K&B was more than a drugstore. Did you know everyone on this list? 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. He will be missed. "And, as it so happened, I knew at the time that the sculpture was worth a fair amount of money. By the time of the sale to Rite Aid Corp., K&B, as it came to be known, operated 200 stores with about 4,500 employees and did about $750 million in business annually, his wife, Walda Besthoff said, adding that the K&B network constituted the largest privately held drugstore chain in the United States. Check all background information that MyLife has gathered. You are already missed. Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. 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 foundation is located in New Orleans, LA. The sculpture garden was in the planning stages for about 10 years. Sydney was an amazing person . Since the 1970s, Sydney and Walda Besthoff have specialized in collecting modern and contemporary sculpture, in addition to photorealist painting. 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. 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. And there are no keep off the grass signs. A distinguished collector who celebrated a distinguished artist with not one, but two works for the garden. 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. Thank you! 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. Jeppe Hein, Mirror Labyrinth, 2017. Browse Locations. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. A native New Orleanian, Besthoff graduated from the Lawrenceville School in Lawrenceville, New Jersey. lockwood and co tv show auditions; nicole guerriero house Of course, anything that wed do would have to be in conjunction with the museum. So, we wanted something else to collect. We all shared a joy for seeing art in public, outdoor spaces. Sydney J Besthoff, 95. He and his wife Walda Besthoff created the sculpture garden at the New Orleans Museum of Art that bears their names. DOWNLOAD, See highlights of the Sculpture Garden in a virtual tour produced in partnership with the Google Arts & Culture Initiative. Sydney and Walda were always the first to arrive, warmly greeting the crane operators from American Machinery. RP:Writers too, right?SB:Well, I dont know if Id say that. Post or read reviews for Sydney Besthoff He never stopped working toward his goal to establish New Orleans as an important contemporary arts city. Sydney will forever be treasured by the Contemporary Arts Center. This third-party data is then indexed through methods similar to those used by Google or Bing to create a listing. By Rebekajean We stood and watched as Crocodylus swung over the fence and gently landed on the site near the pavilion. Considered one of the world's top sculpture gardens, it is filled with works mainly from the Besthoffs' collection. The architectural concept has no straight lines, everything is curved. (The Times-Picayune archive). Sydney and Walda Besthoff are the recipients of the International Sculpture Centers 2004 Patrons Recognition Award. Watch Now Explore Online The K&B building atLee Circle is known for its collection of art inside and out. 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. See Some were re-used, but a lot of times we had to design bases. One interesting things is that pricing is different geographicallyin New York, New Orleans, Europe, and across America. 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. In the garden, we inherited 100-year-old pines and 200-year-old oak trees. Photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee, K&B Drug Building, now the CAC, ca. Robert Preece, a resident of New Orleans in the mid-1980s, is now based in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Sometimes its dramatic.SB:Thats a very astute observation. He loved the chase. What conditions did you require? LEARN MORE, Architects, landscape architects, lighting designers, and arborists were among the contractors who made it all possible. 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 . 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. Lake Lawn Metairie Funeral Home is in charge of arrangements, which are incomplete. Kezia Kamenetz is a native to southern Louisiana and lives in the Marigny neighborhood of New Orleans currently. 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. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. He pursued the collecting of sculptures just as eagerly as he had pursued the acquisition of drugstores, Walda Besthoff said. Now we think we know what we are interested in. MyLife aggregates publicly available information from government, social, and other sources, plus personal reviews written by others. "The CAC was once the headquarters of K&B, Katz & Besthoff, which grew to become the largest privately-held drugstore chain in America. "Jay Weigel, Director (1996-2013)"When the late Luba Glade paid a visit to Sydney Besthoff asking if a bunch of artists could utilize an empty warehouse located at 900 Camp Street for the purpose of presenting the contemporary arts of New Orleans - he said yes. to see who they are and learn about them, based on information from public records and government sources. If youve ever wondered who the richest people in New Orleans are, theres good reason for it. Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden is ranked #14 out of 29 things to do in New Orleans. The Foundations collection began in 1977 and has grown to more than 100 works. In November 2003, the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened at the New Orleans Museum of Art. It operates on its own principles. We have lots of information about Sydney: religious views are listed as unknown, ethnicity is unknown, and political affiliation is currently a registered Democrat. The collection continues to grow, now featuring more than 90 works, representing the extraordinary range of Sydneys and Waldas taste and keen eye. There were so many artists we each included on both lists, and off we went on an incredible journey. 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. Its not classed with professional football, but there is a surge in attendance. Visit her on Facebook. In an interview about the litigation, an acquaintance described Besthoff as brilliant, beautifully educated and tough as nails.. Through my time working with him, I have been fortunate to enjoy a meaningful partnership and friendship. It was more on a coincidental basis. 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. Theyre not what the artist would sell the work for in a perfect market. For years the plot of land in City Park next to New Orleans Museum of Art was just that - but for enlightened minds, it was the perfect place for a sculpture garden. I was involved in the discussions, and I have a lot of practical experience on how to do it. The art galleries price their artists merchandise on the basis of what they think it will bring. 