@ 3:54: "You have to have the person with the vision to see it through." The energy too, though vision helps drive energy.
The shear cut shrubs at the entry door to the building surprised me as they seemed incongruent at first, then I realized the company specializes in providing high-end materials. When I reached the part where "spotless and well-organized" was noted, another shoe dropped and I wondered if the owner was someone with OCD who'd found his niche?.
It turns out there are three generations of the L's in GL Veneer who've been in the business for 40 years, with what appears to be enough vision and profits to invest back into the company and run a top notch operation.
For most people, March 1, 1977, was just another Tuesday. But for Lewis “Bo” Grittman and Leslie Levin, it was the first day in the 40-year journey of GL Veneer.
“G” for Grittman, “L” for Levin, GL began as a plywood and face manufacturer supplying the high-end case goods markets in Los Angeles. But the guys weren’t new to the business. In fact, Leslie helped develop the veneer grading standards that the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association (HPVA) still uses today.
In 1979, Bo Grittman left GL Veneer and Leslie’s son, Jeff Levin, joined the company, making GL a family effort — and formidable manufacturing/marketing combo. Together, the father and son team steadily grew the business through the 1980s and 90s.
Now Jeff's son helps run the show.
A giant of the industry and visionary businessman, Leslie Levin lead GL Veneer to a position of strength and flexibility. In 2006, Jeff took the torch from his father, continuing the company’s growth and innovation — including WallWood™, wooden wallpaper invented by GL.
Recently, Daniel Levin joined his dad, Jeff, at the helm of the family business. Now three generations strong, GL continues expanding with new product lines, including an extensive collection of beautiful live-edge slabs.
"Took the torch?" Did the old man die in 2006? Sure enough, "LEVIN ,Leslie Howard Man of courage and love. Died peacefully at home December 22, 2006 at age 81. Devoted husband of Marilyn for 55 years. Beloved father of Jeffrey (Joanne) and Diane. Adoring grandfather of Jennifer, Jessica, and Daniel...A graduate of Cal Tech, and Harvard Business School, Leslie was founder and chairman of GL Veneer Company which he directed with passion and integrity. He served valiantly as a Naval officer during World War II, and the Korean War, and was discharged as a Lt. Commander.
While OCD runs in families, there is also the component of pride in what's been envisioned/built/accomplished. Levin appears to have been a formidable force whose life and dedication yielded the visible and intangible results that are now being carried forward in new ways.
What interests me most about this whole thing is the power of one, revealed here at Levity in the unique start to finish work done by one on an individual basis, along with what's going on at GL Veneer at the corporate level. Although it's been my experience that family businesses don't tend to do well beyond the fourth generation, the results of this family's vision and efforts impresses.
Impressed, however, is not quite the same as honoring the integrity and value of the first-hand process we've been privileged to witness here at Levity, of trunk, limb and burl reclamation and transformation, from place of growth and death to resurrected glory.
I also know from my own family story of generational involvement in business and property ownership that function and dysfunction go hand in hand with vision, the pursuit of excellence, and the willingness to work through the temptations and obstacles that result from recognition, wealth, power and influence.
It's not easy to create and maintain a shop like that or a one-person enterprise.
I've recently rented space in an art studio in town and will see how that goes for a year. I doubt I can keep it as clean, neat and uncluttered as the veneer shop.
I tried again to watch that video - dude was all like crazy and like this is crazy, like, and we see like crazy - aw shut up. And that was not an inclusion, that was a void. Your knowledge of trees is as limited as your vocabulary. Why do I put myself through such torture?
And for the record, I don't want my children to have anything to do with my business. I am the business and when I am gone, so is the business. They can make their own if they want one.
I second what XRay wrote - do well, MamaM, and post some of your work. Don't worry about keeping it uncluttered - a quick search of "messy painter studios" will reveal that you would have to be out there to even make it into the top 10. I personally think Francis Bacon was mental, just sayin'.
