Irises

A week ago the sculpture garden held an Iris Viewing Festival. Since I did not get to go, I thought I'd make point of taking some photos of the irises still in bloom. Irises are placed in a number of areas along the garden paths. To see close up shots of them click here and here.

Panorama of The Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden

Here are some shots of the sculpture garden from both ends.

Additions to The Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden

It’s been a few years since I visited The Sydney and Walda Bestoff Sculpture Garden, which is adjacent to the New Orleans Museum of Art. Since my last journey through the garden, the following sculptures have been added. The guide at the garden told me that there are plans to add even more in the future.


Jaume Plensa, Overflow, stainless steel


Saul Baizerman, Aurora, hammered copper







George Rodrigue, We Stand Together, steel, aluminum, chrome and polychrome acrylic paint



Leslie Dill, Standing Man with Radiating Words, bronze


Giacomo Manzù, Large Seated Cardinal, bronze

Dawn DeDeaux

Dawn DeDeaux’s “Steps Home” is a work made up of three steps, a frequent sight for some who returned to New Orleans after Katrina. Attempts to place this illuminated sculpture in the Frecnh Quarter were denied. This piece has also provoked letters to the editor o the Times-Picayune.

Paul Willinski

Paul Willinski’s “Emergency Response Unit” is a modified FEMA-like trailer. Here are some shots as I circled the unit. Supposedly the extended side can slide back into the main part. It serves as a solar and wind powered mobile artist’s studio. The artist intended this as a hopeful installation for displaced or visiting artists following Katrina. This piece was originally placed in the Lower Ninth Ward and later it was moved to an area near the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA).

Canto Profile

Ernest Trova's "Canto Profile" was placed on the median west of Bonnabel Boulevard. It is also part of a beautification project by Jefferson Parish.

Cypress Rows West

Monumental Holistic 4

Betty Gold's "Monumental Holistic 4" was placed on the median east of Bonnabel Boulevard. It is part of a beautification project by Jefferson Parish.

Cypress Rows East

Intersection of Bonnabel and Veterans

In a recent effort to beautify this intersection where Bonnabel and Veterans meet, Jefferson Parish installed two sculptures on loan from the New Orleans Museum of Art. The landscape architect, Greg Cantrell of Kenner, designed the areas where the sculptures were placed. Below are photos of the intersection.

Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden

To the left of the New Orleans Museum of Art is a five-acre sculpture garden. Sydney and Walda Besthoff donated forty-one pieces to the museum. The other pieces came from NOMA's permanent collection. The garden reopened the same day that the museum reopened - Sunday, March 5. It was closed because of damage from Hurricane Katrina.


Gates to sculpture garden


Henry Moore, Reclining Mother and Child, bronze


Jacques Lipchitz, Sacrifice III, bronze


Ossip Zadkine, La Poetesse, bronze

Pierre Auguste Renoir, Venus Victorious, bronze


Antoine Bourdelle, Hercules the Archer, bronze
This used to be located on the front steps of the New Orleans Museum of Art.


Sorel Etrog, Large Pulcinella, bronze


Lynn Chadwick, Two Seated Figures, bronze


Aristide Maillot, Venus without Arms, bronze


Barbara Hepworth, River Form, bronze


Stephen de Staebler, Standing Man with Outstretched Arm, bronze


Arman, Pablo Casals' Obliesk, bronze