NEW ORLEANS, LA – On Saturday, November 10, 2018, at the New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), Odyssey 2018: All That Glitters in partnership with IBERIABANK will once again celebrate NOMA and the Odyssey Ball’s integral place in New Orleans’ cultural life and history. Now in its 52nd year, this signature event has become a New Orleans legacy.
The Odyssey Ball celebrates and enhances the New Orleans Museum of Art in an evening of unparalleled elegance. Critically important to the museum and the wide community it serves, Odyssey raises the funds necessary to support NOMA’s nationally-recognized exhibitions and educational programs, which bring more than 290,000 annual visitors to the museum and Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden. This year’s event co-chairs are Robyn and Andrew Schwarz, Allison and Ben Tiller, and Nancy and Franco Valobra.
Odyssey 2018 features NOMA’s highly anticipated fall exhibition, The Orléans Collection, featuring selections from the magnificent collection of New Orleans’ namesake, Philippe II, Duke of Orléans (1689-1723). Universally praised during his lifetime, the exceptional collection was comprised of some of the most important works in the history of art. For the first time, The Orléans Collection brings together a selection of masterpieces from institutions such as the National Gallery of London, the J. Paul Getty Museum, and the National Gallery of Scotland to tell the story of the collection’s formation, its reputation, and its impact in early 18th century Paris.
Also featured in NOMA’s Great Hall is Lina Iris Viktor: A Haven. A Hell. A Dream Deferred. In her first major museum presentation, artist Lina Iris Viktor’s work at NOMA explores the factual and fantastical narratives surrounding America’s involvement in the founding of the West African nation of Liberia.
IBERIABANK is the title sponsor of Odyssey Ball. “We are thrilled to have such a strong partnership with NOMA, as IBERIABANK has been a supporter for decades,” said Hunter Hill, New Orleans Market President for IBERIABANK. “This Tricentennial exhibition will be phenomenal, and we are looking forward to celebrating at Odyssey Ball.”
The evening kicks off with the Patron Party from 7 -8 PM sponsored by Nancy and Franco Valobra, and continues with the gala from 8 PM – midnight. Provided by Élan Artists, musical entertainment will feature BoyBand, DJ Blu, and DJ Valida. Cuisine will be provided by 1718 Catering & Events.
A silent auction will allow guests to bid on artwork, trips, antiques, and one-of-a-kind experiences throughout the evening. Featured items include works by New Orleans artists George Dunbar and Regina Scully, a private dinner for 10 in a NOMA gallery provided by Palate New Orleans and Perrier Party Rentals, and a six-course dinner for four with Sommelier-selected wine pairings in the Skybox at Restaurant Daniel in NYC, accompanied by two round-trip first class tickets provided by Delta Air Lines. Guests can also bid on auction items online at 501auctions.com/odyssey.
At $100 per ticket, Odyssey 2018 is thrilled to raffle a completely handmade lady’s cuff-style bracelet by Valobra Master Jewelers, in 18 karat rose and white gold, featuring over six and one half carats of round full-cut brilliant gem-quality diamonds, pave-set in an intricate filigree-finished scrollwork. Included with the bracelet is a personal fitting session in the second-floor private salon of the Valobra Boutique on Royal Street, where the bracelet will be custom fitted to the comfort of the new owner, while sipping champagne and tasting caviar.
About NOMA and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden
The New Orleans Museum of Art, founded in 1910 by Isaac Delgado, houses nearly 40,000 art objects encompassing 5,000 years of world art. Works from the permanent collection, along with continuously changing special exhibitions, are on view in the museum’s 46 galleries Fridays from 10 AM to 9 PM; Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays from 10 AM to 6 PM; Saturdays from 10 AM to 5 PM and Sundays from 11 AM to 5 PM. NOMA offers docent-guided tours at 1 PM every Tuesday – Sunday. The adjoining Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden features work by over 60 artists, including several of the 20th century’s master sculptors. The Sculpture Garden is open seven days a week: 9 AM to 6 PM. The New Orleans Museum of Art and the Besthoff Sculpture Garden are fully accessible to handicapped visitors and wheelchairs are available from the front desk. For more information about NOMA, call (504) 658-4100 or visit www.noma.org. Museum admission is free on Wednesdays for Louisiana residents, courtesy of The Helis Foundation. Teenagers (ages 13-19) receive free admission every day through the end of the year, courtesy of The Helis Foundation.
DOWNLOAD A PDF OF THE PRESS RELEASE
For additional information and hi-res images, contact Margaux Krane: 504.658.4106 | mkrane@noma.org