Trade Show Exhibit Display Booths

how do i make display boards for my art work for a art festival booth?

I would like to be able to hang different size paintings on them. (Some of my paintings have ceramic pieces attached to them so they are heavy.) I don't want to spend a ton. They need to be about 6 feet tall and free standing. What materials would be good to use? I am attending the Texas State Arts Festival in Austin, Texas on march 1st and 2nd so I have a few weeks to build them. Help!

Public Comments

1. use masonite peg board for the wall, and S hooks for hanging the art work. frame around the peg board with some 2x4s and 1x1 trim to sandwich the peg board, then build some feet. hopefully you know somebody with tools and construction experience.
2. You could build a few frames out of two-by-fours covered with plywood the size you need and brace them on the back. I feel kind of silly doing this but I drew a sort of diagram...it's childish but I'm at work and all I have is MS paint! I hope you get the idea. This is the most affordable sturdy method that I can think of. http://imgbolt.com/public/86426/wood%20frame.JPG
3. Framed pegboard is the way to go, but you will not need 2x4's which will be way too heavy and bulky. If you build the back of the frame of flat 1x2's and use wood corner molding on the front to hold the pegboard to the frame, it will be easy to build and you can use wood glue to make them unbreakable. Hinge them in pairs so they are self standing, unless you can get folding screen hinges of the right size, decide in advance whether you will fold them face to face (so the two display faces look across at each other) or back to back (so one face looks at the next display) Folding screen hinges are double fold and if the right size allow you to flat fold them either way and even if too narrow to store folded either way, allow you to display front V, back V or flat. like this http://www.hardwaresource.com/Store_ViewCatLevel3.asp?Cat=775 If you are near Dallas, Elliott's has them.
4. Easels are standard, will support heavy work, economical, and easy to make. Here's a heavy duty plan: A) Get 3 pieces of wood, 8 feet long each. Try furring strips (3/4" x 3/4"). These cost $1.50 at Home Depot. Buy a 4" bolt, 2 washers, and matching nut. Get some lightweight chain or wire, and eye hooks. You need a thin strip of wood to make a shelf for the art. B) Cut a 30 degree angle in the top of 2 of the strips. Lay 3 strips end to end, and drill a hold through the angled ends. You're going to thread the bolt through the hole so all three legs meet to form a tripod. C) Nail the wood shelf piece across the two outer legs, at the appropriate height for your art. D) Screw in an eye hook to each leg, and connect them with chain, to prevent the easel from opening too wide. Voila! Another idea is a display screen. Buy 3 plywood panels, 6 feet tall. Cut width to match size of your art. Connect the panels with piano hinges. These are long hinges that run the full length of the panels. Decorate the panels with color or fabric, or leave plain. The panels fold flat for transport. Setup at site by spreading panels by 90 degrees. You have 6 surfaces, front & back, for art. Cut 2 right triangles and nail to the bottom of the screen to ensure that it doesn't accidentally fold-up & fall over. OK. Last one: This is a variation on the screen. Cut two triangles from plywood and nail to the sides of an old door to make a free-standing panel.
5. I agree that peg board is the way to go, mounted on frames made of 2 x 2. Each panel could be connected by a hinge, on top, to back against another. The two panels can be folded for transportation and storage. I suggest a light weight chain connect the two halves, about half way down, to prevent the "legs" of the panels from sliding apart and collapsing the display. If assembled using screws, the panels can be made very sturdy and should last a long time. Even if you don't intend to use them again, they should disassembe easily and the pegboard can be used in a storage area of your home, or, the parts sold as used lumber, with little damage.