Show, Not Tell: A Custom Framing Time Capsule in Martin’s Tavern
Businesses have a heartbeat, a pulse driving their purpose and culture. Through their seminal art collection, Martin’s Tavern puts theirs on display for all to see, transforming the meaning of “show, not tell.”
Everyone familiar with Washington, D.C. knows Martin’s Tavern. Founded in 1933 and locally owned for four generations, it is the oldest-running restaurant in Georgetown. They have the kind of history and atmosphere chain restaurants try to manufacture, without success. From presidential proposals and a guest spot in The Exorcist to top restaurant lists, Martin’s Tavern is an iconic institution.
One reviewer wrote, “Martin’s Tavern in Georgetown is one of those places that doesn’t just keep its charm over the years…it somehow multiplies it.” In our opinion, it’s not only the food and service that keeps people coming back; it’s the art. Much like wine and food, art and interior design should seamlessly blend to create an unforgettable ambiance.
Communicating Excellence & Longevity
Owners Billy and Gina Martin understand how important art is to the restaurant experience. In early 2024, they closed their restaurant for a few weeks to renovate, including a new kitchen and floors, restored booths, and more. “There are many facets that make Martin’s successful, and one aspect is ambiance,” said Billy Martin. “We needed to do a refresh of the inside of the restaurant. We saw that the art needed attention and to be redone.”
Their art collection features pieces acquired over Martin’s 93-year history, including photographs, publications, lithographs, engravings, and objects. Each piece has a story. Some are gifts from patrons and community members; others reflect the Martin family. Their collection contains over 85 pieces of unique art–not including those in storage–which needed to be preserved and conservationally custom framed for a restaurant environment.
Most projects of this size are immediately centered around value. It’s risky to put art that is precious to you on public display, especially in a busy location like Martin’s. Many people only want to focus on the most important items due to limited budgets or project intimidation. Billy and Gina didn’t hold back. They wanted to handle their entire collection correctly.
They partnered with Coyle Studios to restore photos, preserve artwork, and create custom framing that was unique to Martin’s Tavern. “As an artist, I immediately get a creative vision when I see a space or a piece of art,” said Mary Lou Coyle. “I get excited about that vision, and I want the client to be excited about it, too. But I have to respect the client’s vision, even if it doesn’t match my original vision. I didn’t have those concerns with Billy and Gina. They trusted us and leaned into our ideas. They let us do what was best for the art.”
Trust doesn’t mean handing over the reins to the project. Billy and Gina asked many questions and were involved in every step along the way. They met with Coyle virtually and in person to review framing samples and techniques. They took ownership and offered their opinion while remaining open-minded to new suggestions. “Everything was designed with intention,” explained Mary Lou. “Every piece is unique with its own story, and we wanted to create a design that communicated the restaurant’s excellence and longevity.”
Preserving the Heart of Georgetown
Many of the pieces were on display before the renovation, but they needed to be restored and reframed. Coyle Studios preserved each piece through cleaning and restoration. Some pieces needed completely new frames, while others needed a refitting, a process that includes removing the art from a frame to clean and update the frame’s housing before installing the art back into the existing frame. This created an updated, safe microenvironment to protect each piece.
Preservation isn’t the only challenge for a large, eclectic collection like Martin’s. Coyle needed to create a cohesive custom framing design that allowed each piece to work together and individually. The team at Coyle blended antique frames with modern moulding that highlights the art and historic interior design elements throughout the tavern.
While the updated framed art is striking, the collection goes beyond the wall. Martin’s is working with Coyle to digitize and restore photographs and documents for their marketing. They only have so much wall space, but their history is too important to keep stored in a box forever. Instead, it can live online through their website and social media platforms.
The community’s response to Martin’s art update was strong. Their staff and patrons commented on its beauty and how it transformed the restaurant. “Our art is a breath of fresh air and very inviting. It’s a big change. Some of the art is placed in bay windows, and people stop to take photos more than I’ve ever seen,” said Billy.
If you ask Mary Lou to choose her favorite piece, she stops talking; it’s impossible to choose just one. Instead, she said her favorite aspect of this job was working with people who celebrate what they have. The patrons who gifted art to Martin’s loved the restaurant and knew Billy and Gina would take care of their pieces. At Martin’s Tavern, everything is special, whether it is a presidential signature, a bridle mirror, a custom whiskey bottle, or a drawing of their building. Their collection is a time capsule of the heart of Georgetown.
