He was 94. Mr. (Josh Brasted Photo), Wayne Amedee, Penny Francis , Julie George and Ted George at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. View court, arrest, criminal/conviction Theres no comprehensive list out there that ranks everyones net worth, but there are some big movers and shakers in New Orleans whose wealth is well known. Its not classed with professional football, but there is a surge in attendance. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA: Beautiful setting - See 1,364 traveler reviews, 1,161 candid photos, and great deals for New Orleans, LA, at Tripadvisor. When he started working at the family business in the late 1940s, Sydney Besthoff III had no intention of becoming K&B Drugstores lead man. From the founding of the Contemporary Arts Center in the raw, unairconditioned K&B warehouse at 900 Camp Street, to Sydney leading the effort to renovate and transform the warehouse into a cutting-edge home for the Center, to Sydneys donation of the entire property to the CAC and most importantly to his unwavering passion for contemporary art and the Contemporary Arts Center, Sydney Besthoff helped create the vision for the CAC and then nurtured and supported this vision for almost 50 years. Sydney Besthoff served as chairman and CEO of K&B Incorporated, a retail drugstore chain in Louisiana and the Gulf South founded by his grandfather in 1905. My thoughts are echoed by Michael Schneider, President of the CAC Board of Trustees: "Sydney Besthoff was a giant. After serving in the Army during World War II, he graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. The Life of Sydney Johnson. It is a demonstration of this desire to share their passion that they wanted the Garden to be free and open to the people of the city of New Orleans. One Collins C. Diboll Circle, City Park Sydney and Walda were always the first to arrive, warmly greeting the crane operators from American Machinery. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Private dealers, auctions, and galleries were all part of the hunt. Previously, most of the Besthoffs sculpture collection was on view at K&B Plaza, a seven-story office building in downtown New Orleans, which Sydney Besthoff purchased in 1973. So, we wanted something else to collect. Share Your Memories of Sydney and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden Here: R. J. Preece: I understand that the last International Sculpture Center conference held in New Orleans in 1976 inspired you and Mrs. Besthoff in some way. Now he runs a capital investment firm called IV Capital, which has plans to invest over 60 million dollars into New Orleans by the end of 2017. There was a local outcry after all, K&B had been in New Orleans since 1905. To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com. There will be a celebration of his life in the spring. (Josh Brasted Photo) DON"T USE -- Goldring zipper unzipped. He was always there for the Center and ready to provide whatever was needed. LEARN MORE, Architects, landscape architects, lighting designers, and arborists were among the contractors who made it all possible. Menashe Kadishman, Open Suspense, 1968. You dont think of it as an elitist thing.SB:Thats true. At his ninetieth birthday party in 2017, which took place in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, NOMA announced the establishment of the Sydney Besthoff Legacy Award. It was Sydneys last outing, and so memorable. See I have never worked with anyone more focused on realizing the full magnitude of such an important project. Let others know about your loved one's death. It was a perfect day, with the sun shining in a cloudless, blue sky. Sydney was a giant in supplying visual art to New Orleans. Its not just the artists who are usually not so business-like or organized, its the dealers as well. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. RP:What do you think needs to be done to more effectively encourage patronage of modern/contemporary art in the U.S.? There are no words to express how much he will be missed and how much I will miss him. Because MyLife only collects this data and does not create it, we cannot fully guarantee its accuracy. He and his wife Walda Besthoff created the sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art that bears their names. below. He often found works that werent readily available on the market and made the deal. RP:Writers too, right?SB:Well, I dont know if Id say that. The foundation is located in New Orleans, LA. Sydney Besthoff served as chairman and CEO of K & B Incorporated, a retail drugstore chain in Louisiana and the Gulf South, founded by his grandfather in 1905. View Source Share Save to Suggest Edits Memorial Photos Flowers Memorials Region North America USA Louisiana Orleans Parish New Orleans Generations of leadership at the CAC knew him well. Sydney J Besthoff, Sydney J Besthoff, Sidney J Besthoff, Sidney J Besthoff and Sydney J Besthoff are some of the alias or nicknames that Sydney has used. Thanks to Sydney Besthoff, there are so many public examples of what is right with our city. For example, the architect sometimes wanted one thing, and we were looking for another, and the museum was looking for another concept as well. Sydneys vision, passion, and dedication to the arts are unparalleled. NOMA is committed to preserving, interpreting, and enriching its collections and renowned sculpture garden; offering innovative experiences for learning and interpretation; and uniting, inspiring, and engaging diverse communities and cultures. An addition to the world-renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in May 2019 with a ceremony marking the occasion. It was more on a coincidental basis. You have permission to edit this article. to see possibly who they are and full class lists found from school records and public sources. 