A note from Marilyn Hajjar on the passing of Lou Simeone, iAMart president, long time industry leader and owner at Merion Art:
It is with great sadness that I have to tell you all that dear Lou passed away on December 4th, 2013, free from pain and with his dear wife Shelly and their daughter by his side. Lou’s business partner Ed Gamberg is struggling with this loss and managing without his friend and business partner of over 42 years. The last two years have been difficult for Lou, he had gradually lost ground, and the last few months have been a struggle for him to be in the store and participate. I had a great long talk with Lou less than two weeks ago. He had hoped to make it through the Holidays, but only made it through Thanksgiving. He asked me not to tell anyone how close he was to the end, and I have honored his wish, I will tell you that saying goodbye to someone I have known and worked with for a long time is hard – it is too bad that some of our members didn’t get to know and enjoy Lou when he was strong and healthy. Lou told me he was busy writing his own Eulogy, and choosing music, etc – holding his own reins to the end. I will miss Lou Simeone terribly. –Marilyn Hajjar, Executive Director, iAMart
After more than 30 years in business, the Fairfield, CT Koenig Art Emporium has closed its doors on Dec 15th. Co‐owner Shirley Baker said she and her husband Jim are retiring due to her husband’s health issues.
Looking for ideas for a Secret Santa Gift? We think we have stumbled on the ultimate. A gift within a gift within and gift that ultimately reveals the Coup de Grace; a Pen & Ink Sketch pen. Check out the whole megillah Here!
MacPherson’s Online Express (OEX) has a cool new feature. The added feature shows thumbnail Images in the Search Results. The images zoom when moused over. There’s also a check box to toggle the images off/on. Check it out!
At AC Moore Anthony Piperno has been promoted to VP of Merchandising. In his new role, Anthony will oversee the daily operations of the Merchandising Department and will continue to foster and grow their vendor relationships. In additional restructuring at the headquarters, Director of Education, Robin Beam has left the company and Mike Lyons, was recently promoted to VP of Marketing.
The Estria Foundation is proud to announce the completion of the first mural in the Mele Murals series. Over the course of one week in November, Founder and Creative Director, Estria Miyashiro, gathered young artists, cultural advisers, and master level artists to connect to the land, learn traditional mele (Hawaiian song or chant), and come together to paint an amazing mural at Fresh Cafe in Kakaako, Hawaii, using Montana GOLD spray paint and Art Alternatives acrylic paints. Mele Murals is a multi-year, multi-island effort to build the next generation of visual storytellers in Hawaii. If the first mural in the project is in any way a sign of things to come, we know there will be great interest in, and dedication to, this effort.
Check out these Facebook postings
Mele Murals Photos and Descriptions of Day 1
Mele Murals Photos and Descriptions of Day 2
Check out this terrific article and video from the New York Times that tells the story of the worlds oldest maker of pencils, Faber Castell New York Times on Faber Castell
