, but we can recommend someone for that as well! Give us a call!

15. How big are your guns?
I'm glad you asked. Here is the breakdown:
Brent: 12 1/2"
Darren 13"
Ross: 13 1/2"
Sharon: 11"
Krista: 13"

16. I want to browse for posters in my underwear at 3 in the morning. What do you recommend?
First, make sure you're wearing designer underwear. Then go to www.liebermans.net, where you can browse by artist, title, genre, etc. When you've found the poster that's right for you, email or call us with the Item Number and we'll order it for you. Special orders take up to two weeks.

17. Do you show original artwork?
We do, but only the artists who work here. We have several original pieces for sale by Brent Houston, Darren Oberto, and Ross Martens.

18. What form of divination do you prefer?
We consult the "Tibetan Oracle" on a regular basis. Here's an example:

Question: Should I bike to work today?
Answer: Listen, O Inquirer! You have not been able to fulfill your previous plans about this matter and this has lead you to experience a degree of frustration. Even though you are somewhat hindered through the influence of your past actions, this matter will very gradually come to pass in a manner beneficial to you. Others will also be delighted to see this happen. You also gain some material benefit from an unexpected source, so be joyful.

Feel free to stop by and test the Tibetan Oracle yourself!

19. What's the hot album this week?
Sinead O'Connor's Throw Down Your Arms

20. What's the point of the Euro?
We've been trying to figure that one out. Come see Chris for more info.

21. Do you really serve genuine fair trade coffee to customers for free?
Yes! And apple cider in the winter, and iced tea in the summer!

22. Can I pet your bird?
Jessica loves attention, but doesn't like to be touched. You can feed her a sunflower seed, if you'd like.

23. How long do parrots live?
We're told that parrots in captivity can live to be 80 to 100 years old!

24. How old is Jessica?
Jessie is about 19 years old.

25. I hear there is a famous Italian director that shot a film at your gallery. Is this true?
Yes, internationally-acclaimed director Alessandro De Cristofaro of Hermann Film shot a live-action short film in the summer of 2005 entitled "Do You See Me?" Look for it in a film festival near you!

26. Can you recommend somewhere to eat in downtown Evanston?
Evanston is considered the Restaurant Capital of the North Shore. We love Dave's Italian Kitchen.

27. On the gallery premises, have you successfully measured the earth's gravitational pull?
No, but not for lack of trying. It turns out the nearby "L" train was more disruptive than we'd like. Chris is working it out.

28. During coffee break, could I find one or more of the gallery's empoyees in the alley throwing a frisbee?
Yes.

29. What is the employees favorite posters?
We are big fans of Francois Schuiten's imaginative illustration work right now.

30. Is there a childern's book written about Jessica the parrot?
Yes, Cornelia Maude Spelman has a great book in the works and she's shopping for a publisher. See an illustration and excerpt.