Rare Prints Gallery has been open since 2005. However, Michael Damico of Damico Frame & Art Gallery became part owner in January, 2018. We have made significant changes to the interior and have completely overhauled the business strategy to become an educational resource in the community and abroad. So, we thought it would be great to hold a grand re-opening and show off our whole new look. Visit any time and tell us what you think! Following is the press release we recently sent to announce the big event. And it does include a drawing with prizes!
Rare Prints Gallery in Franklin Announces Grand Re-Opening
Franklin, TN – Rare Prints Gallery (RPG) in downtown Franklin announces its grand re-opening on Friday, April 5. The Williamson County Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting ceremony just outside the front door at 11:00 that day. The gallery is located at 420 Main Street directly across from the historic Franklin Theater.
The gallery has been open since 2005, but owners and historic preservationists Rod and Kay Heller partnered with Michael Damico of Damico Frame & Art Gallery in January 2018. Damico became the Director of Operations and 50% co-owner to preserve and grow the Main Street staple.
The Damico team, including his wife and local artist Kit Kite, has worked diligently to create a completely new look in the gallery to be unveiled at the ribbon cutting event. They also developed a host of additional services including conservation framing, document and image scanning, printing, reproductions, shadow boxes, and more. The goal of RPG is to serve as an educational resource and turn people at every level of interest and curiosity into collectors of rare prints and old maps.
Located directly across from the Franklin Theater, RPG contains a collection of rich documents and artifacts. The term “rare prints” in this gallery refers to some of the inventory that is derived from pages that were removed from antique books. Some prints date back to the time shortly after the first printing press was developed in the 15th century and range all the way to the early part of the 20th century. Their eclectic selection of old maps includes an original print of France from 1592.
“Every day we see guests from all around the world,” says gallery director Mel Ferrer. “It’s so satisfying to watch people light up with fascination and curiosity when we teach them about the prints. Tourists especially love looking at old maps from their part of the world. And everyone, often even children, loves hearing about the history associated with each image and the processes involved in creating a single print or map.”
To learn more about Rare Prints Gallery, contact Director Mel Ferrer at 615-472-1980 or Michael Damico at 615-815-6015.
