What Do Museums & Galleries Use To Hang Art?
When you walk into a museum or art gallery the displays are pristine, perfect and precise. Their layout gives the best visual statement possible and they are secure and safe. Simply put, museums and art galleries put a lot of effort into the way their art is hung.
Whereas, many homeowners of people that hang art in their workplace often do not go beyond a nail or some screws in the wall. This results in a poor display and an unsafe hanging of your valuable art piece.
So what can you do? How can you make your art as attractive and efficient as what you see displayed in the museums and galleries? What do they use?
Together we are going to take a gander into the world of hanging art and find out exactly what the professionals use for some of the most expensive pieces in the world so you can follow suit and choose the best hanging system for your artworks.
What Is A Picture Hanging System?
Instead of a single point of contact like you have with a nail or screw, a hanging system usually includes a track that is fastened to the wall or ceiling, then you have cables attached to it and hooks to fasten to your frame. Though there are many different types of hanging systems used throughout galleries and museums around the world, most of them include these 3 simple concepts.
Whilst you could technically class anything as a system for hanging art, a true picture hanging system comes as a package that will be installed as a permanent feature of your wall. It will then be adjustable and should have the ability to have 2 points of contact on your picture though some still choose to only have 1.
The materials used for the track, cables and hooks may vary depending on the weight of the frame and the aesthetic that you are trying to achieve. Some will also have different types of connections with different pros and cons but essentially they work in the same way.
What Are The Benefits Of A Picture Hanging System?
When you measure where to hang your picture and then drill a hole and place your picture there, it is almost never perfect. The way we see it before and after can be like night and day. Unfortunately however, it is already too late because the whole has been made in the wall.
Moving it half an inch is therefore impossible without sacrificing stability and if you decide to reposition the location entirely, well, then you might end up making your wall look like a used dart board.
This is where a picture hanging system is great. You can fasten the top track and the cables can be moved left and right as needed meaning that the horizontal location is 100% flexible. This is especially good if you want to change what art you hang on that wall or if you want to reposition it since you are adding something else in the same location.
But it doesn't stop there at horizontal adjustments. The Hooks can be moved up and down the cables and secured accordingly. This means that you can also adjust the height but more importantly you can move them up and down until the level of your frame is absolutely perfect.
No more do you have to settle for “okay” or “alright.” Now you get to have your beautiful art exactly how you want it today and exactly how you want it at any point in the future.
This precision and flexibility is especially useful when you consider that once the system is installed you never need to use any tools again.
Are Picture Hanging Systems Reliable?
When we talk about reliability, we are often discussing consistency and dependability over the course of time. Noone wants to buy something which only works for a few years effectively and then breaks down.
If you look at the history of picture hanging systems it is one of the few concepts that have lasted from the 1840s until today. Many of the original picture rails that were installed in these old houses are still functional to this day. We can learn 2 very important points from this understanding.
Firstly, this was a system of hanging art that was so effective that it has continued to be the best way of hanging valuable art pieces for over 180 years. That is some record of reliability and dependability. Whilst many inventions have changed considerably the concept with picture rails and picture hanging systems remains the same.
Secondly, the original picture rails that were installed in many houses in the 1800s and 1900s are vastly inferior to the ones made today. As technology has progressed so has the equipment used to hang pictures. So if they were good 180 years ago, they are so much better today.
With non corrosive, non combustible materials, you can be sure that your picture hanging system will last for an extremely long time and that its fasteners and mounting will be more secure than ever. This makes the modern picture hanging systems extremely reliable and dependable.
Where To Get A Picture Hanging System?
Whilst many people go to the local hardware store for supplies this will not suffice for a high quality picture hanging system. They don't have the materials, they don't have the specialized expertise in this area and though they may be able to offer you a mediocre system, you will not get the best product in a local DIY store.
The best place to go is somewhere where they have experience specializing in picture hanging systems. Not just someone who sells some, but someone who makes it their entire business. These are the people who can tell you the difference between a tensioned and suspension system or who can explain to you the exact weight load of every hook, track and cable.
These experts are usually found online and sell their parts internationally to museums and galleries but they can also be bought for anyone who wants the best for their home or office.
This article is not sponsored by All SHE Makes or Systematic Art.