I appreciate the encouragement from both of you! There are days when I question my own sanity, Sixty. It's also highly probable the guy running the veneer shop had his own issues. My sense of something unusual is what started my search for more info as creativity and the sort of clean and order that was present there don't usually show up together without a highly concerted effort being made; and that shop revealed a huge amount of focus, control and overall effort, along with an appreciation for the beauty found in wood.
The voice (high pitch and uplift) of the younger guy and his attitude annoyed me as well--while the older man barely spoke. I wondered if there might be family involvement there too as the younger man seemed pretty sure of himself and appeared to be leading the show. Sure enough, it looks like he's the older man/owner's son in another family business that grew, with the epoxy pouring starting at the end of 2017. Which could account for why he was there with the old guy looking for voids and confusing them with inclusions.
In 1993, Black Forest Wood Company began making virtually anything out of solid wood. The lumber was stored in the front of house, and when clients would come through, they’d see a piece they like and ask to buy it, thus the retail aspect of BFW was born. From specializing in custom builds and exterior doors, to providing one of the largest varieties of lumber species in Western Canada, Black Forest has evolved like any other thriving company. In November 2017 we ventured on our first epoxy pour, and in December one of our videos went viral on the internet. Since then we have been hard at work providing international clientele with the finest epoxy & wood tables.
I hope the Easter-like essence of the compliment specifically focused on the work that shows up in posts here was not missed, in the honoring the integrity and value of the first-hand process we've been privileged to witness here at Levity, of trunk, limb and burl reclamation and transformation, from place of growth and death to resurrected glory!
I regard what you do as a one-man show, SixtyG, complete as-is, a rare find, unique and much appreciated. I'll have to see what happens with the painting.
10 comments:
Like it's like crazy... zzzzzzzzzzzzt - sound of a record being scratched.
When I want live edge slabs I get out my chainsaw and saw them. No more soy for you boys.
That guy is like the Bagoh of wood. What a place.
@ 3:54: "You have to have the person with the vision to see it through." The energy too, though vision helps drive energy.
The shear cut shrubs at the entry door to the building surprised me as they seemed incongruent at first, then I realized the company specializes in providing high-end materials. When I reached the part where "spotless and well-organized" was noted, another shoe dropped and I wondered if the owner was someone with OCD who'd found his niche?.
It turns out there are three generations of the L's in GL Veneer who've been in the business for 40 years, with what appears to be enough vision and profits to invest back into the company and run a top notch operation.
For most people, March 1, 1977, was just another Tuesday. But for Lewis “Bo” Grittman and Leslie Levin, it was the first day in the 40-year journey of GL Veneer.
“G” for Grittman, “L” for Levin, GL began as a plywood and face manufacturer supplying the high-end case goods markets in Los Angeles. But the guys weren’t new to the business. In fact, Leslie helped develop the veneer grading standards that the Hardwood Plywood Veneer Association (HPVA) still uses today.
In 1979, Bo Grittman left GL Veneer and Leslie’s son, Jeff Levin, joined the company, making GL a family effort — and formidable manufacturing/marketing combo. Together, the father and son team steadily grew the business through the 1980s and 90s.
Now Jeff's son helps run the show.
A giant of the industry and visionary businessman, Leslie Levin lead GL Veneer to a position of strength and flexibility. In 2006, Jeff took the torch from his father, continuing the company’s growth and innovation — including WallWood™, wooden wallpaper invented by GL.
Recently, Daniel Levin joined his dad, Jeff, at the helm of the family business. Now three generations strong, GL continues expanding with new product lines, including an extensive collection of beautiful live-edge slabs.
"Took the torch?" Did the old man die in 2006? Sure enough, "LEVIN ,Leslie Howard Man of courage and love. Died peacefully at home December 22, 2006 at age 81. Devoted husband of Marilyn for 55 years. Beloved father of Jeffrey (Joanne) and Diane. Adoring grandfather of Jennifer, Jessica, and Daniel...A graduate of Cal Tech, and Harvard Business School, Leslie was founder and chairman of GL Veneer Company which he directed with passion and integrity. He served valiantly as a Naval officer during World War II, and the Korean War, and was discharged as a Lt. Commander.
