NEW
BERLIN
–
Golden
Artist
Colors,
Inc.
has
seen
a
successful
year
as
an
award-winning
manufacturer
of
art
supplies.
The
company
began
as
a
joint
venture
between
Sam
Golden
and
his
uncle
Leonard
Bocour,
who
partnered
to
create
Bocour
Artist
Colors
in
the
1930s.
During
their
partnership,
Golden
had
a
hand
in
developing
artist
acrylic
paint,
known
as
the
“Magna”
line,
with
his
first
batch
crafted
in
the
late
1940s.
Over
time
he
continued
to
work
on
crafting
paints,
and
eventually
developed
a
popular
waterborne
acrylic
paint
known
as
“Aquatech.”
After
30
years,
Golden
retired
from
Bocour
Artist
Colors
and
moved
to
New
Berlin.
However,
after
growing
bored
with
the
life
of
a
retiree,
he
returned
to
the
paint
production
business
with
Golden
Artist
Colors,
Inc.
Despite
his
humble
beginnings
in
a
900-square-foot
barn,
Golden
found
success
in
the
art
industry.
Golden
Artist
Colors
only
grew
over
the
years,
and
today
is
a
thriving
industry
leader
with
over
200
employees
and
an
approximately
100,000-square-foot
facility
on
the
grounds
of
the
original
barn,
as
well
as
a
45,000-square-foot
commercial
warehouse
in
Norwich.
Success
in
2023
Golden
Artist
Colors
had
great
achievements
in
2023,
including
launching
new
products,
hiring
new
staff,
hosting
gallery
exhibitions,
and
earning
recognition
for
their
hard
work
and
superior
products.
In
November
2022
the
company
acquired
PanPastel
and
Sofft
Tools
products,
and
2023
marked
the
first
full
year
Golden
manufactured
and
sold
PanPastel
Colors.
They
describe
PanPastels
as
“professional
artist
quality
soft
pastel
colors
packed
in
a
unique
pan
format.”
When
paired
with
the
unique
sponge
design
of
Sofft
Tools,
the
application
tool
for
PanPastels,
artists
are
able
to
“blend
and
apply
pastel
(dry)
color
like
paint,
something
that’s
never
been
possible
before.”
But
PanPastels
aren’t
limited
to
paint-like
application;
they
can
also
be
used
for
drawing
and
mixed
media,
making
them
even
more
versatile
and
well-suited
to
a
wide
variety
of
artists.
Golden
Artist
Colors
didn’t
just
sell
fine
art
supplies
in
2023;
they
also
showcased
the
creations
of
several
artists
in
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery
at
Golden
Artist
Colors.
Their
annual
artist
residency
program
celebrated
the
tenth
anniversary
of
the
“Made
in
Paint”
exhibition
in
April,
where
the
artwork
of
18
resident
artists
was
showcased
in
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery.
In
October,
Golden
Artist
partnered
with
the
Cooperstown
Graduate
Program
of
SUNY
Oneonta
to
bring
“Our
Votes,
Our
Stories”
to
the
gallery.
The
exhibition
included
paintings,
sculptures,
and
installations
from
eight
artists
curated
by
Jimmy
Nunn,
Jr.,
a
graduate
of
the
Cooperstown
Graduate
Program.
The
eight
artists
featured
in
the
exhibition
were
Harper
Bella,
Greta
Chapin-McGill,
Sandra
Charles,
Brianna
Harlan,
Carla
Rae
Johnson,
Lorie
Novak,
Taylor
Sanders,
and
Vitus
Shell.
The
company
also
hired
on
a
new
Operations
Director,
Glen
Chwala,
who
will
oversee
the
entire
operations
and
facilities
areas.
His
focus
will
be
on
ensuring
proper
staffing
and
training
levels
for
optimum
functioning
and
implementing
lean
manufacturing
strategies,
with
an
emphasis
on
continuous
improvement
to
ensure
the
safety
and
efficiency
of
Golden
employees.
