In the heart of central New York, nestled among the rolling hills of New Berlin, stands a unique testament to artistic collaboration, friendship, and innovation: The Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts. Established in 1997, the Foundation honors the legacy of Sam and Adele Golden, the visionary co-founders of Golden Artist Colors, a company dedicated to producing fine paint for fine art. We invite you to join us there in celebrating the profound impact that art and community have on our lives at the Foundation’s annual art benefit and auction on August 3rd from 4:30 to 8:00 PM. It promises to be our most exciting event yet.
Sam Golden’s journey in the world of paint began in 1936 at Bocour Artist Colors, a company he co-owned with his uncle, Leonard Bocour. From the outset, Sam loved to make paint not just for artists but also with them. This collaborative spirit led him to work closely with legends such as Morris Louis, Helen Frankenthaler, Barnett Newman, Roy Lichtenstein, Frank Stella, and Andy Warhol, creating custom paints that allowed their visions to come to life on canvas.
Retirement in 1972 brought Sam to the scenic countryside of New Berlin, but his passion for paint-making and collaboration with artists endured. In 1980, at the age of 67, he started Golden Artist Colors with his son, Mark, and their respective wives, Adele and Barbara. From a small barn they began a journey that would revolutionize the world of paint. Mark would drive to Manhattan weekly, delivering paint and gathering feedback from artists, which fueled the development of new products. This commitment to listening and responding to artists’ needs quickly established Golden Artist Colors as a center of innovation and quality.
In the years following Sam’s passing, the Golden family sought to honor him by continuing to support and inspire artists. Thus, the Sam and Adele Golden Foundation for the Arts was born. In 2012, the Foundation opened a unique artist residency program, transforming a 19th-century barn into a state-of-the-art facility where artists could immerse themselves in the widest range of materials and technologies available. The residency offers a potentially life-changing opportunity for artists to explore, experiment, and push the boundaries of their work.
The program attracts artists at all stages of their careers, from emerging talents to seasoned professionals. What unites them is a desire to challenge themselves and explore new ways of working with paint. One past resident noted, “I learned more at my residency at the Golden Foundation in four weeks than I did in all of graduate school.” This speaks to the unparalleled resources and support that the Golden Foundation provides, enabling artists to take creative risks and develop new techniques in a nurturing environment.
In 2017, we celebrated the Foundation’s 20th anniversary with an art auction that raised significant funds for the residency program. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters, we have been able to waive residency fees for artists, expand our team, and offer even more opportunities for creative exploration. Our dreams for the future are even bigger.
For this year’s benefit and auction, we will showcase works from 180 artists, including Helen O’Leary, Carl Plansky, Debra Weisberg, Deborah Zlotsky, Etty Yaniv, Jason Rohlf, Mel Prest, Ellen Lanyon, Jerald Webster, James Dwyer, Pat Lasch, Anna Kunz, Julia Jacquette, Arpad Forgo, Elizabeth Condon, Paula DeLuccia, Tong Zhang, Steve McCallum, and Ali Cavanaugh. The evening will feature a silent auction from 4:30 to 6:30 pm, followed by a live auction from 6:45 to 8:00 pm. In addition, an online auction will run from July 23rd through August 5th, allowing supporters near and far to participate.
Please join us in this celebration of art and community. Your presence and support will help us continue the work Sam Golden began decades ago. Together we can ensure that artists have the resources and opportunities they need to create, explore, and inspire. Whether you attend in person, bid online, or simply share our mission with your friends, your contribution makes a difference. Be a part of our vibrant community and help us write the next chapter in the Golden Foundation’s story.
Golden Artist Colors, 188 Bell Road, New Berlin, NY. August 3, 2024, 4:30–8:00 PM. For more information and to participate in our online auction, please visit our website: https://www.goldenfoundation.org/auction/
We look forward to seeing you at this year’s event. Thank you for your support.
— Emma Golden
The Golden Foundation’s Executive Director
