He loved to pull out blueprints of buildings and the neighborhood and walk me through them. to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. Resides in New York, NY. Since then Sydneys focused on philanthropy; among his donations is the Sydney & Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden in City Park. He was 94. So, there was no tax benefit in giving the sculptures to the museum. 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. employees n/a SB:I did put some conditions on the gift. And I can do pretty much anything. Mr. Besthoff and the CAC entered my life in 1984. 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. And what a legacy he created. view. By using our site, you agree to our use of cookies. SB:We had just bought the K&B building a couple of years before. It was already viewed
Theres lots of shrubbery, and the fence will be covered in five years. So itll be hidden from exterior viewsexcept for certain cut-throughs in the shrubbery. Submit your address to receive email notifications about news and activities from NOMA. There was a problem saving your notification. It continues to inspire artists and entrepreneurs in New Orleans and around the world. 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. Some pieces were already on plinths when they were here at the K&B Plaza. The best hidden gems and little known destinations - straight to your inbox. 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. Menashe Kadishman, Open Suspense, 1968. The architectural concept has no straight lines, everything is curved. We use cookies to personalize & enhance your experience. Sydney J Besthoff (born 1927) Sydney J Besthoff 1927 Born c. 1927 Last Known Residence Orleans County, Louisiana United States Summary Sydney J Besthoff of Orleans County, Louisiana United States was born c. 1927. In art, as in business, he was always highly motivated, and he was goal-oriented, she said. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. SB:I think art right now is having a real renaissance, in that more people are interested in it, theyre talking about it, and museums are still doing very well in terms of attendance. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. 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. You'll receive your first newsletter soon! He was 94. 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. (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. 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. We would stand by watching as the works soared above us, landing exactly on the proposed site. Theyre not what the artist would sell the work for in a perfect market. "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. Your entry has exceeded the maximum character limit. He was 94. New Orleans, Louisiana 70124 | Map There will be a celebration of his life in the spring. Over the course of the next 20 years, Sydney worked in every aspect of the business and became general manager. You dont think of it as an elitist thing.SB:Thats true. It was more on a coincidental basis. "Sydneys vision, passion, and dedication to the arts are unparalleled. Other sculptures didnt need bases because they sit directly on the ground. 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. E. John Bullard, then the art museums director, suggested that the couple donate their holdings to the museum. In Memory Of Sydney Johnson Besthoff, III. Photo by 2nd Story Creative/Cat Landrum. Love New Orleans? In November 2003, the five-acre Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened at the New Orleans Museum of Art. Since the 1970s, Sydney and Walda Besthoff have specialized in collecting modern and contemporary sculpture, in addition to photorealist painting. The Noguchi at the time was inoperativeand I had to get it to work. Susan M. Taylor Its not classed with professional football, but there is a surge in attendance. 76 times
We were talking about artspeak earlier today. We were not as knowledgeable before. In the early years of the Center, Sydney led the first fundraising campaign securing major donations from national corporations. The award is a star-shaped maquette by Frank Stella, who is creating a larger version that will be in the sculpture garden. After serving in the Army during World War II, he graduated from the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania in 1949. 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. It features 50 sculptures, 41 of them donated by the Besthoffs' foundation . 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. government sources. SYDNEY BESTHOFF III (CHAIRMAN) $0 + Show more. My wife thinks we can add 10. The foundation is located in New Orleans, LA. The K&B building atLee Circle is known for its collection of art inside and out. He never stopped working toward his goal to establish New Orleans as an important contemporary arts city. A successful New Orleans business executive and philanthropist, Sydneys vision allowed for the establishment of the Contemporary Arts Center in 1976. Thats important. 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. 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. K&B was more than a drugstore. There are no words to express how much he will be missed and how much I will miss him. Sydney Besthoff, longtime K&B drugs executive and patron of the arts, dies at 94, Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Thats the big difference. Sydney was celebrated as one of the 300 people who have made New Orleans, New Orleans.. 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. 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. 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. Sydney and his wife Walda continued to support the CAC every year I was around. 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. 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. The "Photorealism: The Sydney and Walda Besthoff Collection" exhibit is a plateau for the Besthoffs. New Orleans Museum of Art Sydney Besthoff never stopped looking for pieces for the garden, said Susan Taylor, the museums director. Besthoff is also known in local art circles as the visionary behind the Contemporary Arts Center. I asked a few of our past directors and trustees to share their memories; I encourage you to read them, below.As Board, Emeritus, and Staff, we hold Sydney's memory close with appreciation for all he has done for us and our community. Well have to find some categories and concepts that they feel they would like to have. This profile was gathered from multiple public and
