Framed art needn’t cost the earth. In fact framed artworks can be very inexpensive way when you allow yourself to reconsider exactly what constitutes a frame and, indeed what determines art.First of all, one must reconsider the nature of art and its role in our daily lives. As an Art Director of Urban Fine Arts which is a contemporary framed art company I hold what is perhaps nowadays a slightly out of vogue opinion on the nature of art for somebody in my position. That is, I do believe that art should be beautiful (even if it’s only a face that mother could love) and I do also believe that art should be in some way “framed” and we shall also reconsider here in a moment exactly what “framed” means.In-keeping with the popular trend, I don’t believe that art should necessarily demonstrate a significant degree of skill in the making and neither do I believe that art need be some high-brow, sacred thing nor that it even need be recognised as art – however, as I say, I do think that art should be beautiful. Its an opinion that has occasionally put me at odds with many of my peers, but its a belief that I would like to argue for in this article and maybe entice you to recognise the art that exists all around you (yes even within the room in which you sit right now) and encourage you to “frame” the artworks so as to appreciate their beauty and just maybe even stretch your notion of beauty that little bit further.It’s been said that “truth, like beauty, is very much in the eye of the beholder” and those of you familiar with this post modern paradigm will also appreciate that any definition of art can be equally subjective.As an undergraduate I was subjected to the, now standard, induction for all art students which sought to deconstruct the “popular myth” of art as our lecturers saw it. We were told that there existed no rigorous definition of art beyond merely describing it as “that which we understand as art” or “that which hangs in a gallery”. Every “popular myth” of art, we were told, had so many exceptions to it so as to prohibit its validity.Of course, there are many things which our society recognises as art that are neither beautiful nor could we argue that they involved a significant degree of skill on the part of the artist. On famous example is Marcel Duchamp’s installation of an upturned urinal entitled “Fountain” which is not something that many of us in layman’s-land would recognise as art were we not told that it is art and were we not to find it in an art gallery labelled as such. And yet, Duchamp’s Fountain is considered a seminal work of the early 20th Century.So, am I now trying to persuade you that your toilet is art and that your toilet seat is the frame? No, not because I don’t believe that your humble loo is framed art (that’s for you to decide), but because I don’t believe that intellectual persuasion towards a doctrine of art is ethical or fruitful.It appears to me futile to argue for a definition of art or seek to produce a litmus test for recognising it. However, I do think that there is some value at least in challenging people’s idea of what is art and encouraging people to frame the art all around you.Rather than bore you with an intense argument on this subject I will merely provide an example for you to consider.An art dealer friend of mine through whose hands have passed works of art worth six figures has upon his study wall, not a great work by a recognised master but a worthless looking paper invoice from his water cooler supplier firm. The invoice would be nothing above the ordinary to any casual viewer and its place upon his wall would at first seem bizarre. However, what is significant to him about this particular invoice is that the seemingly random system regenerated number of that particular invoice is the exact date of his daughter’s birthday. Add to this that the company happens to be called Gemini which is his daughter’s Christian name. The logo for the company is an image of a young girl holding a star in her outstretched hands. The invoice is attached to a pencil crayon drawing his daughter did at school based on a poem the teacher had read to them in class about God. The picture she has drawn is of a star in an outstretched hand with the words written underneath “He holds my world in His hands”.Nothing but a chain of happy coincidence you might say. And, of course, these details are only of significance to him. However, when, as in this case, the object holds huge significance for an individual it becomes as wealthy and significant as any great artwork in any gallery. And when that art is framed within the context of something else we cherish (in this case the child’s artwork) the work becomes art purely by the framing and yet the irony is that we only framed it because we first recognised it as art.Urban Fine Arts – Framed Art Gallery [http://www.urbanfinearts.com/framed-art.php]

You have just completed an online form requesting a free health insurance quote and moments later you are being inundated with phone calls from insurance agents hoping to get your business. Try not to become overwhelmed or annoyed by these “pesky sales people” because they are really not telemarketers. Most of them are well-trained state licensed professionals who can really help you make a good decision regarding which health plan is best and most affordable for your individual or group coverage needs.You may be under the misconception that if you buy your health plan directly from the insurance company, and cut out the “middle person”, you will save money. This is absolutely not the case. In fact, insurance companies rely on agents for most of their business and that’s why they pay them commissions for bringing in customers. It does not cost a consumer one penny more to use a licensed California health insurance agent to obtain their insurance coverage.There are many differences between California health insurance and other states including how it is applied for.For example, while Blue Cross and Blue Shield are one company in other states, here in California, each is separate and applied to individually as Anthem Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California.California health insurance law AB 1672 is an improvement