What is a mat?
(BACK TO THE TOP) A mat is a border, usually made from mat board, placed around the artwork. The purpose of the mat is, first, to provide a spacer or separation between the artwork and the frame or glass. If the glass comes into contact with the art, there could be a risk of damage to the artwork. This damage may come in the form of mold, or the artwork adhering to the under side of the glass. Second, the mat, particularly the color of the mat, draws the eye into the picture. By altering the colors in the mats, we can make the colors in the art stand out. And third, the mat hides the mechanics of the framed piece. For instance, the mat will cover the mounting method used such as a hinge or dry mount. The standard size of mats is 32 x 40, but some colors will come in an oversized 40 x 60. The standard thickness of a mat is 4 ply, which is about 2 mm. Mats are also made in a limited color range of six, eight and twelve ply thicknesses. These thicker mats create a dramatic presentation, d
Simply put, a Member Action Team is a tool to communicate with members and mobilize members around issues they care about. Each MAT consists of a MAT leader who is responsible for regularly communicating and working with approximately 10 workers. When putting a MAT structure in place, keep in mind that stewards should have a place in the system. Follow the guideline that MAT leaders don’t have to be stewards, but that all stewards should be MAT leaders. MAT leaders should reflect the diversity of the local’s membership—by gender, race, age, job classifications, shifts and so on.