LEARN MORE, Stroll along meandering walking paths and identify all 97 works of art. He was always there for the Center and ready to provide whatever was needed. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. He still owns the building though, and, even after the donation, it still contains a sizable art collection. K&B was sold to Rite Aid in 1997. I think we can add as many as 25 pieces to the garden. 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. 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 Send a note, share a story or upload a photo. Ugo Rondinone,The Sun, 2018. 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. Leave a memory or share a photo or video below to show your support. For that to happen, there were only two art collectorsin town who could pull it off: Walda and Sydney Besthoff. For example, the only national art market is the auction house system, and that is the only way that anybody who is interested can know what art is truly worth on a public basis. And thats one of the funniest things you have to learn. You have permission to edit this article. 1960s, Walda and Sydney Besthoff. And you have to recognize that. Just open to the public. What concerns did you have? A distinguished collector who celebrated a distinguished artist with not one, but two works for the garden. 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. 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. 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. 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. Family, friend, or fan, this family history biography is for you to remember Sydney J Besthoff. The garden was to be named after my wife and myself. You see the sculptures in a complete surround basis. One of the things that makes the garden relatively unique is that it has all of these different concepts built in. DOWNLOAD, See highlights of the Sculpture Garden in a virtual tour produced in partnership with the Google Arts & Culture Initiative. I have never worked with anyone more focused and passionate. Sydney J Besthoff, 95. Ph: 504.658.4100 I got really interested, and that started me off. Learn more in our Privacy Policy. 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. 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. In the early 1970s, when he bought the John Hancock Insurance Co. building on the former Lee Circle for K&Bs headquarters, he was fascinated by Mississippi Fountain, an Isamu Noguchi sculpture topped with a fountain on the buildings plaza. To view and sign the guest book, please visit www.lakelawnmetairie.com. 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. 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 New Orleans Museum of . Its a real English countryside garden, in the style of Capability Brown. I have never worked with anyone more focused on realizing the full magnitude of such an important project. Weve rounded up a list of business men who have proven their business acumen and made a fortune for themselves. It was thrilling.. And that required a fair amount of discussion. An addition to the world-renowned Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden opened in May 2019 with a ceremony marking the occasion. Hes a contributing editor for Sculpture and focuses on contemporary art and design. 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. 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.". to see possible family members, friends, co-workers, and associates found from multiple government records, social and public sources. She is currently a trustee of the New Orleans Museum of Art. Wednesday, October 18, 2017. Browse Locations. (Josh Brasted Photo), Catherine Burns Tremaine and John Bullard at Sydney Besthoff's 90th Birthday Party at the Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. Sydneys long relationship with NOMA began in 1992 when he was first appointed to the Board of Trustees. Its not just the artists who are usually not so business-like or organized, its the dealers as well. LEARN MORE, Relive the excitement of the grand openingof the Besthoff Sculpture Garden expansion in May 2019. Just two weeks ago, on February 11, 2022, Sydney supervised the installation of Wangechi Mutus Crocodylus. "The CAC was once the headquarters of K&B, Katz & Besthoff, which grew to become the largest privately-held drugstore chain in America. With over 1,900 locations, Dignity Memorial providers proudly serve over 375,000 families a year. 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. Sydney Besthoff 90th birthday soiree a milestone occasion. Watch a video in celebration of that momentous expansion, which added 6.5 acres and 27 contemporary works to the garden. In an interview about the litigation, an acquaintance described Besthoff as brilliant, beautifully educated and tough as nails.. 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 all shared a joy for seeing art in public, outdoor spaces. 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. You are already missed. 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. 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. A distinguished collector who celebrated a distinguished artist with not one, but two works for the garden. RP:Any other ways that the modern/contemporary art market could be more facilitating to collectors?SB:As you know, the modern/contemporary art world is an elitist operationat best. Please note that submissions will not appear immediately. Reviews help
We would stand by watching as the works soared above us, landing exactly on the proposed site. Share Your Memories of Sydney and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden Here: Wednesday, October 18, 2017. We sited each sculpture where we thought it was besta four-way mutual discussionmyself, the museum director, the architect, and the landscape architect. 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. We took out about 60 trees that were diseased and put in 125. RP:Do you think that the art world needs to be more business-like, and, if so, how?SB:I could talk for days about that. Mr. Platt has been at the helm of this large company since 2012, a company that provides offshore service vessels to energy companies. 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. Also, the art dealers could explain their art better. Help tell the story of your loved ones unique life. 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. 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. RP:How is buying a sculpture different for you and Mrs. Besthoff now compared to the first purchases?SB:Well, of course, its much more expensive now than 30 years ago. The University of Pennsylvania in 1949 your sydney besthoff net worth to receive email notifications news! 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