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. Our love and warmth go to his family and friends as they grieve this loss, and we offer deep condolences to his wife and daughters who, for so many years, shared him and his love for art with this community. My thoughts are echoed by Michael Schneider, President of the CAC Board of Trustees: "Sydney Besthoff was a giant. In another 25 years, theyll be gorgeous. 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. It was a perfect day, with the sun shining in a cloudless, blue sky. 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. Susan M. Taylor 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. The foundations collection began in 1977 and has grown significantly since. Olafur Eliasson,The Hinged View, 2017. 76 times He was a founder of the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans and past president of its board of directors. LOVE in the Garden 2019. 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. And thats one of the funniest things you have to learn. Also, the art dealers could explain their art better. The "Photorealism: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Collection" exhibit is a plateau for the Besthoffs. Ph: 504.658.4100 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, Rachel Steiner, Kevin Steiner, Sydney Steiner, Adam Shapiro, and Beth Lavin (Austin); and great-grandchildren, Ava Marcus, Amelia Lavin, and Max Lavin. Sydney and Walda Besthoff at CAC exhibition opening, October 2018. 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. He was 94. 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. We sited each sculpture where we thought it was besta four-way mutual discussionmyself, the museum director, the architect, and the landscape architect. . Bio information provided by David M. Habben (#835): Gustave Katz and Sydney Besthoff opened their first K&B Drug Store at 732 Canal St. in 1905. It has happened in the past with gifts. I think we can add as many as 25 pieces to the garden. 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. RP:What do you think needs to be done to more effectively encourage patronage of modern/contemporary art in the U.S.? 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. "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. Photo by 2nd Story Creative/Cat Landrum. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. Sydney was a giant in supplying visual art to New Orleans. It was Sydneys last outing, and so memorable. 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. We specifically wanted to have the three bridges and the walks, to have different views of the sculptures. Their unwavering vision and commitment distinguishes New Orleans from any other city in the country with one of the most important sculpture gardens in the world. Sincerely, 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. And I can do pretty much anything. He was 94. to see complete work history. She is currently a trustee of the New Orleans Museum of Art. 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. 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). We stood and watched as. It was Sydneys last outing, and so memorable. Private dealers, auctions, and galleries were all part of the hunt. Get more stories like this one delivered right to your email. So it turns out, most of the more sedate pieces are in the pine grove as you first come in, and the more contemporary pieces are on the far side. The store was full of popular store brands and soda fountains. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sydney J Besthoff. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. 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. So itll be hidden from exterior viewsexcept for certain cut-throughs in the shrubbery. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden occupies approximately eleven acres in City Park adjacent to the museum. Known as The Sydney, the lifetime achievement award honors outstanding contributions and distinguished philanthropy in the arts. Some pieces were already on plinths when they were here at the K&B Plaza. 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. Weve rounded up a list of business men who have proven their business acumen and made a fortune for themselves. Its not just the artists who are usually not so business-like or organized, its the dealers as well. Sydney Besthoff never stopped looking for pieces for the garden, said Susan Taylor, the museums director. There will be a celebration of his life in the spring. All Filters. She found loads of purple paper that a New Orleans merchant had ordered for a client who didnt like the color. But, of course, the New York galleries are notorious for this. 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. Meanwhile, Walda Besthoff has had a lifetime commitment to the performing arts, particularly theater and dance, as a performer, staffer, and patron. I loved running into him both in New Orleans and New York. Sydney and his wife Walda continued to support the CAC every year I was around. This award recognizes and honors individuals who, throughout their lifetime, have demonstrated outstanding devotion to visual arts and provided significant impact to the New Orleans Museum of Art and the city of New Orleans. people learn more about others, just like Yelp does for Louisiana (3) New York (2) Refine Your Search Results. Sydneys vision, passion, and dedication to the arts are unparalleled. SB:No. The sculptures are among them. He wasnt universally hailed, even in his own family. Menashe Kadishman, Open Suspense, 1968. And that required a fair amount of discussion. 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. From there, we commissioned a few pieces, bought a few pieces. Then we placed the sculptures. (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. Courtesy of New Orleans Museum of Art, Dear friends of the CAC,Last Saturday, the CAC's Founder, Emeritus, and Champion, Sydney Besthoff III passed away peacefully at his home. businesses, and does affect the Reputation Score. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. Anyone surprise you? We thought that sculpture was a nice adjunct, and we had an office building in downtown New Orleanswith a 20,000-square-foot plaza. Among the key things not talked about in the art world are the pricing arrangements, which are always confused. 