In plenty of time for holiday madness to ensue, Doug Levere’s Print Collection will open its doors with a grand opening celebration this Saturday from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. in the J.R. Barrington Building at 686 Main Street. Print Collection occupies the 450 square foot space on the ground floor of the Barrington building facing Main Street with easy walk-in access.
Levere began Print Collection as an online business in 2010 as a means for people to obtain museum quality prints for home or office at reasonable prices. Levere searches for interesting images that are no longer copyright protected and are part of public domain. He makes any necessary computerized adjustments to the images and then prints them on the finest quality archival matting, at which point they are suitable for framing. He also has the ability to have the images printed on fabric. The results are extraordinary.
Everything that is available online is also available in his new store. Among the items people will find upon entering Print Collection are matted state posters by local artist Julian Montague, tufted ottomans and pillows covered in colorful fabric with Ernst Henkle’s detailed radiolarian protozoa drawings, as well as many Buffalo-centric images.
With high-end digital printing available on-site, possibilities are limitless. Levere welcomes digital images from clients that can be formatted and printed in-house and professionally matted and custom framed. Stock frames are also available to instantly frame a print found in the store to make an easy but great unique gift.
Levere welcomes dialog from all of his patrons. It is not the type of store that you just walk into and buy something, the back-story is key to appreciating the work. This is not a novelty shop, this is a spot to find interesting, creative images you might see in a gallery that you can take home with you, or create your own work of art using your own personal image.
A photographer by trade, Long Island native Levere moved to New York City after graduating from the University at Buffalo. He worked with the best photographers in the industry for years, then ventured out on his own with great success. He authored “New York Changing” in 2004, a comparative illustration of renowned photographer Bernice Abbott’s book “Changing New York,” the culmination of which resulted in an exhibition at the Museum of the City of New York with Levere’s and Abbott’s work side by side. After spending 13 years in NYC, Levere is happy to be raising his family back in Buffalo and venturing out on Main Street with Print Collection.
When fellow photographer and friend Rhea Anna moved into the space next door at 686 Main earlier this year, she suggested to Levere to take the plunge along with her. Levere is very excited to open his retail space downtown, “It is amazing to think that I could have a business on this street in the midst of the city’s rebirth,” he says. As a supporter of local artisans he envisions the space being used as a pop-up venue for local artists in the upcoming months. He also expects his fabric line to expand with ideas for a line of home goods on the horizon.
Print Collection will be open on Saturday’s from 1:00 – 8:00 p.m. with increased hours during the holidays. Be sure to stop by this Saturday for the grand opening celebration from 5:00 – 9:00 p.m. Find out more at www.printcollection.com.