While OCD runs in families, there is also the component of pride in what's been envisioned/built/accomplished. Levin appears to have been a formidable force whose life and dedication yielded the visible and intangible results that are now being carried forward in new ways.
What interests me most about this whole thing is the power of one, revealed here at Levity in the unique start to finish work done by one on an individual basis, along with what's going on at GL Veneer at the corporate level. Although it's been my experience that family businesses don't tend to do well beyond the fourth generation, the results of this family's vision and efforts impresses.
Impressed, however, is not quite the same as honoring the integrity and value of the first-hand process we've been privileged to witness here at Levity, of trunk, limb and burl reclamation and transformation, from place of growth and death to resurrected glory.
I also know from my own family story of generational involvement in business and property ownership that function and dysfunction go hand in hand with vision, the pursuit of excellence, and the willingness to work through the temptations and obstacles that result from recognition, wealth, power and influence.
It's not easy to create and maintain a shop like that or a one-person enterprise.
I've recently rented space in an art studio in town and will see how that goes for a year. I doubt I can keep it as clean, neat and uncluttered as the veneer shop.
I tried again to watch that video - dude was all like crazy and like this is crazy, like, and we see like crazy - aw shut up. And that was not an inclusion, that was a void. Your knowledge of trees is as limited as your vocabulary. Why do I put myself through such torture?
And for the record, I don't want my children to have anything to do with my business. I am the business and when I am gone, so is the business. They can make their own if they want one.
Thanks for all that, MamaM. And good luck in your new endeavor.
I second what XRay wrote - do well, MamaM, and post some of your work. Don't worry about keeping it uncluttered - a quick search of "messy painter studios" will reveal that you would have to be out there to even make it into the top 10. I personally think Francis Bacon was mental, just sayin'.
I appreciate the encouragement from both of you! There are days when I question my own sanity, Sixty. It's also highly probable the guy running the veneer shop had his own issues. My sense of something unusual is what started my search for more info as creativity and the sort of clean and order that was present there don't usually show up together without a highly concerted effort being made; and that shop revealed a huge amount of focus, control and overall effort, along with an appreciation for the beauty found in wood.
The voice (high pitch and uplift) of the younger guy and his attitude annoyed me as well--while the older man barely spoke. I wondered if there might be family involvement there too as the younger man seemed pretty sure of himself and appeared to be leading the show. Sure enough, it looks like he's the older man/owner's son in another family business that grew, with the epoxy pouring starting at the end of 2017. Which could account for why he was there with the old guy looking for voids and confusing them with inclusions.
In 1993, Black Forest Wood Company began making virtually anything out of solid wood. The lumber was stored in the front of house, and when clients would come through, they’d see a piece they like and ask to buy it, thus the retail aspect of BFW was born. From specializing in custom builds and exterior doors, to providing one of the largest varieties of lumber species in Western Canada, Black Forest has evolved like any other thriving company. In November 2017 we ventured on our first epoxy pour, and in December one of our videos went viral on the internet. Since then we have been hard at work providing international clientele with the finest epoxy & wood tables.
I hope the Easter-like essence of the compliment specifically focused on the work that shows up in posts here was not missed, in the honoring the integrity and value of the first-hand process we've been privileged to witness here at Levity, of trunk, limb and burl reclamation and transformation, from place of growth and death to resurrected glory!
It was not missed, thank you MamaM. You have been a steadfast supporter of my work for a long time now and I appreciate it.
Now get to work and make some paintings and post them so that I can return the favor!
I regard what you do as a one-man show, SixtyG, complete as-is, a rare find, unique and much appreciated. I'll have to see what happens with the painting.
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