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Stettler’s Andrea Hatch has redefined the traditional art of framing

Andrea Hatch won the Fan Favorite Award in the Tru Vue framing competition in February based on the results from an online poll.
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Andrea Hatch

When Andrea Hatch won the Fan Favorite Award in the Tru Vue framing competition in February based on the results from an online poll conducted during the West Coast and Frame Expo, it was no surprise to those who had seen her frame on display and had voted for her.

Owning one of the most unconventional places within the community Cabinet of Curiosities for Hatch this accomplishment means a lot.

“I’ve been competing nationally and internationally for the past six years in various other competitions but this is the first time where I have been placed in the top three and have actually won,” Hatch added.

Although the competition has been running for five years now, this is the first year that Hatch decided to compete here.

The competition proposal was about framing memories within the community.

“Several memories came to mind, but I decided to go with the idea of the Jersey Boy event in 2014 because it was truly an outstanding moment for our community here in Stettler,” Hatch recalled. “We were all given guidelines about what they wanted in the proposal and the event of Jersey Boys fitted perfectly with what they were looking for in a frame idea.”

Trained in Museum Studies, Hatch has worked as a book and greeting card illustrator, before taking up framing.

“When we came to Stettler I chose to open a store because the job opportunities in my field were limited,” Hatch said. “I had always planned on opening a gallery when I retired but decided not to wait and opened the gallery, frame shop and art store here.”

Hatch said that the framing industry not only allows her to use her skills and training but also to explore and design special pieces that are one of a kind that also uses her artistic side.

“It is great to win the award and it was even greater that I was the first Canadian to win it,” Hatch added. “It lets everyone know that Canadians can compete at any level and succeed. In fact, I have been encouraging other Canadian friends who are framers to compete in competitions to prove that we have great ideas in Canada.”

Hatch said that she enjoys the art of framing and competitions like this help her to gauge where she’s at with it.

“This affirms that I am doing interesting innovative projects that allow me to not only compete in my local marketplace but also literally compete and win on an international scale,” Hatch said.