“We’re
delighted
that
Glen,
with
all
his
experiences
and
talents,
has
joined
the
Golden
Team,”
said
Golden
Artist
Colors
President
and
COO
Barbara
Schindler.
“Glen
brings
positive
energy
and
excitement
as
he
guides
the
operations
team
through
our
journey
of
continuous
improvement,
as
well
as
his
contributions
to
the
senior
leadership
team
in
driving
corporate
strategies
forward.”
Golden
was
also
recognized
for
their
leadership
and
contributions
to
their
community,
and
Schindler
was
even
presented
the
International
Art
Materials
Association
(NAMTA)
Hall
of
Fame
Award
–
the
Association’s
highest
honor.
According
to
Golden
Artist
Colors,
the
Hall
of
Fame
Award
is
given
to
individuals
“who
have
been
supporters,
volunteers
and
champions
of
the
association,”
and
Schindler
was
chosen
for
the
award
“for
her
enthusiasm
to
serve
NAMTA
and
the
broader
fine
arts
community.”
Golden
CEO
and
Co-Founder
Mark
Golden
said,
“While
our
entire
arts
industry
celebrates
Barbara
[Schindler]
for
all
her
efforts
to
promote
and
strengthen
the
value
of
fine
arts
around
the
world,
we
here
at
Golden
Artist
Colors
celebrate
her
dedication
to
a
truly
values-centered
leadership
every
day.
One
that
promotes
honesty,
openness,
and
a
place
where
respect
for
all
persons
is
treasured.”
Schindler
was
also
recognized
for
her
leadership
in
the
manufacturing
industry
with
the
Manufacturing
Association
of
Central
New
York
(MACNY)
Transformational
Leadership
Award.
The
award
is
given
annually
to
an
individual
who
exemplifies
qualities
in
line
with
the
Live
to
Lead
Initiative,
such
as
character,
commitment,
courage,
competence,
initiative,
passion,
servanthood,
and
generosity.
Golden
Artist
Colors
said
Schindler
was
chosen
for
the
award
due
to
her
dedication
to
Golden
and
its
employees
in
the
last
25
years,
as
well
as
her
involvement
in
the
community
outside
of
the
company.
Golden
closed
out
the
year
with
another
big
win
in
December:
being
presented
the
New
York
State
Empire
Award
by
Senator
Joseph
Griffo,
which
is
given
for
“outstanding
contributions
and
dedication
to
the
growth,
prosperity,
and
betterment
of
their
community
and
New
York
State.”
On
the
horizon
Golden
Artist
plans
to
keep
innovating
in
2024,
with
several
product
initiatives
and
expansions
planned
for
the
new
year.
Although
Golden
Artist
Colors
Public
Relations
Manager
Jodi
O’Dell
said
they
can’t
release
any
details
yet,
they
do
have
plans
for
new
product
initiatives
involving
their
new
brand,
PanPastel
Artist
Pastels.
Schindler
said
they
also
plan
to
expand
their
QoR
Artist
Watercolors
and
Golden
Artist
Acrylics
product
lines.
They
will
also
be
showcasing
plenty
of
art
in
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery
with
three
exhibits
–
something
O’Dell
said
is
unusual
for
the
company.
The
2024
exhibit
season
will
kick
off
with
the
“Four
Fold
Hurricane”
exhibition,
which
features
the
works
of
Ronald
Davis
and
Ronnie
Landfield.
Davis’
“Fold
Four”
piece
from
1969
is
a
four-panel
polyester
resin
and
fiberglass
piece
that
spans
over
21
feet
wide.
Landfield’s
“Hurricane,”
crafted
in
2004,
features
acrylic
paint
“often
applied
in
atmospheric
layers,
wherein
varying
colors
waft
and
blend.
