It was a tough month all around for some huge lights in our small industry.
Bette Mosias a leading art and craft supply industry pace setter and a true San Franciscan passes away on October 7th. Long time owner of the iconic Mendel’s Far out Fabrics on Haight Street in the heart of the city’s Haight Ashbury. The business, established by her father, has been a center of the creative spirit in “The Haight” and Bette was a driving force in this since 1979. Read more about Bette Mosias
Well respected art Material technical expert Mark Gottsegen passed away recently. He was 65 years old. Mark was the founder and director of AMIEN (amien.org), a highly valued online technical service for artists, a long time professor of art and materials education at the University of North Carolina – Greensboro, and the author of The Painter’s Handbook, regarded as the standard painting manual for the contemporary artist.
Jack Fullerton died in late September at the ripe old age of 91. He was the CEO of Fullerton Sales in Southern California when MacPherson’s bought the Company in 1987. Fullerton’s speciality was the importing and wholesaling of engineering and drafting supplies and the acquisition introduced us to a lot of new Southern California retailers. Farewell old sport!
With sadness we report former MacPherson’s sales representative David Knapp passed away on October 16th after a long illness in Roseville, CA. He is survived by another MacPherson’s alum and sales representative Barbara Knapp.
Retail art materials giant Harvey Flax passed away on October 4, 2013 at the age of 92. He is survived by Judy, his wife of 66 years and three daughters, Carol Flax (Fickbohm), Joan Flax (Clark) and Janis Flax (Perelman). Harvey was born in 1921 in Bayonne, New Jersey and moved with his family to Los Angeles in 1931. He attended Los Angeles High School, began his college education at UC Berkeley and received his BA in business from UCLA after serving in the army in the Pacific. Harvey was the proprietor of M. Flax Artist Supplies in Westwood Village for more than 50 years. He had a profound impact on the world of art supplies and was known and respected by the LA art, architecture and design communities. Harvey’s greatest interest was his family. An incredible presence, he will be profoundly missed by all. Read more here.
From Itoya’s Jin Takamura on the recent passing of industry pioneer Harvey Flax. Here are some thoughts that are both eloquent and could have been just easily written for Bette Mosias:
“One of the “characters” in our industry passed away this (past Friday)morning, and as we were remembering him in the office, we realized that as the greatest generation closes their chapter of our shared book, we are also losing our “characters”. These are the self made loud mouths who built their empires in all-new business arenas that are now smothered by accountants, attorneys and political correctness. These are the “characters” who put America on the global map, that defined and shaped our society and the significance our country holds today on the world stage. The people who invented and pioneered and persevered, and paved the road for all of us, we so wouldn’t have the rocky roads and the challenges they experienced. From their blood and sweat, we now comfortably gaze out and enjoy the glorious views from the solid platforms laid upon the foundations they dug. One by one, we bid goodnight, God’s speed and salute their contributions which all too often we take for granted everyday. May we take a moment to remember all the “characters” in our lives who have brought us to where we are today, and may we carry forward with their memory and be inspired to do likewise. And while we can emulate their beliefs, and can duplicate their actions, only original “characters” will have set the bar of what it means to be a true “character”…”
Mike Cappadocia the Director of Sales at Pentel of America awarded Debbie Gies, National Sales Manager with a plaque, pin and gift, in recognition of her 30 years of contribution to the company. Well done Debbie!
Dana Rice has been promoted to Golden’s Director of Marketing, She will be responsible for managing the company’s brands and global strategic marketing initiatives. In her new role she will be instrumental in supporting the Golden’s connection to the arts community and growing the educational resources. Congratulations Dana!
Congratulations to Posner’s of Tuscon who is celebrating their 100th anniversary. They got their start in 1913, after Philip Solomon Posner, a Russian immigrant and sign painter, moved to Tucson with his family and opened his first of several stores catering to artists and sign painters. The store was sold to Dick Brown in 1977. With only one employee who isn’t related to Brown, Posner’s continues to be a family owned and operated business. Dick, who co-owns the store with his wife, Emily, has two daughters and two grandsons working in the store. Recently and after 40 years on the same location, Posner’s moved to E. University Blvd. “We couldn’t have landed in a better spot that suited us as well” said Emily. According to the Arizona Daily Star, Posner’s carries more than a half million products from erasers to paints to specialty papers and foam board. Read the entire article here Arizona Star
Montana Can’s esteemed artist Risk One & Obey’s Shepard Fairey created some amazing art work at last years Art Basel/Wynwood Walls in Miami. Captured here by Buckshot Prints and Montana Cans is a quick video celebrating their mastery
httpv://youtu.be/YpT4FVHqTUU
As part of a huge Michaels Stores restructuring dubbed Vision 20/20 Senior VP –Strategic Sourcing Wilson Zhu will be leaving Michaels to join Gymboree another Bain portfolio company in mid-November. Michaels plans to combine the Sourcing and Category Management organizations under the leadership of Philo Pappas to enhance the company’s ability to capture trends, find exciting new products, and ensure speed to market.
R&F Handmade Paints marks its 25th Anniversary with a new website and video documenting how it all started. This video features R&F founder and president, Richard Frumess. Richard began making a relatively obscure medium, encaustic paint, in the early 1980’s. With his curiosity, the love of materials, and sheer stubbornness, Richard has created a company that has served artists for over 25 years. Check out their new web site rfpaints.com and view the new video “Color with Intent”
httpv://vimeo.com/74077867.
Actor David Arquette appears on NBC’s Today Show to talk about his new project: helping troubled teens turn their lives around on a new reality show. Things get a little wild when Kathy Lee and Hoda pick up cans of Montana GOLD and BLACK to test out their own graffiti skills on the set!
Click here to check out the Surprising results
httpv://youtu.be/FvgdKfWnYCg
Colorest Art Battle: Twelve aerosol artists and art collectives from all over the Redbank NJ region were invited to take part in the annual Jersey Shore Aerosol Art Battle Against Hunger, a family-friendly afternoon of juried, live-paint graffiti art to benefit the Food Bank of Monmouth & Ocean. Hosted by Colorest and sponsored by Montana Cans and Crescent the event was a huge success. Read the whole story here: Redbank Taggers for Hunger
Check out a music video featutring our very own Montana artist Risk One
httpv://youtu.be/nZmhQSNpTJM