Preparing Your Art Supplies For The Big Move

Photo via Pixabay

Jersey City is a town chalk-full of artists, but creative people need to (or have to) find new creative space sometimes, and unlike a typical move, you have lots of delicate utensils and work – work that cannot be replaced. Artist Extraordinaire and DIYer Aimee Lyons guest blogs for Jersey City Gal on the art of moving art.

Preparing Your Art Supplies For The Big Move

You’ve made the difficult decision to move your art supplies and artwork for the first time in years. You love your current studio, and you can’t imagine having to pack it up. Still, the time has come to start taking action. How are you going to prepare your supplies for the big move?

Follow these six steps on moving day to ensure your artwork and supplies stay safe until the time comes to unpack and set up your brand new studio.

1. Wrap your Work Properly

Unfortunately, artwork is among the top 10 items most commonly damaged during a move. It’s a good idea to make sure that you have everything wrapped up carefully. If you’ve ever sold pieces and shipped them to customers, you should have a good idea of how to go about doing this. Obviously, the packaging will be determined by the type of art and materials used to make it, but getting the right supplies is crucial to ensuring that there is no damage to your collection. The same goes for your actual art supplies.

2. Double Check Your Packages

Before the movers arrive on moving day, double check your packages to make sure each one is properly labeled and prepared for shipment. Inspect each package and ask yourself whether or not it would survive a trip down the stairs. If the answer is no, add necessary wrapping.

It might help to mark each fragile box with a sharpie, in addition to detailing what items are inside. Of course, simple supplies like pencils, crayons, pastels, and paint sets won’t need this kind of protection. But your kiln, sewing machine, and other heavy equipment will. The more details you can provide, the easier the process will be.

3. Develop Your Game Plan

 Make sure you have a game plan to make the moving process as simple and smooth as possible. Consider the location of your new studio (Is it upstairs, downstairs, or on the middle floor?) as well as access points for the movers. If you have large, fragile pieces of equipment, make sure you’ve scouted out an entrance both to the building and the studio itself that will allow movers to safely carry it through. If the building has a service elevator, verify that you’ll have access on moving day if needed.

You should also think about how items should be loaded into and out of the truck. Talk to the movers about how the heaviest items will be placed and secured, as well as the most fragile pieces. Take into consideration how far the new studio is and the quality of the streets you’ll be taking—if it will be a bumpy road, overcompensate with padding and protection! Seek the insight of your movers and come up with a plan that makes you feel confident your artwork and equipment will arrive safely. You might even want to write down your plan to easily reference throughout the process.

4. Instruct Your Movers

 Once the movers arrive, give any relevant special instructions about how your pieces and equipment should be moved. Note anything that can’t be tipped or may shift weight awkwardly when lifted. Be specific. Your movers are there to make sure your belongings stay safe, but they need your help when it comes to safely transporting equipment they might not be familiar with. As long as you provide as much information as possible, you won’t have anything to worry about.

 5. Oversee Everything

 Since you hired other people to do the heavy lifting, make sure you oversee the process. You’ll want to be readily available, in case the movers have any questions about your pieces. If you screened the company properly, the employees will genuinely care about your artwork and supplies. They won’t want to be responsible for damaging anything. If you aren’t available to answer a question, they may be forced to guess. You don’t want this to happen under any circumstances. The key to working with movers is clear, open communication on both ends.

 6. Monitor Environmental Changes

Both artwork and equipment can be harmed by changes in the environment. Make sure your art studio belongings stay at a moderate temperature. If the weather is slippery, consider postponing your move until the environment improves. You don’t want to take any chances when it comes to your precious collection of crafts, supplies, and art.

Moving your art studio can be scary and frustrating. Follow these six steps on moving day, and your artwork will be in safe hands.

 

For more on Aimee Lyons, visit Diydarlin.com

Party With Purpose 5K

The annual Party With Purpose Hoboken 5K happens next Tuesday, July 11th!