over the federal HIPAA law that covers all states in that it includes the following with regard to California group coverage:1. Individuals with pre-existing medical conditions may change over to a new group health plan without an exclusionary period.2. It allows small businesses and professional organizations to have access to health plans providing they have between 2 and 50 full time employees.3. It keeps insurance rates from climbing after a claim is filed.4. Employees who have health problems may change jobs or health plans without being rated higher for having pre-existing conditions.That said, the very best health insurance agent for your individual and business needs is an “Independent Agent.” Why? Because they represent multiple insurance carriers, not just one. An independent agent can help you select the most appropriate cost-effective plan offering the most benefits for your dollar as available from the major carriers, rather than feeding you just one company’s line of health plans which may not suit your particular needs. Many people are too complacent and settle for what their current insurance company has to offer. They could use a good independent agent to sort through the many plans available from multiple insurance carriers to find and provide the best choice of options.Another misunderstanding you may have is that insurance agents set the premium rates for the health insurance plans they sell. Thinking if you shop around you may get a better price for the same plan. Premium rates are based on your age, zip code or county in which you reside and are controlled completely by the insurance companies. Every agent uses the exact same rate guides set by the insurance companies. The condition of your health may affect your premium, which may be rated up after the insurance company’s underwriting department has reviewed your medical records. Again, the insurance company, not the agent, determines that outcome.Now, let’s talk about the benefits of having a good insurance agent representing you. Most consumers neither know nor understand the benefits of a health plan being offered and need the expertise of an agent to explain the benefits to them in full. For example, do you know what the difference is between an “out-of-pocket maximum” and an “annual deductible?”An out of pocket maximum is the most you will have to pay in a given year for deductible and coinsurance for covered benefits before your insurance starts to pay 100% of most expenses until the year ends.An annual deductible is usually the amount you pay each year before your health plan starts paying anything for covered services. Generally, the higher the deductible, the lower the premium. Certain services such as prescription drugs carry separate deductibles. Plans may vary and sometimes benefits will kick in before you have to meet the deductible.A knowledgeable health insurance agent can be a guide through the maze and help you choose the right plan to meet your needs and budget while obtaining the most benefits for your dollars spent. An agent will also make clear how the benefits for a generic prescription may differ from the benefits for a brand prescription on a particular plan.After you have a health plan in place, a good, caring agent will remind you to pay your premium on time so the insurance company doesn’t cancel you. Your agent can also be an enormous resource for assistance if you run into a problem with a health insurance claim. Instead of waiting on hold at the insurance company’s 800 number for thirty to forty- five minutes, call your agent and explain your problem and if you have chosen the right agent, you will get help and may save yourself lots of time and frustration, maybe even some money by having an expert in your corner where your best interests come first.So next time you or someone you know, fills out one of those on-line forms for a health insurance quote and you get several phone calls from health insurance agents wanting your business, be grateful that a professional wants to help you for free to choose the right plan and you’ll have an important friend for life.

While a desk made of Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF) may cost significantly less than solid wood desks, they are just no match for the authenticity and durability of solid wood. Real wood and its natural beauty make those desks the ideal type for heirloom furniture.In the office setting, the man who works behind a solid wood desk is usually Boss. And why not? These are about the most expensive pieces of office furniture. While veneers and laminates on top of MDF’s may be cheaper and easier to maintain, solid wood desks are arguably the sturdiest and may in fact be cost effective in the end.There are different factors to consider in your choice for a solid wood desk. When it comes to aesthetics, you should match the natural color of the type of wood used to the color of surrounding furniture. You must also consider the natural properties of the type of wood you will be using: making sure, they do not hinder the intended function.Solid Oak, for example, is known to be very sturdy to hold up to the weight of office equipment, be it ornate and heavy desk lamps, or your computer and printers or a set of reference books. This type of wood will fit the needs of someone who uses his solid wood table as a writing desk and doubles it as a trusty workspace.Maple wood on the other hand is not as sturdy. What it lacks in durability it compensates in affordability and the ease of maintenance it requires. Its natural color is on the lighter side, so you may want to consider using this in a setting with a more relaxed feel rather than the dark and traditional theme usually associated with executive offices.Pine is a soft wood, and if a desk was made of pine, every ding and dent, and every pen-stroke across a paper on the desk will leave a permanent impression, and the desk, though more inexpensive, will lose its value quickly.However, if you are CEO then heck, go for the big gun. Cherry Wood. They are the most beautiful and expensive there is. Even if you only be place two gold pens, a leather writing pad, and a box of cigars, the beauty of cherry shouts that you are The Boss!