Honl says the Colibri staff is highly
trained to handle art work, and when
recommending framing options, the
staff not only takes into account the
colors and textures of the item to be
framed but also the environment in
which the finished work will hang—
taking into account color, lighting and
exposure to sun. Having in stock over
ten different glass and acrylic options,
a thousand mat colors and over 200
frame moldings, Colibri can fulfill most
orders in under two weeks.
“We take the time necessary,” Honl
said. “The end product is the most
important.”
McCranie, who also owns Ladera
Grill and a corner lot at 2nd Street
and Monterey Road in downtown
Morgan Hill, purchased Fast Frames at
17505 Monterey Road in 2016 and in
January 2018 renamed it Colibri Art
and Framing. Honl started part-time in
June 2016 working up front in design-
ing and fitting services, then in October
2018 was promoted to general manager.
“I moved to Morgan Hill with my
husband in 2017 and started looking
for a part time job,” recalled Honl. “I
applied for the framing position and it
was a perfect fit for me.”
Born in Stevens Point, Wisconsin,
Honl had an early interest in
architecture, which she says still
influences her art. Her mother was
an artist and together they practiced
bookmaking which led to her interest
in photography and printmaking. In
2008, she earned a Master of Fine Arts
degree in Printmaking (with honors)
at the University of Iowa. Previously,
she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Studio
Art (magna cum laude) at St. Olaf
College in Northfield, Minnesota.
Upon graduation, Ellie was a guest
lecturer and visiting professor at
several universities. Her personal art-
work combines printmaking, textiles,
photography and book arts.
Abigail Dunnivan has worked at
Colibri for over a year as a framer and
designer. Born in San Jose to artist
parents, she has been drawing since she
could hold a pencil. Describing herself
as a disciplined self-learner, Dunnivan
took watercolor and acrylic classes
when she was nine and at age fourteen
was mentored by renowned equine
artist, Lesley Harrison. She mostly
paints animals and people in photo-
realism, primarily with dry pastels, but
also in watercolor, charcoal and pen and
ink. Her detailed pastel drawings are
a site to behold with meticulous detail
and technique. Some of her works are
on display at Colibri or can be viewed
online at abbyroseheartworks.com.
“I could not have hoped or prayed
for a better, more suitable, job for me,”
Dunnivan said. “My work here has
completely supported my artistic goals.”
Born in Fuzhou, China, Sheng Lin
has worked at Colibri for almost a
year, also as a framer and designer.
He is a mixed-media contemporary
artist working mostly with found
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
WINTER 2020
objects. Trained in oil painting and
Chinese watercolor, Lin took AP Art
courses in high school before studying
Contemporary Art Practices at the
School of the Art Institute of Chicago
and then Fashion at Central Saint
Martins of London.
“I like Colibri because it’s not
commercial,” said Lin. “Custom
framing is tailored specifically to the art
piece. I also get to see a lot of amazing
art every day.”
Rounding out the staff at Colibri
are Ursula Estevez (woodworking and
makeup artist) and David Matthew
(graphic design).
Dan McCranie and his wife Kathy
have been residents of the South
County area for almost forty years.
For most of those years, McCranie was
involved in high-tech management.
Branching out to new endeavors, he
opened the popular Ladera Grill in
2011 and subsequently purchased the
property at 2nd Street and announced
plans for a four-story mixed-use
building with a roof top restaurant and
art gallery. He has since reconsidered
and recently put the property on the
market but may still proceed with a
scaled- down version of the original
plan. He also has plans to expand
the gallery space in Colibri Art and
Framing in the future to accommodate
art shows with local and regional
artists. These efforts all fit within his
stated vision to “make Morgan Hill a
fine arts destination.”
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