6) M. Pres Kabacoff, HRI Properties entrata.com Another well known real estate developer in New Orleans, Mr. Kabacoff was involved in countless apartment, condo, and hotel operations throughout New Orleans and the greater gulf coast area, and has now expanded across the country. It is a demonstration of this desire to share their passion that they wanted the Garden to be free and open to the people of the city of New Orleans," said Susan Taylor of the New Orleans Museum of Art. A successful New Orleans business executive and philanthropist, Sydneys vision allowed for the establishment of the Contemporary Arts Center in 1976. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation primarily provides general support. The K&B building atLee Circle is known for its collection of art inside and out. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. May his life continue to be a blessing.With health to you all,George ScheerExecutive Director, Don Marshall, Founding Director (1976-1985)"The impact of Sydney Besthoff on the Visual and Performing Arts in Louisiana and New Orleans is monumental. LEARN MORE, Stroll along meandering walking paths and identify all 97 works of art. He expanded the company along the Gulf Coast throughout the 70s and 80s then sold the beloved chain in 1997. The foundations collection began in 1977 and has grown significantly since. We were talking about artspeak earlier today. Mr. Besthoff and the CAC entered my life in 1984. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. I provided input about the paths and spaces for the garden design. For that to happen, there were only two art collectorsin town who could pull it off: Walda and Sydney Besthoff. The New Orleans Museum of . Since the 1970s, Sydney and Walda Besthoff have specialized in collecting modern and contemporary sculpture, in addition to photorealist painting. Weve rounded up a list of business men who have proven their business acumen and made a fortune for themselves. Sydney Besthoff Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. We would stand by watching as the works soared above us, landing exactly on the proposed site. You have permission to edit this article. This may contain information such as company name, job title, address, and time period of service. SYDNEY BESTHOFF III (CHAIRMAN) $0 + Show more. Since. E. John Bullard, then the art museums director, suggested that the couple donate their holdings to the museum. The award is a star-shaped maquette by Frank Stella, who is creating a larger version that will be in the sculpture garden. In 1978, he and his wife established the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to cultivating public interest in the arts, particularly contemporary sculpture. If it loses that, it becomes a commodity. A movie geek to his core, he's seen every film listed on the American Film Institute's 100 Years100 Movies and would love to talk to you about them. Get more stories like this one delivered right to your email. Whenever he set out to do something, he did it.. Montine McDaniel Freeman Director, Sydney Besthoff with a sculpture by Isamu Noguchi at K&B Plaza in downtown New Orleans, Walda Besthoff, NOMA Director Emeritus E. John Bullard, and Sydney Besthoff, Sydney and Walda Besthoff at LOVE in the Garden, Artist Frank Stella and Sydney Besthoff in front of Stellas work in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Valerie Besthoff, Rodney and Jane Steiner, Sydney Besthoff, Sydney Steiner, Walda Besthoff at Sydneys 90th birthday party in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Sydney and Walda Besthoff at the installation of Wangechi Mutus Crocodylus in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Sydney and Walda Besthoff with the "Sydney" award for outstanding commitment to the visual arts, NOMA Director Susan Taylor with Sydney and Walda Besthoff at the opening of the expansion to the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. One of the things that makes the garden relatively unique is that it has all of these different concepts built in. Its a real English countryside garden, in the style of Capability Brown. The Besthoff Building in which the CAC resides, is an essential part of Sydney's legacy a site professing to both his business acumen and creative insight. I dont, but people do. Submit your address to receive email notifications about news and activities from NOMA. Thank you, Sydney, for everything you have done for our city. In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation in Sydneys memory to the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden and / or the Contemporary Arts Center. 