Steve Steinberg, third-generation owner of New York Central Art Supply in Manhattan, passed away on November 15th from complications due to Parkinson’s disease in his 80th year. Steve was known for his infectious energy, thriving on connecting people and projects in life and in work, and bringing the best art supplies to NYC’s Village community that included many famous artists. He was a witty and funny bon vivant, but also a true man of the people with a huge and caring heart. Steve became the third-generation owner of New York Central Art Supply and was elected to the NAMTA Hall of Fame. He believed there is a place for the independent art supplier who deeply loves what he or she does – serving the art world, and bringing the artists what they want. He believed communication is the way we will survive – not just with customers, but also with each other. Remembrances can be made to The Michael J. Fox Foundationwww.michaeljfox.org or to VNSNY Haven Hospice www.vnsny.org.
Jim Gary has been promoted to National Sales Manager at Canson-North America
Flax Art & Design celebrated a two-day Grand Opening of their second San Francisco location in Fort Mason Center for Arts & Culture on November 7th and 8th. The opening day festivities included live music, art and crafts make and takes, workshops, popcorn, balloons, sales and lots of staff on-hand to answer creative questions. According to Flax’s website, the 1699 Market Street headquarters store will “relocate to an awesome new space that will be announced soon”.
Kirk Gillespie has left Savoir Faire to become west coast key account manager for the new Talens-North America
The T-Square Art Supply plans to move to a smaller location after the first of 2016 and down-size to their framing core. Owner Dan Anderson is selling his building and hopes to do a smaller art supply section in his new location.
Matt Kavanagh long time inventory planner at Aaron Brothers has left the company.
Robyn Reeder, former owner of Primary Art in Savannah, Georgia passed away recently. She had just turned 40 years old and had been battling cancer for over 10 years.
A recent proposed European ban on the use of Cadmium pigments in artists’ paints would have affected the availability of cadmiums across the whole art world. Michael Craine, Rachel Volpé and Angela Brown of Spectrum Cranfield Paints set about raising awareness by rallying artist support and speaking with the EU through the paint maker’s trade organization CEPE. The good news is that the proposal has been withdrawn following unprecedented pressure from artists.