Modern Primitive - One Person Show

Dominique Caron is a painter and mixed media artist living in San Francisco, CA. As a native of France she studied at the Ecole des Beaux Arts where she received her MFA. Dominique resided in the African nations of Morocco, Rwanda, and the Ivory Coast where she was influenced by the simple elegance of tribal art. Much of Dominique's work appears painterly but also incorporates layering of paper art, fabrics and calligraphy onto her canvases for visual depth of textures and meanings. About The Studio Shop

The Studio Shop and The Studio Shop Annex together offer Northern California's premier resource for fine art and fine custom picture framing. The Studio Shop is Burlingame's oldest retail business, established in 1915, and has been operated by the Benson-Martin family for two generations, since 1955. A second store was added in 2008, The Studio Shop Annex, in San Mateo, to offer an expanded and more eclectic range of picture framing, art and gifts.

History: 1915-1955
The Studio Shop was founded by Ralph and Dorothy Crawford in 1915. Dorothy was an accomplished portrait photographer operating a photo studio on the second floor of 1200 Burlingame Ave.(today the Luggage Center). Her husband Ralph had been the Burlingame city engineer but then bought an existing picture frame business in 1914. They combined their businesses to form Crawford's Studio Shop. They also left another Burlingame landmark, the Tudor style commercial building at 311 Primrose. Ralph designed the building but unfortunately died before its completion in 1931. Dorothy kept the business going in that building until she turned over the reins to her niece, Carolyn Misselwitz, in 1944. Dorothy passed away in 1952.

History: After 1955
In 1955 John Benson was a high school shop teacher, between jobs and with a young family to support. He saw a For Sale ad for a picture frame and gift shop in the Chronicle and the rest, as they say, is history. After borrowing $500 from his father-in-law for the down payment, John and Martha settled in Burlingame and quickly became established in the community. In addition to running The Studio Shop together, the Bensons were very involved in the community. John joined the Lions Club and worked with the Boy Scouts. Martha had several terms with Burlingame commissions, the civil service commission and the beautification commission. In 1979 Martha wrote a book about the trees of Burlingame. In 1989 the Bensons were recognized for their years of service to the community by being awarded jointly the Burlingame Citizen of the Year award.

Today
The Studio Shop tradition continues under the guidance of Benson sisters Janet Martin and Kristen Benson, and Janet's husband, Carl Martin. Along with a great staff of experienced art and framing consultants, The Studio Shop is committed to maintaining the 95 year tradition of personal service, quality and value.

In the Community
At The Studio Shop, we are proud and grateful to be part of a wonderful community and feel strongly that it is important to give something back. The Studio Shop has taken an active role by providing both direct aid and goods and services, as well as implementing an employee matching program, to support fundraising efforts for local schools, arts groups and other non-profit organizations on the Peninsula.

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