Kline and friends enjoy some pictures at Angelo's Luncheonette.

Kline has framed pictures for thousands of customers from all walks of life since he bought the building back in 1979 where he lives in the apartment over the shop. In addition to his reputation as a skilled picture framer, Kline is also known affectionately as "The Mayor" because of his special knack in "framing" harmonious relationships with customers and neighbors by virtue of his concern for democratic values and civic discourse that respects the common good. To promote these ideals, Kline is active in neighborhood politics and has also sponsored beneficial community initiatives such as the popular Delaware Avenue Farmers' Market he and local investment guru Jim Lee established in front of the shop in 2012.

"Calling me Mr. Mayor, as many of my friends often do is just a fun thing," says Kline, "but as a big fan of our real mayor Mike Purzicki, the sobriquet whimsically reflects my intention to be part of the collective effort to make Wilmington the great city it has the potential to become." 

Framing Protocols: Customers are usually open to suggestions about molding and mats," says Kline, "so I always ask what they have in mind in terms of color, where they plan to hang the picture, and the size of the mat if needed. When they're satisfied with the selections, we price the project. My advice is to keep the process simple and choose a frame that lets the artwork make the statement."

Kline explains his Keep-it-simple philosophy to Anya Beck. Anya was a ray of sunshine when she stopped in on a rainy afternoon in the Forty Acres. 

   community connections

Kline collaborates with Shakira Hunt, Owner and Creative Director of Shakira Hunt Creative Studio in Wilmington. Shakira is a graduate of Moore College of Art and Design and Delaware College of Art and Design. shakirahunt.com

Kline gets a preview of new customer and friend Shakira Hunt's upcoming show at The Delaware Center for the Contemporary Arts in Wilmington, June 4 through August 21, 2021. 

  Business Connections

At Decor Molding, a New York framing supplies manufacturer/distributor serving South Jersey, Delaware and Washington, D.C., the focus is always on customer satisfaction. Mary Mintz, Decor's Baltimore-based manufacturer's representative pictured below checking product stocks in company catalogs and editing discontinued moldings at picture framer Obie Kline's Wilmington, Delaware shop, says everything the firm sells comes with a 100 percent guarantee, even supplies Decor doesn't make. "We distribute products for hundreds of manufacturers of framing supplies," says Mary, "and we're known in the industry for our quick turnaround and for having products in stock 90 percent of the time." Obie Kline, standing in the shop doorway with Mary, has been a loyal Decor customer for more than 40 years. For more information contact jkatz@decormolding.com

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