Family-owned business provides custom frames and local artwork
Story by Amanda Stevenson-Holmes // Photography by Tony Vasquez
For more than 30 years, Generation Art and Frame has been serving Johnson County’s art and framing needs. The store in downtown Franklin is proudly family owned and operated for three generations.
“My mom and I had a mural-painting business, called Generation Art, and we painted murals in homes, churches, businesses, and we just got tired of having to run up to Greenwood all the time to get art supplies,” explained David Henderson, second-generation owner.
Henderson and his parents, Jeannie and Doug, decided to open their own store in Franklin’s Northwood Plaza off U.S. 31.
“My dad was retiring from Cummins at the time, and so we brought him in, and the three of us started Generation Art and Frame,” Henderson recalled.
Growth across generations
Growing up in the art and framing store, Henderson’s son, Joshua, became the third-generation owner with his wife, Tasha Sizemore.
Although Sizemore’s initials don’t align, the family finds humor in the D and J initials on the shop’s business cards that could stand for any combination of Doug, Jeannie, David or Joshua.
“At one point, all four of us were working here, and it was just easier to have the business cards say, ‘D and J Henderson,’” David said while laughing.
The shop was in Northwood Plaza for about 25 years and then moved to its current location off Main Street in downtown Franklin in late 2018.
“We saw how much time, effort and investment was being put into the downtown and the growth of this area, especially as an art district,” Joshua said. “There was a lot more growth and opportunity for businesses like ours in this area.”
David agreed. “It has been a really good move for us.”
Changing with the times
During the past 30 years, the family has watched as the art industry has changed, and fortunately, they’ve been able to adapt successfully to changing demands.
“There used to be frame shops everywhere when we first opened,” explained David. “Now, there’s very few anymore.”
David joked that he attributes stubbornness to being the key to the family’s persistence. But on a more serious note, he said the business has been successful due to its ability to adapt to the changing of customer’s preferences that have included the transition from people buying prints in person to buying them online.
“They used to come looking for prints, and we would order prints for them, but a lot of that has shifted online,” Joshua said. “Most of the time, when people come in to do framing, they’re bringing in things that they’ve already found.”
A new interest in people purchasing local art has also emerged. As a result, the Hendersons decided to only display local artwork, and they exclusively work with area artists to offer a product that consumers can only find at Generation Art and Frame.
“We went all in on just supporting local artists,” Joshua said.
Both Joshua and David agree the largest change since first opening the shop has been adding a robust offering of art supplies, offering art classes and open studio times.
“Businesses that are exclusively frame shops have had trouble,” Joshua said. “So, we try to be a little more well-rounded in the arts than just being a frame shop, which seems to have helped us.”
The city of Franklin’s commitment to the arts district and hosting lots of festivals and events downtown, like the summer Ethos Celebration of the Arts, has also helped the business.
Part of a larger art community
“Being a stand-alone shop in a strip mall just offering framing is limiting, but we’re now part of something bigger in this location,” Joshua said. “We’re part of a larger artist community here.”
Local artist Martha Vaught of Franklin agreed. “Generation Art and Frame is experienced and patient when helping customers pick just the right frame, and they’re able to do repairs and large works.”
From Nineveh, Amy Duncan makes the trek to Franklin because their “customer service is amazing, and they’re always proud to display and sell the work of local artists.”
Duncan has a few prints from local artist Luke Buck and is looking forward to an event with him later this year that will be hosted by Generation Art and Frame.
Ann Ellerbrook of Franklin shared her Generation Art and Frame experience about a special project that Joshua helped with spanning countries and an ocean.
“I have a large Lake Michigan landscape oil painting by my great uncle, which hung over the mantel of every home my family moved into my entire life,” she explained. “We moved several times, and this artwork always had a focal place of honor.”
When Ellerbrook’s parents died, the painting passed to her, and she treasures the painting. Recently, she moved to the Netherlands for a year and wanted to take it with her but knew it and its big frame were going to be too expensive to mail and too big to pack. She took it to Generation Art and Frame to discuss possibilities.
“We decided to remove the frame, which was handmade decades ago in Chicago,” Ellerbrook said. “The painting was fragile, and Joshua treated it as the old, precious art piece it is.”
After Joshua gently removed the frame, Ellerbrook left it to be packaged for shipment to the Netherlands. When it arrived there, she was pleased to find the painting had been carefully supported, wrapped and protected for its trip to Europe.
“When my art and I came back to Franklin, I needed a new frame and again consulted Generation Art and Frame to choose one befitting the age and style of my painting,” Ellerbrook said. “It’s now in my living room here in Franklin where it comforts me daily. Generation Art and Frame went above and beyond with their expertise and attention to my personal project. It’s a unique and special Franklin gem.”
To discover this local gem and more information about the Luke Buck event, visit: www.generationartandframe.com