Party With Purpose is a post-work race along the Hoboken waterfront followed by an after-party at Pier A with live music, food and drinks.

Join 1000+ runners and bring your children for the fun run! Details:

3:30pm: Kid’s Run

5:30pm: Check-In

6pm: Warm Up by Devotion Yoga

7pm: Race Start!

8pm: After Party

Register here by July 7th at 10pm with the promo code LASTCHANCE to save 10%. All proceeds go to local youth charities in Hoboken and Hudson County.

 

Run with purpose,
JCG

Happy July 4th!

Happy July 4th, Jersey City!

Freedom Fireworks are here tonight (though Liberty State Park has reopened after the government shutdown).

Enjoy and enjoy.

But most of all, remember that every day is Independence Day. Honor our founding fathers, those who have served the U.S.A. throughout history and those who strive for excellence in continuing to keep this the land of the free and the home of the brave. 

JCG

Movies in the Park 2017


moviesintheparkjerseycity
Enjoy summer nights in under the stars watching popular flicks in your favorite Jersey City Parks. Grab your kids, your blanket, your chairs

July 10: Angry Birds [Thomas McGovern Park]

July 13: Wizard of Oz [Leonard Gordon Park]

July 20: Pete’s Dragon [Canco Veterans Memorial Park]

July 20: Monsters University [Columbia Park]

July 20: Mutant Turtles: Out of the Shadows [Audubon Park]

July 26: Moana [Van Vorst Park]

July 27: Space Jam [Berry Lane Park]

July 28: Rogue One: A Star Wars Story [Van Vorst Park]

July 28: The LEGO Batman Movie [Hamilton Park, 8:15 pm]

July 31: 101 Dalmations (original) [Ercel Webb Park, 264 Van Horne Street]

August 3: Cars [Pershing Field]

August 7: Ghost Busters – Answer the Call [Arlington Park]

August 9: Lion [Van Vorst Park]

August 9: LaLa Land [Newport Green, 7pm]

August 10: Back to the Future [Riverview Park]

August 14: E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial [Harsimus Cemetery]

August 17: The BFG [Village Park, 384 1st St.]

August 23: Sing Street [Van Vorst Park]

August 24: The Wild Life [Sgt. Anthony Park]

August 31: Storks – Find Your Flock [J. Owen Grundy Pier]

September 6: Hidden Figures [Van Vorst Park]

September 22: The Jungle Book [Hamilton Park, 7pm]

October 13: The Nightmare Before Christmas [Hamilton Park, 6:30pm]

Other notes: Parks in the Jersey City and Hudson County area host these films and live performances thanks to The Hamilton Park Neighborhood Association, the Van Vorst Park AssociationJersey City Cultural Affairs, and the County of Hudson. All events begin at sundown.

To the view,
JCG

Hudson Restaurant Week Summer 2017


restaurant_week_jerseycity

Because this side of the river has increasingly become a place of destination, this summer’s Hudson County Restaurant Week (7/25-8/5) is particularly poignant. All of the quickly established new additions to our classic faves are creating crazy flocks of foodies.

Find the full list of participants and their menu selections here.

My personal reviews of participating restaurants previously published on my blog are… [use the upper right search bar and type].

Tweet me @jerseycitygia if you have any inquiries because it’s likely I a) have an unpublished review b) an update to an older review in the works or c) know a gem so well I’m not going to share with all, but maybe with you 😉

Try something new & let me know your experience,
JCG

Here are participating Jersey City restaurants:

Amelia’s Bistro

Bistro at Grove Square

Bistro La Source

Edward’s Steakhouse

Fire & Oak

FM

Greene Hook

The Hamilton Inn

Hamilton Pork

The Hutton

Kitchen Step

Laico’s (not one to miss!)

Latham House

Liberty House Restaurant

Liberty Prime Steakhouse

Light Horse Tavern

Raval Tapas Bar

Satis Bistro

South House

VB3

View the full list of Hudson County participating restaurants, prices and menus here.

Taste Jersey City Tastefully,
JCG

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