4 people named Sydney Besthoff found in Louisiana and New York. I loved running into him both in New Orleans and New York. We thought that sculpture was a nice adjunct, and we had an office building in downtown New Orleanswith a 20,000-square-foot plaza. And I particularly wanted to collect something within my size range, that I could get my arms around, that wasnt too vast. (Josh Brasted Photo), Sydney Besthoff and George Dunbar at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Also, the art dealers could explain their art better. Now we think we know what we are interested in. With Walda, Sydneys goal was to create a new way for NOMA to expand and broaden its audience, while creating ways for New Orleanians to experience art in a relaxed and informal setting. We have lots of information about Sydney: religious views are listed as unknown, ethnicity is unknown, and political affiliation is currently a registered Democrat. He was 94 years old. She found loads of purple paper that a New Orleans merchant had ordered for a client who didnt like the color. He's practically glued to his headphones. Photo by 2nd Story Creative/Cat Landrum. LOVE in the Garden 2019. Just two weeks ago, on February 11, 2022, Sydney supervised the installation of Wangechi Mutus, It was a perfect day, with the sun shining in a cloudless, blue sky. swung over the fence and gently landed on the site near the pavilion. New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 | Map Considered one of the world's top sculpture gardens, it is filled with works mainly from the Besthoffs' collection. He was a gentleman, patron, discerning business man, father, and a mentor to many including me. NOMAs Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden occupies approximately eleven acres adjacent to the museums Neoclassical building. For me Sydney was much more than a patron, he was a mentor who, when asked, was always there to give advice and counsel over the last 46 years. New Orleans Museum of Art He came here to install the piece. (Josh Brasted Photo), Catherine Burns Tremaine and John Bullard at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Opened to the public in 2003, and expanded in 2019, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden has received world-wide acclaim and is regularly mentioned as one of the most definitive sites for outdoor sculpture in a natural landscape. Get our updates delivered directly to your inbox! You'll receive your first newsletter soon! And thats one of the funniest things you have to learn. We sited each sculpture where we thought it was besta four-way mutual discussionmyself, the museum director, the architect, and the landscape architect. Watch Now Explore Online Valerie Besthoff, Sydney Besthoff and Walda Besthoff at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Photo by Camille Lenain. After that, we became very interested in other forms of art. Could you explain how this worked?SB:First, for the general garden design, Lee Ledbetter, the architect, and the landscape architect, based in New York, laid out the overall site. When Sydney Johnson Besthoff Jr was born on 4 December 1902, in Memphis, Shelby, Tennessee, United States, his father, Sydney Johnson Besthoff Sr, was 31 and his mother, Florence Stich, was 22. Mrs. Besthoff served on the board of the Contemporary Arts Center in the 1980s, chairing the Capital Campaign for its expansion. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. I cant place why exactly. In 2004, Sydney won NOMAs Isaac Delgado Award, given to a distinguished individual or organization whose long-term service, support, and dedication to the museum set precedents for the institution. The 12-acre tract, which grew out of a collection that the couple had amassed, contains upwards of 90 pieces by such artists as Henry Moore, Maya Lin, Augustus Saint-Gaudens, Teresita Fernandez and Shirazeh Houshiary. His defense, his wife said, was that reinvesting that money instead of paying it out in dividends would result in bigger dividends in the future. "MK Wegmann, Trustee (1985-1987), Director (2018-2019)"Sydney's generosity of his time, business expertise--from accounting to building management-- and the donation of 900 Camp Street, as well as direct financial support, sustained the CAC from its earliest days; even stuffing our promotion for The Last Ride at Pontchartrain Beach in K&B's billing envelopes. It was already viewed MyLife aggregates publicly available information from government, social, and other sources, plus personal reviews written by others. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Sydney will forever be treasured by the Contemporary Arts Center. (Josh Brasted Photo), Jane Steiner, Rodney Steiner and Sydney Steiner at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Teresita Fernndez with her artwork Viales (Mayombe Mississippi), 2019. Watch a video in celebration of that momentous expansion, which added 6.5 acres and 27 contemporary works to the garden. And so we selected a very abstruse form of art known as photorealism and went into it in the late 60s/early 70s, when it was just starting to become a really hot area. I got really interested, and that started me off. And that required a fair amount of discussion. During the party, its hostSusan Taylor, NOMA Montine McDaniel Freeman Director, announced the establishment of The Sydney Besthoff Legacy Award ("The Sydney") to be given once every several years. Sydney Johnson Besthoff III, a New Orleans businessman and art connoisseur who led a seven-state drugstore chain until he sold it in 1997, died Saturday at his New Orleans home of heart failure, the family said. SB:Everyone has been ignored in galleries.RP: We actually like it sometimes, maybe.SB:Thats true. In Memory Of Sydney Johnson Besthoff, III. Their eponymous gift to the city has become one of the most renowned outdoor art environments in the world. We use cookies to personalize & enhance your experience. It was thrillingthe pursuit of important work, striving for excellence and quality. "And, as it so happened, I knew at the time that the sculpture was worth a fair amount of money. Of course, anything that wed do would have to be in conjunction with the museum. It has happened in the past with gifts. We stood and watched as Crocodylus swung over the fence and gently landed on the site near the pavilion. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home & Cemeteries, 1 Collins Diboll Circle, New Orleans, LA 70124, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Through my time working with him, I have been fortunate to enjoy a meaningful partnership and friendship. The collection continues to grow, now featuring more than 90 works, representing the extraordinary range of Sydneys and Waldas taste and keen eye. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. Sydneys long relationship with NOMA began in 1992 when he was first appointed to the Board of Trustees. Ugo Rondinone,The Sun, 2018. Your name as you would like for it to appear. His contributions can only be surpassed by the extraordinary legacy Sydney and Walda partnered to build together through their exceptional record of dedication to supporting New Orleans arts and culture. He was the first ever recipient of the City of New Orleans Arts Award in 1980, and was recognized with a Louisiana Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. government sources. An addition to the world-renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in May 2019 with a ceremony marking the occasion. 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This section can be locked, requiring permission to 900 Camp StreetNew Orleans, LA 70130-3908(Open in Google Maps), 2023 Copyright Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, Sydney Besthoff, longtime K&B drugs executive and patron of the arts, dies at 94. Since the 1970s, Sydney and Walda Besthoff have specialized in collecting modern and contemporary sculpture, in addition to photorealist painting. The excitement was even more palpable when the works arrived at the garden loaded on a flatbed truck, ready for the installation. Sydney Besthoff in the Besthoff Sculpture Garden, 2003 (Photo by Kathy Anderson, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)(Kathy Anderson), The K&B Drugs Store at the Magnolia Shopping Center on Veterans Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, as photographed in 1979. His ability to focus energy on an opportunity or problem and bring a solution to fruition remains legendary to me. "Sydneys vision, passion, and dedication to the arts are unparalleled. The garden was to be named after my wife and myself. "The CAC was once the headquarters of K&B, Katz & Besthoff, which grew to become the largest privately-held drugstore chain in America. Over the course of the next 20 years, Sydney worked in every aspect of the business and became general manager. To reach Sue Strachan, send an email to socialscene@nola.com or call 504.450.5904. LEARN MORE, You can play a role in the historic 2019 expansion of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden by making a gift to support the project. What concerns did you have? SB:No. There were so many artists we each included on both lists, and off we went on an incredible journey. And there are no keep off the grass signs. . . Mary Ann Unger: To Shape a Moon from Bone, Nari Ward: Ill Take You There; A Proclamation, Liz Larner: Dont put it back like it was, Americans with Disabilities Act Statement. , 2 2020. I didnt want to have the museum lock the garden upnot allow access or open it only to members. It's appreciated some, but there's no story about the photorealist painting that you bought for $10,000 that that's worth $100 million today. Around the country, artists took over warehouses and factories, creating their own institutions for experimentation and pioneering new ideas. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Resides in New York, NY. I think we can add as many as 25 pieces to the garden. NEW ORLEANS Sydney Johnson Besthoff, who had led the seven-state Katz & Besthoff drugstore chain until he sold the business in 1997, died Saturday at his New Orleans home of heart failure, the family said. So the walks and the concepts were designed with that in mind. While specific net worth information isn't available for Mr. Cummings, he is a well known real estate developer in New Orleans responsible for such projects as the National Rice Mill Lofts, the International House Hotel, and the condos at 866 Camp St. He was a founder of the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans and past president of its board of directors. He wasnt universally hailed, even in his own family. Just two weeks ago, on February 11, 2022, Sydney supervised the installation of Wangechi Mutus Crocodylus. Watch a video in celebration of that momentous expansion, which added 6.5 acres and 27 contemporary works to the garden. The couple will accept the award at a gala in their honor on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Also in 2004, Sydney was recognized by the International Sculpture Center, and in 2018, as part of The Times-Picayune/nola.coms 300 for 300 series in celebration of New Orleans tricentennial. We wanted to donate the works at this point in time because it would be good