Discrete
segments
can
be
hovering,
sometimes
abruptly
changing
hues
side
by
side,
or
transitioning
slowly
via
tint
and
shade.”
In
regard
to
his
work,
Landfield
said,
“My
inspiration
has
been
my
conviction
that
modern
painting
is
fueled
by
the
combination
of
tradition
and
the
realities
of
modern
life.
Spirituality
and
feelings
are
the
basic
subjects
of
my
work.”
Davis
said,“My
work
is
comprised
of
aggressively
deceptive,
meaningless,
unidentified
flying
objects
that
pretend
to
be
rational.
Illusion
is
my
vehicle.
Opticality
is
paramount.”
In
April,
the
“Made
in
Paint”
exhibition
will
return
to
the
gallery
to
showcase
the
works
created
by
artists
in
the
Golden
Artist
Colors
Residency
Program.
Founded
in
2012
by
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Foundation,
the
artist
residency
program
provides
large
studio
spaces
and
private
apartments
in
a
renovated
19th-century
barn
for
artists
working
with
paint.
The
program
gives
them
the
opportunity
to
explore
and
experiment
with
a
vast
range
of
materials
and
technology
available
to
today’s
painters.
The
“Made
in
Paint”
exhibition
will
feature
works
created
by
artists
in
the
2023
residency
program.
An
opening
reception
will
be
held
on
Saturday,
April
29
from
4
to
6
p.m.
at
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery,
located
inside
the
Golden
Artist
Colors
headquarters
at
188
Bell
Road
in
New
Berlin.
In
the
fall,
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery
will
be
filled
with
watercolor
portraits
by
esteemed
artist
and
author
Ali
Cavanaugh.
Cavanaugh
is
known
for
her
expressionist
and
realist
style
in
large-scale
watercolor
portraits,
which
have
been
featured
in
galleries
and
museums
worldwide.
The
exhibit
comes
in
the
wake
of
Golden’s
partnership
with
Cavanaugh
to
create
the
six-color
QoR
Artist
Watercolors
Portrait
Colors
Set,
which
the
company
announced
in
December.
“I
have
been
a
committed
QoR
Watercolor
user
since
2014,
so
to
have
the
opportunity
to
launch
this
set
in
partnership
with
Golden
is
truly
incredible,”
said
Cavanaugh.
“Painting
portraits
allows
me
to
express
my
subjects
in
their
most
introverted,
pure
state.
My
portraiture,
figurative
realism,
is
aimed
at
sharing
the
mystery
of
life;
my
subject’s
existence.
It’s
this
intangible
thing
that
makes
you
want
to
know
more.
It
sparks
your
curiosity.”
Gallery
exhibits
are
open
to
the
public
from
8:30
a.m.
to
5
p.m.,
Monday
through
Friday.
Of
course,
Golden
wouldn’t
be
able
to
provide
the
high-quality
products
they’re
known
for
without
their
dedicated
and
skilled
staff.
Part
of
manufacturing
these
high-end
fine
art
supplies
is
making
sure
employees
are
up
to
date
on
training
and
have
opportunities
to
expand
their
skills.
Investing
in
staff
“2024
will
be
a
year
of
significant
investment
in
training
for
our
manufacturing
team
members,”
said
Schindler.
“Annually
we
have
leadership
training
for
staff
aspirational
in
developing,
growing
and
being
prepared
for
when
a
leadership
position
opens
up.”
The
new
year
will
also
bring
an
investment
in
manufacturing
TWI
and
yellow
and
green
belt
lean
training,
which
Schindler
said
are
all
levels
of
training
that
involve
problem
solving,
project
management
processes,
eliminating
waste
in
processes,
and
how
to
make
data-based
decisions.
She
said
the
Golden
operations
team
will
be
participating
in
these
trainings
throughout
the
year.
Additionally,
Golden
provides
learning
opportunities
through
their
several
committees,
such
as
the
Continuous
Improvement,
Safety,
Employee
Stock
Ownership
Plan,
and
Wellness
Committees,
among
others.
