East Montgomery - News
The Shadow Box preserves life’s memories
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| The Shadow Box owner Vince Semary helps customer/photographer Francie Baltazar mat her photos and decide on a frame at their Kingwood shop. Baltazar mentioned that she liked to shop at the Shadow Box because they are reasonable and have always checked on her and taken care of her. |
By JENNIFER SUMMER
Frames, photos of exotic locales and several unique pieces of glass and clay artwork fill the Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop.
After majoring in art, Shadow Box owner Vince Semary started his career as a football coach at various universities such as University of Louisville, Moorhead State, University of Kansas and a small stint at Rice University while his wife, Susan, worked part time at frame shops.
“My wife worked part time at a frame shop and loved it. I also had a degree in art and was coaching football when we decided to settle down,” Vince said. “I wanted the chance to refocus on my art and that is when we noticed the Shadow Box for sale and we looked into it.”
Thirty-one years later, the Semarys have moved the Shadow Box’s location several times but still serve the community with Vince’s artwork, custom framing and other pieces of art.
The shop was first located in the middle of Kingwood and because of the community being in the beginning of its growing phase the Semarys decided to move to another location out of Kingwood on Loop 494.
The Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop first started out as a frame shop only and soon transformed into a place where adults and children could attend art classes.
“For awhile, I started teaching art at Kingwood Middle School and I was working my tush off but business was great,” Vince said. “Though we are not teaching any classes currently, that is something I would like to get back into as long as there is interest in joining.”
The Semarys kept the lease for the original location as they moved into their new shop, which allowed Vince to transform their former store into a place where he could teach art classes and keep a studio.
They continued to expand the shop as the business and the community grew, purchasing more space to accommodate their customers and artists.
“We tried to insure that location but because of the lack of fire hydrants and being in a more rural location, it was not possible for us at the time,” Vince said. “A few days later, I received a call from a friend saying the place was ablaze. We were burglarized and set on fire; it was a major loss.”
After the fire, the Semarys opened the Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop at their current location off of Highway 59 after being invited by the owner of the complex, Paul Leviner.
“Leviner is very particular about who is in the complex and he told us he was impressed with our work. This has been the best location and the nicest store we have had since we started 31 years ago,” Vince said.
One of the walls is filled with prints that Vince has painted while the facing wall is piled from floor to ceiling with a variety of different frames customers can choose from a reputable company, Larson-Juhl.
Along with Vince’s artwork, several pieces of art by local artists are on display and many local photographers use Shadow Box to frame their work.
Vince has also provided artwork for Humble’s Good Oil Days, a Kingwood book, several posters, murals including the one at J. Christopher’s in Atascocita and even a few greeting cards.
“Besides my art, Susan is great at what she does and is great and professional at framing. She is a perfectionist and is great at planning pictures, color schemes,” Vince said.
“Everything that we do, we take it very personal. We do everything. It’s been good. The combination of both of us has worked out well through the years.”
The Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop
The art stop is located at 23858 Highway 59 North in Kingwood. For more information, call 281-358-4053 or log on www.theshadowboxgallery.biz.
After majoring in art, Shadow Box owner Vince Semary started his career as a football coach at various universities such as University of Louisville, Moorhead State, University of Kansas and a small stint at Rice University while his wife, Susan, worked part time at frame shops.
“My wife worked part time at a frame shop and loved it. I also had a degree in art and was coaching football when we decided to settle down,” Vince said. “I wanted the chance to refocus on my art and that is when we noticed the Shadow Box for sale and we looked into it.”
Thirty-one years later, the Semarys have moved the Shadow Box’s location several times but still serve the community with Vince’s artwork, custom framing and other pieces of art.
The shop was first located in the middle of Kingwood and because of the community being in the beginning of its growing phase the Semarys decided to move to another location out of Kingwood on Loop 494.
The Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop first started out as a frame shop only and soon transformed into a place where adults and children could attend art classes.
“For awhile, I started teaching art at Kingwood Middle School and I was working my tush off but business was great,” Vince said. “Though we are not teaching any classes currently, that is something I would like to get back into as long as there is interest in joining.”
The Semarys kept the lease for the original location as they moved into their new shop, which allowed Vince to transform their former store into a place where he could teach art classes and keep a studio.
They continued to expand the shop as the business and the community grew, purchasing more space to accommodate their customers and artists.
“We tried to insure that location but because of the lack of fire hydrants and being in a more rural location, it was not possible for us at the time,” Vince said. “A few days later, I received a call from a friend saying the place was ablaze. We were burglarized and set on fire; it was a major loss.”
After the fire, the Semarys opened the Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop at their current location off of Highway 59 after being invited by the owner of the complex, Paul Leviner.
“Leviner is very particular about who is in the complex and he told us he was impressed with our work. This has been the best location and the nicest store we have had since we started 31 years ago,” Vince said.
One of the walls is filled with prints that Vince has painted while the facing wall is piled from floor to ceiling with a variety of different frames customers can choose from a reputable company, Larson-Juhl.
Along with Vince’s artwork, several pieces of art by local artists are on display and many local photographers use Shadow Box to frame their work.
Vince has also provided artwork for Humble’s Good Oil Days, a Kingwood book, several posters, murals including the one at J. Christopher’s in Atascocita and even a few greeting cards.
“Besides my art, Susan is great at what she does and is great and professional at framing. She is a perfectionist and is great at planning pictures, color schemes,” Vince said.
“Everything that we do, we take it very personal. We do everything. It’s been good. The combination of both of us has worked out well through the years.”
The Shadow Box Gallery and Frame Shop
The art stop is located at 23858 Highway 59 North in Kingwood. For more information, call 281-358-4053 or log on www.theshadowboxgallery.biz.
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