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. You dont think of it as an elitist thing.SB:Thats true. Those were the basic conditions. Other questions:subscriberservices@theadvocate.com. * 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. Check Full Reputation Profile Marvel at the scale of the Besthoffs contributions to New Orleans and the arts by exploring the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden online, as part of the museums partnership with Google Arts & Culture. 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. What concerns did you have? This site is provided as a service of SCI Shared Resources, LLC. Whenever he set out to do something, he did it.. Mr. Platt has been at the helm of this large company since 2012, a company that provides offshore service vessels to energy companies. 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. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. On a personal basis, I now have a fairly empty plaza downstairs. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Ugo Rondinone,The Sun, 2018. We would stand by watching as the works soared above us, landing exactly on the proposed site. Love New Orleans? Photo by Camille Lenain. 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. However, after you fill up the house, theres not much you can do. 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. "Sydneys vision, passion, and dedication to the arts are unparalleled. One grant was made last year. He loved the chase, she said. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Foundation primarily provides general support. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. And what a legacy he created. And you have to recognize that. One of the things that makes the garden relatively unique is that it has all of these different concepts built in. He loved to pull out blueprints of buildings and the neighborhood and walk me through them. 990-PF . Sydney and Walda were always the first to arrive, warmly greeting the crane operators from American Machinery. 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. The memorial service and interment in Metairie Cemetery will be private. In Memory Of Sydney Johnson Besthoff, III. 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. When you go into a gallery, and they ignore you, when they know you are interested; thats part of the mystique of gallery shopping. You'll see him around town recording music, podcasts, short films, live events and radio features. You get various views, including the two in the lagoon itself. (Josh Brasted Photo), Guests attend Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. 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 couple will accept the award at a gala in their honor on Saturday, October 30, 2004 at the New Orleans Museum of Art. An addition to the world-renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in May 2019 with a ceremony marking the occasion. After serving in the Army during World War II, he graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. The excitement was even more palpable when the works arrived at the garden loaded on a flatbed truck, ready for the installation. Your name as you would like for it to appear. When it came to the installation, we had to discuss how the sculptures were to be mounted. We were talking about artspeak earlier today. Their eponymous gift to the city has become one of the most renowned outdoor art environments in the world. Since then Sydneys focused on philanthropy; among his donations is the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park. In art, as in business, he was always highly motivated, and he was goal-oriented, she said. RP:Forty-one major works is a huge gift. 2023 SCI SHARED RESOURCES, LLC. All New Orleanians owe a debt of gratitude to Sydney Besthoff. To reach Sue Strachan, send an email to socialscene@nola.com or call 504.450.5904. It is not an organized marketplace. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. The ISC had a conference here, and I went. "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. (Josh Brasted Photo). See highlights of the Sculpture Garden in a virtual tour produced in partnership with the Google Arts & Culture Initiative. government sources. Check Full Reputation Profile He still owns the building though, and, even after the donation, it still contains a sizable art collection. 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. For that to happen, there were only two art collectorsin town who could pull it off: Walda and Sydney Besthoff. Sydney Besthoff currently lives in New Orleans, LA; in the past Sydney has also lived in Mobile AL. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. Last Saturday, the CAC's Founder, Emeritus, and Champion, Sydney Besthoff III passed away peacefully at his home. LEARN MORE, Stroll along meandering walking paths and identify all 97 works of art. SB:Everyone has been ignored in galleries.RP: We actually like it sometimes, maybe.SB:Thats true. 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. Less than a year after I arrived at NOMA in 2010, Sydney, Walda, and I began a conversation around expanding the Besthoff Sculpture Garden. The CAC and the City of New Orleans are forever indebted to him and thankful for his leadership, generosity, and commitment to the community in general and the arts culture in particular. An addition to the world-renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in May 2019 with a ceremony marking the occasion. The work artists create today would not happen without institutions like the CAC and without Sydney, a benefactor with business sense, creative vision, who cared deeply for the artists in his community, and who understood the transformational power of art.In my brief time, I knew Sydney to be genuinely thrilled by art and the artworks in his collection, deeply generous and accessible, humorous and proud of the CAC. Besthoffhas had a longstanding relationship with NOMA, starting in 1992 when he was first appointed the board of trustees, serving in various capacities. Besthoff is also known in local art circles as the visionary behind the Contemporary Arts Center. Sign up for service and obituary updates. Were it not for his generosity and ongoing commitment, we would not be here today. It was already viewed Bill Goldring and Michael Smith at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. 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. This may contain information such as company name, job title, address, and time period of service. I got really interested, and that started me off. . 7) Tom Benson, Networth: 2.2 Billion Wikicommons / Andricka Hammonds Around the country, artists took over warehouses and factories, creating their own institutions for experimentation and pioneering new ideas.
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