MacPherson’s very own Catherine Thoele has been promoted to Strategic Account Manager. Catherine will be responsible for all of our core customers in Oregon and Washington. As a member of the account management team she will join Peter Alba, Keary Kubista, Richard Snowden and Robert Rowen in managing our most important customer relationships and building our business with our key customers. Congratulations, Catherine!
We hesitate to fall into the trap of naming the same dog Art Dog of the month twice, but this photo of David the dog of David Art Center in Metairie , LA rated too high on the “cute-o-meter”! Thanks to owners Fernando and Adriana for sharing!
From the Sign of the Times Department, Tina Chung, Northern-California based West Coast sales representative for Kolo has left the company to pursue other career opportunities
Flax Art in San Francisco got a glowing write-up in this past Sunday’s New York Times. The writer, David Allan calls the store an “art supply heaven” and goes on to say it’s “an irresistible beacon for artists, art students and crafts-happy dilettantes, this vast concrete-and-steel space also attracts tourists by the streetcar-load, and even celebrities like Robin Williams.” Check out the entire text at Flax SF in the New York Times.
Update on Bob Fisher from Steve Gallisdorfer:
It’s been quite a while since I updated you all on Bob, and I am sorry for that. In general, he had been ever-so-gradually improving… not a daily kind, but every couple of weeks, just a bit better. Being off the chemotherapy, his strength and stability have greatly improved. Well, that, plus very careful management of the disease by his doctors, plus he and Jennifer following a very careful path to keep him on the right track.
About a month a go or so, he developed a bit of a cough, which the doctors say is mostly related to the many medicines he is on. Then about two weeks ago, he started back on the chemotherapy (Revlamid), and probably the best way to say it is that it really kicked his butt… hard. Hard enough, that he has been collapsing, far weaker, and in general just in decline. Then late Friday, Jennifer had to take him back to Mercy San Juan Hospital emergency, and he was admitted. All the signs of heart failure were back. The did an emergency CT scan and the good news is, it is NOT heart failure, but now his oncologist thinks it is mostly being caused by multiple side effects from the many meds he is on. I spoke with Jennifer again in mid-day Saturday, and she said they are thinking he will get out today (Sunday) when he is more stable. So, more med adjustments, and hopefully he will again be on the track to improving health, and strength!
He needs one of these fairly harsh chemo drugs (like Revlamid) at least in small doses for the rest of his life to keep the Amyloidosis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amyloidosis) in check. There are several possible chemotherapy drugs he can take, but one big advantage to this one is that he can take it orally, and constant trips to the hospital. Unfortunately, Bob’s tolerance for Revlamid’s side effects is poor, so it now appears he will have to switch to a different one, which unfortunately is more of a pain, as it must be administered intravenously. But on the good side… he has a path for his benefit!
Your calls, emails and letters/cards are a great encouragement to him and Jennifer, and if you have a moment to reach out to him, it is always well received. Many have commented to me about the NAMTA Foundation’s efforts on Bob’s behalf, telling me they have made donations, or that they want to give me a check to pass along. The NAMTA Foundation has already sent along some great financial support, and is still collecting on his behalf. Several had said they would like to send a donation my way to give to him, but I cannot accept the donations, and instead I encourage you to donate direct to the NAMTA Foundation. They have even created a dedicated webpage just for donations on Bob’s behalf, which I have listed below. You can also mail a check directly to NAMTA, marking your donation for the “Bob Fisher Fund”. Here is where to send them, and the website for making credit card donations:
NAMTA
Attn: Sid Smith
15806 Brookway Drive Suite 300
Huntersville, NC 28078
And the website to donate online using your credit card:
https://www.namta.org/i4a/forms/form.cfm?id=38
In a recent LA Times article, songstress Carole Bayer Sager has shared her current favorite things in Los Angeles. Here is a quote that we liked in particular, “I love Dick Blick’s art supplies store on Santa Monica. It’s getting to be my new Barneys. I always end up buying things I had no intention of buying, like maybe some incredibly beautiful oil colors.”. Check out the whole story at What Carole Bayer Sager Loves in L.A.
The newest iAMart member is DaVinci Artist Supply of New York City, headed by Kevin Lavin.