Golden
also
invests
in
its
employees
by
providing
a
robust
benefits
package,
including
support
for
continuing
education,
paid
volunteer
time,
and
company
activities,
such
as
Earth
Day
Cleanup,
Schindler
said.
A
highly
unique
benefit
for
Golden
Artist
employees
is
their
Employee
Stock
Ownership
Plan
(ESOP),
which
was
first
implemented
in
2002.
In
2010,
Golden
took
employee
ownership
a
step
further,
and
became
one
of
just
4,000
companies
in
the
nation
to
be
majority
owned
by
employees.
By
October
2021,
Golden
announced
it
was
100
percent
employee
owned.
“Implementing
100
percent
ownership
for
staff
is
very
unique
and
something
our
family
has
dreamt
about
since
the
company’s
beginning,”
said
Golden
Artist
Colors
CEO
Mark
Golden.
“We
began
on
the
premise
that
‘what
you
care
about
will
grow,’
and
Golden
Artist
Colors
has
grown
many
times
beyond
the
dreams
we
once
had
as
we
peered
across
the
fields
from
my
parent’s
kitchen.
Four
decades
later
it
is
clear
that
we’ve
grown
in
the
most
wonderful
ways.
It
has
been
through
the
care
and
dedication
of
each
of
our
staff
that
has
joined
us
on
this
journey
and
made
this
place
part
of
themselves.”
With
such
a
great
emphasis
placed
on
employee
treatment
and
benefits,
it’s
no
wonder
Golden
touts
an
extremely
high
retention
rate.
Schindler
said
approximately
half
of
their
employees
have
been
with
the
company
between
five
and
30
years.
However,
that
doesn’t
mean
Golden
Artist
hasn’t
had
its
challenges.
Schindler
said
the
COVID-19
pandemic
in
2020,
and
the
aftermath
in
the
following
years,
has
made
it
more
difficult
to
hire
staff.
Plus,
she
said
being
headquartered
in
Chenango
County
can
make
it
difficult
to
find
candidates
for
higher-level
positions,
who
would
need
to
relocate
to
the
area.
“Any
position
can
be
difficult
to
fill
–
simply
depending
on
the
pool
of
candidates,
which
shift,
and
which
facility,”
said
Schindler.
“That
stated,
our
positions
requiring
higher
levels
of
education
tend
to
be
the
positions
which
are
more
difficult
to
find
the
best
candidate.
One
of
the
biggest
challenges
is
our
rural
community
–
acclimating
from
either
a
city
or
suburban
community
can
be
quite
the
culture
shock.”
Despite
these
challenges,
Golden
Artist
continutes
to
push
for
the
best
and
seek
out
the
right
candidates.
“Our
Human
Resources
team
is
active
in
the
community,
participating
in
local
job
fairs
when
available.
MACNY
has
been
active
working
with
us
to
bring
local
students
here
for
tours
and
to
learn
from
staff
about
the
types
of
job
positions
we
have
here,”
Schindler
explained.
“Also,
we
are
currently
working
with
two
media
organizations
to
develop
content
sharing
what
creative
jobs
exist
at
Golden
and
how
staff
has
developed
and
grown
into
unique
roles
as
a
result
of
training
on
the
job.”
Investment
in
community
Investment
goes
beyond
the
walls
of
the
Golden
Artist
plant
and
reaches
out
into
the
community.
The
company
makes
consistent
efforts
to
collaborate
with
other
local
organizations,
participate
in
charitable
work,
and
invest
in
local
art.
To
support
both
the
community
and
their
employees,
O’Dell
said
Golden
gives
employees
40
hours
of
paid
volunteer
time
per
year,
which
they
can
use
to
support
organizations
and
nonprofits
of
their
choice.
