Would you believe that some of the finest artworks and photography on canvas in North America are protected by supports crafted right here in the City of Owen Sound? For over 17 years, the professional woodworkers at Upper Canada Stretchers have engineered and manufactured professional-grade stretcher bars and custom art canvas supports. Today, their products are recognized as the best quality supports available to fine artists, art conservators, galleries and fine art institutions across Canada and the United States.

When the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Renwick Gallery in Washington, D.C., sought to display five massive paintings by American Color Field artist Gene Davis (1920-1985), they retained Upper Canada Stretchers to design and produce the requisite canvas stretchers.

Cory Trépanier of Caledon, Ontario, turned to the UCS shop to produce a 5.5 x 15 foot canvas stretcher for his oil on canvas, ‘The Great Glacier.’ It had already destroyed a weaker frame and needed to be readied for exhibition around the U.S.

Just recently, Artsy recognized Seattle-based Miriane Ibrahim Gallery’s booth at The Armory Show, a leading New York City art fair, as one of the top exhibitions in show.

The booth’s walls consisted of six black, screen-like panels with cutouts in the shape of Liberian fishing nets, to complement the African and Middle Eastern symbolism-influenced gilded works of artist Lina Iris Viktor. The exceptional panels were designed and crafted right here at Upper Canada Stretchers, in Owen Sound.

From its eastside shop and warehouse, Upper Canada Stretchers ships daily across North America. Its e-commerce store enables the manufacturer to sell canvas stretcher bars, gallery wrapped canvas, fine cotton and Belgian linen canvas and more direct to consumer. Upper Canada Stretchers is often called upon for custom consultations online and on-site, as well, and has engineered fine art supports over 30-feet wide.

Founded by Bob Nadon in 2001, Upper Canada Stretchers now employs nine people in its 7000 sq ft facility. Visit their website at http://ucsart.com to learn more about this homegrown business with international reach.

Early in 2018, Nadon and co-founder Grant Nicholson launched Upper Canada CNC Studio, a signage and CNC design studio, in the same space.

Originally published in the April edition of Grey Bruce MOSAIC magazine.