To frame something really means to signify its importance. The frame shows you where to direct your gaze. The frame lets you know that this piece of the world deserves your attention. With nearly 30 years of experience as a custom frame designer, Christopher Allen is an expert at highlighting things that should be seen. About five years ago, he had a decision to make. He thought that perhaps retirement was the answer, but with strong urging from dear friends, he decided to add business owner to his resumé, and Texarkana’s art community is grateful for it. Within the four walls of Christopher’s Framing, Accessories, and Gallery, he is able to combine his talent and craftsmanship with his love for art and feels truly blessed to help his customers “turn moments into keepsakes and houses into homes.”

Christopher is a Texarkana native and has enjoyed a unique view as his hometown has grown and changed. As a Texas High Tiger in the late ’70s, he remembers watching as Summerhill Square was built across the street. “That was so long ago we still had an open campus. We’d walk over here to The Brown Bag for lunch, and then actually go back to school,” he laughed. From his storefront now, he has watched as THS has grown and changed, and grown some more. “Texarkana is an interesting place, I think. For me, it’s become big enough, but it’s still small enough, too. I really love to travel. I’m always ready to go, but I always love to come back home.”

*Christopher, Judy Wright Walter, Glenna Bevill and Lavell Williamson during Christopher’s Framing, Accessories, and Gallery’s Christmas Open House this past November.*

For as long as he can remember, Christopher has had an eye for detail and a talent for design. At 8 years old, he begged his mother to let him decorate the Christmas tree, and was so disappointed by her “no, not this year.” “When I was 10, she finally agreed to let me try, and she said it was the most beautiful tree she’d ever seen,” he laughed. “From then on, we always decorated the tree together.” Christopher’s career path as a custom framer makes perfect sense when you find out that his mother was quite artsy and an impeccable seamstress, and his father worked in construction. “I was blessed to have that combination of creativity and practical, hands- on skills.”

*Lindola Griffin and Christopher during J Brown for the Home’s Open House, held on November 28, 2018.*

As a solo craftsman and business owner, walking through the front door of Christopher’s is truly stepping into his world – it’s interesting, immediately. It’s welcoming and beautiful each way you turn your head, a reflection of his own values and interests. “I really wanted this to be a calming place. I needed it to be very zen,” he said. “No space for negativity.” The front of the store hosts a gallery of work available for purchase from many local artists. From large abstracts, to detailed watercolors, to pottery, and floral arrangements, and greeting cards, Christopher’s offers a space for artists to place their work in front of customers and a chance for customers to discover new artists. “I love the variety. I’m always trying to keep things fresh, and I love to learn. Inspiration is everywhere.”

If you happen to walk in while Christopher is with a customer, you’ll have time to browse and admire, and if you happen to walk in while he is free, you’ll get to hear some of the stories. There is a story behind every piece in his shop it seems – hand-drawn portraits from a man that taught himself to draw in prison, gorgeous prints from a former doctor that suffered a stroke years ago, and has used art as a means of expression. The umbrellas hanging from the ceiling? “A dear friend in Florida does this, and I just loved it so much. God blesses you every day of your life. The umbrellas are hanging up there to catch the blessings I may miss on my own.” The only caveat – the umbrellas must be received as a gift, and, of course, they all come with their own story.

Throughout his nearly 30-year-career, Christopher has been entrusted with some truly priceless heirlooms, everything from a Michael Jackson jacket to military dress uniforms. “Some of the most interesting things I’ve framed have probably been a government issued sword that had been in the family for generations, a derringer pistol, and one time I was commissioned to frame a lock of hair, just a small curl.” The story behind the lock of hair is worth asking about. No matter the project, a small newspaper article or a large canvas, Christopher’s goal is the same: to help his customers turn their favorite mementoes into treasured keepsakes. “I was very unsure about opening my own business,” he said. “But with the help of dear friends, and clients who have supported me, and even the framing companies that I have worked with for years, it has been an amazing experience. For five years I have just been blessed and humbled to my knees.”

*This past December, Suzan Rogers, Kathy Hudson, Christopher, Mary Beth Dwight and Stephanie Fussell attended Women for the Arts’ Open House and Arts Market at the Regional Arts Center.*

When he is not busy in his store, Christopher is active in the local art community, participating in Party with Picassos, the Four States Art Club, and as the Director for the Four States Fine Arts Department at the fairgrounds. “I started volunteering out there in 1988. All of the entries to the art competitions each year, I’ve probably had my hands on every one of them.” A self-described Parrot Head (aka huge Jimmy Buffett fan), Christopher loves to travel and makes his way toward sandy beaches as often as possible. He even freelances as a travel agent, thanks to years of experience. Pointing to all of the palm trees and beautiful birds scattered around his shop, he smiled, “This is me.”

Looking for and highlighting the good things in life is a talent all its own, and Christopher Allen might tell you that the most important step is simply choosing the right frame. “More than anything, I am thankful for my family and my tribe,” he said. “And I know it sounds cheesy, but what I’m really looking forward to is tomorrow. Only today is promised, so I am always grateful for tomorrow.”

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