“They
can
choose
how
they
want
to
use
that
time,
they
just
have
to
complete
a
form
for
the
hours
that
they
completed
and
some
information
about
what
they
did,
the
organizations
they
supported,
that
kind
of
thing,
and
then
it
goes
to
human
resources,”
she
said.
“We
also
have
activities
here
that
you
can
use
your
volunteer
time
for,
like
most
every
year
we
do
an
Earth
Day
cleanup
around
the
facility,
we
have
staff
that
volunteer
for
Colorscape
Chenango
Arts
Festival.
So
there’s
different
activities
that
we
as
a
company
support
and
have
staff
volunteer
for,
and
then
there’s
also
outside
organizations
that
staff
just
feel
passionate
about
and
want
to
be
involved
in,
and
that’s
a
way
for
them
to
do
that
as
well.”
Additionally,
employees
who
are
volunteers
with
local
fire
and
EMS
services
are
given
80
hours
of
paid
volunteer
time
per
year.
“If
there
is
an
emergency
in
the
community
or
a
call
in
the
community,
they
can
feel
good
about
leaving
work
and
being
able
to
support
those
in
need
in
the
community,
and
then
they
won’t
get
shortened
time
for
their
work
week,”
O’Dell
said.
To
help
artists
in
the
process
of
creating
art,
the
Golden
Material
Applications
Specialists
Team
offers
phone
and
assistance
with
the
application
of
Golden
Artist
products
as
well
as
other
art
industry
materials.
Golden
Artist
also
supports
both
art
and
non-art
related
organizations
through
the
donation
of
funds
and
materials.
“We
donate
monies
locally,
regionally,
nationally,
and
globally
for
art
and
non-art
related
organizations
who
request
our
support,”
Schindler
said.
“We
also
have
a
donation
program
for
materials
(paints)
to
support
community
projects,
artists
in
need,
et
cetera.”
Some
local
organizations
who
have
received
support
in
the
past
include
the
Chenango
Arts
Council,
Commerce
Chenango,
the
Earlville
Opera
House,
area
schools
and
school
sports
teams,
Rogers
Environmental
Education
Center,
and
hospice
centers.
“We
try
to
support
all
the
schools
that
request,
but
in
particular
we
pay
close
attention
to
those
schools
and
organizations
that
our
staff
are
involved
in
and/or
where
their
children
go
to
school,”
said
O’Dell.
O’Dell
said
Golden
Artist
Colors
also
gives
annual
donations
to
local
fire
and
EMT
services,
even
if
funding
isn’t
requested.
Regionally,
O’Dell
said
Golden
supports
art
conservation
groups,
such
as
CERF,
which
supports
artists
impacted
by
hardships
and
natural
disasters,
as
well
as
global
arts
organizations.
Locally,
Golden
also
supports
the
arts
and
art-related
organizations
with
gift
certificates
for
art
exhibition
awards,
paint
donations,
guest
speaker
events,
and
more.
“Oftentimes
we
try
to
provide
a
gift
certificate
for
the
artists
as
an
award
for
the
exhibition,
and
we
try
to
tailor
the
gift
certificate
to
the
artist
and
the
type
of
painting
that
they
do,”
O’Dell
explained.
“So
it
might
be
a
watercolor
organization,
and
so
the
gift
certificate
would
be
for
our
core
artist
watercolors
brand,
for
example.”
Supporting
the
arts
in
the
Chenango
County
area,
across
the
country,
and
across
the
world
is
one
of
Golden
Artist
Colors’
core
values,
and
they
plan
to
continue
that
investment
in
years
to
come.
“History
and
data
show
that
investments
in
the
arts
can
change
the
world,”
said
Schindler.
“That
is
part
of
our
corporate
mission
and
vision.”
For
more
information
on
Golden
Artist
Colors,
visit
goldenartistcolors.com.
More
information
on
the
Sam
and
Adele
Golden
Gallery
and
Foundation
can
be
found
at
thesagg.org
and
goldenfoundation.org.