for the city of New Orleans, certainly good for the museum, and it would simplify my estate. He pursued the collecting of sculptures just as eagerly as he had pursued the acquisition of drugstores, Walda Besthoff said. Photo by Camille Lenain. Perhaps Mr. Besthoff is being modest: at the time of the sale K&B was doing about $700 million in business. And get to know the players in the fieldthe art dealers and the museums, those who specialize in your particular field of interest.RP:I understand that the last ISC conference held in New Orleans in 1976 inspired you and Mrs. Besthoff in some way. the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park. He was 94. In addition to his wife, survivors include three daughters, Virginia Besthoff, of New Orleans and Charlotte, Vermont, and Valerie Besthoff and Jane Steiner, both of New Orleans; a sister, Jon Strauss of New Orleans; seven grandchildren; and one great-grandchild. "Its is only appropriate that the award is the shape of a star, for the brightest star in NOMA's constellation, Sydney Besthoff," said Taylor when presenting the award. businesses, and does affect the Reputation Score. Frequently those prices have no relation to reality. If you have used our data or site in your research or reporting, add credit and a link to Nonprofit Explorer in your story or publication and let us know. The Contemporary Arts Center, New Orleans is committed to artists, the presentation of multidisciplinary work, and advancing the value and power of the art of our time. When it came to the installation, we had to discuss how the sculptures were to be mounted. We were not as knowledgeable before. MyLife is NOT a Consumer Reporting Agency - You may NOT use this information to make decisions about consumer credit, employment, tenancy or any other purpose that would require FCRA compliance. In 1978, Mr. and Mrs. Besthoff established the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation, a private foundation dedicated to cultivating public interest in the arts, particularly contemporary sculpture. By that time, Walda Besthoff said, he was in a group of local leaders who integrated their food-service counters. He will be missed. His impact on the art world of New Orleans and the country has been felt and will continue to be felt for years to come.". He was 94. Sydney J Besthoff, 95. The public does. I enjoyed it, went to several other meetings, and Ive been a member ever since. He loved the chase, she said. K&B was sold to Rite Aid in 1997. He was 94. I clearly remember the day where he asked me to write down the artists with whom I would like to work, and then he showed me his list too. We can honor and thank him by keeping this goal alive. Who's Searching for You, Relatives, Associates, Neighbors & Classmates. If youve ever wondered who the richest people in New Orleans are, theres good reason for it. Besthoff served as chairman and CEO of K&B until 1997, when he sold it to the Rite Aid Corporation. Photo by 2nd Story Creative/Cat Landrum. In 1963, Besthoff represented the National Association of Chain Drug Stores at a White House conference that helped plan what became the Civil Rights Bill. All New Orleanians owe a debt of gratitude to Sydney Besthoff. And, come back to NOLA.com/society for more New Orleans area event and party news and photos. When I was the Director of the CAC, I asked if I could just hang around and watch how he worked, he said yes - and I did on occasion. Uniquely, the Besthoff Sculpture Garden presents masterworks of the 20th and 21st century within a mature landscape of local plantings, including pines, magnolias, and live oaks surrounding two lagoons. Sydney and Walda Besthoff were selected by Art & Antiques magazine in 2002 as one of 100 of Americas Top Collectors., The Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in 2003 and doubled in size with a 2019 expansion. He was the third generation to run Katz & Besthoff Ltd., which his grandfather, Sydney J. Besthoff, founded with Gustave Katz at 732 Canal St. in 1905. Last Saturday, the CAC's Founder, Emeritus, and Champion, Sydney Besthoff III passed away peacefully at his home. Mr. Ryan is the head of First NBC, which has over 45 branches in Louisiana and five in Florida. Some pieces were already on plinths when they were here at the K&B Plaza. He was a trustee of the art museum and the chairman of the National Association of Chain Drug Stores, the Boy Scouts in New Orleans and the United Fund (now the United Way). Some relatives sued Besthoff for not paying bigger dividends to non-working family members. In fact, the reputation of the Garden is one of the primary reasons I came to New Orleans. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Sydney is survived by his loving wife, Walda Barnett Besthoff; three daughters, Virginia Besthoff (Nancy Aronson), Valerie Besthoff, and Jane Steiner (Dr. Rodney); a sister, Jon Strauss; grandchildren, Andrew Marcus (Kelsie), Catherine Marcus, Stephen Marcus, Jason Steiner . "Barbara Motley, Trustee and served as Director (1993-1994)"Its hard to imagine the New Orleans art scene without the legacy that Sydney leaves behind: wed have no Contemporary Arts Center, which was the seed for the contemporary gallery and restaurant scene, which revitalized the Warehouse District, which encouraged our now nationally recognized artists to put down roots here. Then we placed the sculptures. It may take up to 1 hour for your comment to appear on the website, Sydney Johnson Besthoff, III, of New Orleans, Louisiana, died at his home on Saturday, February 26, 2022. On Oct. 18, the New Orleans Museum of Art chose that spot -- now the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden -- to celebrate the 90th birthday of Sydney Besthoff. (Josh Brasted Photo), Guests attend Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Perhaps Mr. Besthoff is being modest: at the time of the sale K&B was doing about $700 million in business. She is currently a trustee of the New Orleans Museum of Art. You are already missed. So, there was no tax benefit in giving the sculptures to the museum. He still owns the building though, and, even after the donation, it still contains a sizable art collection. Submit your address to receive email notifications about news and activities from NOMA. He loved going to Chelsea to check out the most current art exhibitions. Today we mourn the loss of Sydney Besthoff, NOMAs most generous philanthropist who, with his beloved wife Walda, created the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. The Noguchi at the time was inoperativeand I had to get it to work. Other sculptures didnt need bases because they sit directly on the ground. "Michael J. Siegel, Trustee, served as Board Chair Director (1997-1999)"To say that the CAC would not exist without Sydney Besthoff is far from an overstatement. Sydney was celebrated as one of the 300 people who have made New Orleans, New Orleans., RELATED: NOMA to double Besthoff sculpture garden with $15 million expansion, RELATED: Morning Call serves up its last orders of beignets and caf au lait, Credit: Kathy Anderson / NOLA.com | Times-Picayune. The sculpture garden was in the planning stages for about 10 years. SB:I did put some conditions on the gift. The Foundations collection began in 1977 and has grown to more than 100 works. Another well known real estate developer in New Orleans, Mr. Kabacoff was involved in countless apartment, condo, and hotel operations throughout New Orleans and the greater gulf coast area, and has now expanded across the country. Theres lots of shrubbery, and the fence will be covered in five years. Originally conceived in 2003, the Sculpture Garden doubled in size in 2019. Besthoff was part of the family that ran what became a seven-state drug store franchise with a distinctive purple color theme and popular local commercials. With our exposure via the Contemporary Art Center, years ago, we became well aware of that situation. One grant was made last year. Owner: besthoff sydney j iii Total Market Value: $2,233,000 Sale Price: $2,537,500 +Edit Past Address 7021 Hickory St, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70118-5507 View Address Property Lot Size: 4934 SF Owner: besthoff sydney j iii Sale Price: $78,000 +Edit Past Address 600 Port Of New Orleans Pl Apt 10f, NEW ORLEANS, LA 70130-1620 View Address OnlyInYourState may earn compensation through affiliate links in this article. He was 94. - Former NOMA staff member. All Filters. Get our updates delivered directly to your inbox! In November 2003, the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened at the New Orleans Museum of Art. K&Bs headquarters had been at 900 Camp St., in a building that, through Besthoffs donation, became the Contemporary Arts Center. In another 25 years, theyll be gorgeous. Since then Sydneys focused on philanthropy; among his donations is the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park. As with all nonprofit entities, everything had to be done by consensus, and it took a long time to work out the details.RP:I understand that you were intimately involved in the practical aspects of installing the sculptures in the garden. In the garden, we inherited 100-year-old pines and 200-year-old oak trees. Fax: 504.658.4199, RETURN TO THE HOME PAGE FOR THE BESTHOFF SCULPTURE GARDEN. Not long after that, he began conversations with then NOMA Director John Bullard, and others, about the possibility of what was to become the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. He loved to pull out blueprints of buildings and the neighborhood and walk me through them. Ph: 504.658.4100 When not writing about all the amazing things to be found in her state, her central passion is dreams and the wisdom they can offer, which you can learn more about by visiting KeziaVida.com. But, of course, the New York galleries are notorious for this. Occupying approximately five acres of New Orleans City Park to the west of the New Orleans Museum of Art, the garden opened in 2003 as a result of the Besthoffs' desire to display their collection of large-scale sculptures within a space evocative of Louisiana's unique landscape. Denham Springs police department investigates vandalized cemetery, New Orleans councilmembers hear from emotional crowd in crime meeting, Councilmembers hear from emotional crowd in New Orleans crime meeting, NOMA to double Besthoff sculpture garden with $15 million expansion, Morning Call serves up its last orders of beignets and caf au lait. This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Who's Searching for You, Look Your Best to People Searching for You. Besthoffhas had a longstanding relationship with NOMA, starting in 1992 when he was first appointed the board of trustees, serving in various capacities. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden at NOMA 5 1,375 #7 of 454 things to do in New Orleans Art Museums Visit website Call Write a review What people are saying By Viktoriya R " Pleasant beautiful garden " Oct 2022 The garden is so beautiful and peaceful with many great sculptures nicely melted into the surrounding nature. With Walda, Sydneys goal was to create a new way for NOMA to expand and broaden its audience, while creating ways for New Orleanians to experience art in a relaxed and informal setting. SB:We had just bought the K&B building a couple of years before. This large scale energy provider is based in New Orleans and has been led by Mr. Denault since 2013. Theyre not what the artist would sell the work for in a perfect market. Besthoff, who had worked in K&B stores during breaks from school, became executive vice president in 1960 and, in the early 1970s, president and CEO. Meanwhile, Walda Besthoff has had a lifetime commitment to the performing arts, particularly theater and dance, as a performer, staffer, and patron. However, after you fill up the house, theres not much you can do. In addition to longstanding time as NOMA Trustee, he served on the boards of numerous businesses and arts organizations, including the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans; First National Bank of Commerce, New Orleans; National Association of Chain Drug Stores; Boy Scouts of America; New Orleans Symphony; United Fund; and Newman School, New Orleans. Fiscal year ending Sept. 2019 Fiscal year ending Sept. 2019. That didn't happen with photorealism." . See The hue described as not quite lavender, not quite violet eventually pervaded the stores and everything in them, from paper bags to packaging to employee vests. Jeppe Hein, Mirror Labyrinth, 2017. A distinguished collector who celebrated a distinguished artist with not one, but two works for the garden. people learn more about others, just like Yelp does for Five years after the sale of the K&B chain, Besthoffs name once again came before the public with the opening of the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden adjoining the New Orleans Museum of Art in City Park. The richest person in both New Orleans and Louisiana, Tom Benson is best known now as the owner of the Saints and the Pelicans, and for the entrenched battle currently going on over his estate as he ages. After an extensive period of expansion under Mr. Besthoff's direction, with 184 stores in six states, K & B was sold to the Rite Aid Corporation in 1997. Elyn Zimmerman, Mississippi Meanders, 2019. The art world is definitely not the business world. When he moved his headquarters it was with great foresight and curiosity that Sydney welcomed a group of young artists to take over his property to do nothing less than break the norms and traditions for what art could be in New Orleans and around the country. The Dignity Memorial brand name is used to identify a network of licensed funeral, cremation and cemetery providers that include affiliates of Service Corporation International, 1929 Allen Parkway, Houston, Texas. Though Besthoff's actual birthday, Oct. 27, was a few days away, the celebration gathered family and friends: the Besthoffs' daughters Valerie Besthoff and Jane Steiner with Rodney Steiner and their daughter Sydney Steiner and cousins in from throughout the state, NOMA Deputy Director Ann Banos, NOMA board President Mike Siegel, Lee Ledbetter (whose company designed the sculpture garden), Bill Goldring,Ellen Johnson and Dr. Ronnie Swartz, Marshall Hevron, Basi and Michael Carbine, Liz Sloss, Julie George and Ted George, Sybil and Blair Favrot, Penny Francis, Dana and Steve Hansel, Susu and Andrew Stall, Carol and Tom Reese, Wayne Amedee, Michael Smith, Beth and Austin Lavin, Marianne Cohn, Catherine Burns Tremaine, former NOMA Director John Bullard, Louisette Brown and artist George Dunbar. We commissioned our first work, which happened to be by George Rickey, and George was really delighted with the commission. Without his amazing generosity and support, the Contemporary Arts Center would not have been able to grow into one of the largest and most influential Artists Spaces in the country. Besthoff prevailed. 76 times WATCH. The building, designed by Skidmore, Owings and Merrill in 196062 and featuring an 18-foot granite sculptural fountain designed by Isamu Noguchi, became the headquarters of K&B Incorporated, a family-owned drugstore chain founded by Besthoffs grandfather in 1905. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. So we thought it was a good time. Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window), Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window), Click to share on Pocket (Opens in new window), Click to share on Telegram (Opens in new window), Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window), Click to share on Skype (Opens in new window). besthoff family net worth By on June 12, 2022. jackie gleason orchestra discography; coutinho salary per week 2021 Absolutely.RP:What goals would you and Mrs. Besthoff like to achieve over the next five yearsand morewith the sculpture garden?SB:Wed like to add a few pieces. I believe he accomplished that goal. See highlights of the Sculpture Garden in a virtual tour produced in partnership with the Google Arts & Culture Initiative. Some were re-used, but a lot of times we had to design bases. Mr. Platt has been at the helm of this large company since 2012, a company that provides offshore service vessels to energy companies. I was involved in the discussions, and I have a lot of practical experience on how to do it. And we zero in on particular artists. From there, we commissioned a few pieces, bought a few pieces. Louisiana (3) New York (2) Refine Your Search Results. employees n/a Sydney Johnson Besthoff, III, of New Orleans, Louisiana, died at his home on Saturday, February 26, 2022. Besthoff was part of the family that ran what became a seven-state drug store franchise with a distinctive purple color theme and popular local commercials. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is home to more than 90 sculptures by renowned artists from around the world, set within a picturesque landscape of native Louisiana trees and plants. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. It was Sydneys last outing, and so memorable. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sydney J Besthoff. Check Full Reputation Profile Sydney was an amazing person . (Josh Brasted Photo), Louisette Brown, George Dunbar, Susan Taylor and Mike Siegel at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Another thing is that because New Orleans is built on an alluvial plain, and there are no hills, the highest elevation is two feet above the next highest elevation.RP:Thats amazing, because it feels a bit hilly. NEW ORLEANS Sydney Besthoff, the man who was the third generation leader of the iconic K&B Drug Stores, who also gifted the city with several locations where the arts could be enjoyed, has. We took out about 60 trees that were diseased and put in 125. (The Times-Picayune archive). Check all background information that MyLife has gathered. Check Full Reputation Profile Therefore, it has to maintain its mystique as an elitist operation. What information about Sydney are you looking for? He also serves on the board of the New Orleans Museum of Art. The collection is on view at the Foundations headquarters on historic Lee Circle and is open to the public. More public-interest shows. One thing we knew was that if we didnt enclose it or fence it, we would have vandalism problems, but the landscape architect designed it so you wouldnt have views beyond the fence. * The other websites referenced on this site are owned and operated by their respective companies, and the associated trademarks and logos are the property of those companies. to see who they are and learn about them, based on information from public records and government sources. Photo by 2nd Story Creative/Cat Landrum. A portion of the pieces have to be shown on a continuing basis. "The Sydney" honors individuals who have demonstrated outstanding commitment to the visual arts - the original Sydney being the first recipient this night. We specifically wanted to get away from the Italian Renaissance and the French formal look, which most sculpture gardens adopt for some reason. Wangechi Mutu, The Seated III, 2019. Thomas Walsh is an independent radio producer and audio engineer who lives in New Orleans. That happened by accident, Walda Besthoff said, because Florence Besthoff, the co-founders wife, had been sent out to find a good price for paper that, in the days before shopping bags, would be used to wrap every purchase. Perfect in its own way. What are my kids going to do with the pieces when I die? Some of my fondest memories of Sydney and Walda are walking in Chelsea togethergoing from gallery to gallery, pacing ourselves so that we could make the most of our time and then talking about what we had seen over a quick lunch so we could get back to the galleries. Its currently admission-free. Were it not for his generosity and ongoing commitment, we would not be here today. Among the key things not talked about in the art world are the pricing arrangements, which are always confused. Sydney and Walda Besthoff at CAC exhibition opening, October 2018. Susan M. Taylor According to Taylor, Besthoff was the first ever recipient of the City of New Orleans Arts Award in 1980, and was recognized with a Louisiana Humanities Lifetime Achievement Award in 1997. Usually, we work from that standpoint rather than use a scattershot approach.RP:What things would you recommend to someone interested in serious collecting?SB:First, you have to do a lot of readingthe trade press, the brochuresand know enough to decide on your area of concentration. The "Photorealism: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Collection" exhibit is a plateau for the Besthoffs. Thanks, Sydney for the support, mentorship and friendship. New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 | Map In 2003, the Besthoffs provided the seed money and initial works for a sculpture garden to fit harmoniously within the landscape surrounding the New Orleans Museum of Art. Photo by @yas.thecreator on Instagram. Besthoff was chairman and CEO of K&B, the retail drug store chain (sold to the Rite Aid Corporation in 1997), who with Walda Besthoff have been longtime art collectors and arts supporters, among the co-founders of the Contemporary Arts Center (he eventually donated the building it is in), and initiators, sponsors and benefactors of the sculpture garden, opened in 2003. Sydney Besthoff:Originally, we were very interested in collecting antique furniture. The great work we have ahead of us, the artists we will present, the ideas and artworks that have yet to be imagined, will all find their home here and will live on as an extension of his legacy. And I can do pretty much anything. 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