function slideInModal(upOrDown) { var signup = It was just magical. And she relishes the process that comes with each new exhibit. // Hide the errors This is a carousel. Oct 21, 2022, By He hired Andre Tchelistche , godfather of American wine, and his young apprentice, Marco Cappelli, to make elegant and refined wines under the label Swanson. I opened the French Laundry to celebrate the work of the farmers, fishermen, winemakers, foragers, and other purveyors who work directly with the land of this beautiful place. She also is featured prominently in her stepson Sean Wilsey's memoir Oh the Glory of it All in which the author describes her as his "evil stepmother". By the time the company was sold, a few years ago, I was its longest-serving employee. She recounts a recent party for museum directors that took place in the de Youngs tower on one of those rare San Francisco nights where there was no fog: It was so beautiful. contentType: 'application/json; charset=UTF-8', We interviewed and photographed peoplesome of whom appear in my book, some of whom dontwhose spirit, innovation, and creative gifts we think define this magical place today. //after successful signup, hide the signup bar after 5 seconds function setNewsletterCookie(cookieName, value) { My lunch, if Im home, its on a tray with my dog. The drive from San Francisco to the Napa Valley takes only a little more than an hour, . As Herb Caen used to say, 'There's nothing older than yesterday's news.' She also told her son that she had cancer and would "be dead by Christmas," but mysteriously, lived on -- with no explanation as to her recovery. ", A Clean, Well-Lighted Place for Books has already lined up Wilsey for an appearance in May. $modal.find('.newsletter-signup-thank-you').fadeIn('fast'); Its not random. FIESTA Da de los Muertos celebrates life with music, dancing, art, and flowers. When I first arrived at the French Laundry, Napa Valleys iconic images of vineyard-latticed hills dotted with chateaus and bountiful farms and orchards resonated with me. In fact, doing so is something of a family tradition. San Francisco philanthropist Dede Wilsey underwrites the festival's dance series, which has featured dancers from American Ballet Theatre, Bandaloop, Bolshoi Ballet, . . + '' And no civilization has ever survived where you have only rich and poor. What was your first purchase (and how much did you pay for it)? And the thing is, we come from wicker. (Well, almost. My fantasy was to be a gentleman farmer with three grapevines and art. Alexis and I were married there on the front lawn, Trevor recalls, and our son was christened here. function checkCookies() { Stepmother of Sean Wilsey. Her husband echoes the sentiment. There was a sham wedding to trial lawyer Melvin Belli (who'd represented Jack Ruby) in a Shinto ceremony in Japan that was annulled after 36 days; Montandon wanted the marriage to be official, but Belli refused to have it legally recorded. + '
' ctx.customSerializer(); } else { found = true; + '<\/div>' The home saw an addition by Crabb in the 1880s and a near total rebuild after a devastating fire more than a century later, in 1997. // Check if ouibounce exist before calling ouibounce It never ceases to amaze me.. At least $95 million | 78 years old | United States Primary Position: CEO, Wilsey Properties . Pin. He arrived in Napa Valley at age 12 when his parents, Eleanor and Francis, bought a house and moved the family up from San Francisco. In San Francisco, its unapologetic old-world glamour; in Oakville, its the perfect combo of chintz and prints, totally comfortable without ever sacrificing style.. Early in life, he decided that emotions "had made my mom crazy, and I would not succumb to that." $email.focus(); } } bottom: 0 By } Wilsey is referring to her elder son, Trevor Traina, who moved to Vienna earlier this year to become the United States Ambassador. // Signup validation Thats me with my husband and partner in crime, Trevor Traina. Festival Napa Valley is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. Although the exact amount she has donated over the years is not known, Wilsey helped bring in more than $200 million to rebuild the de Young Museum. } I am truly a happy camper!, Dianne Martinez, Nimbus Arts first ArtPass holder, The caliber and quality of Nimbus Arts programming is exemplary. Times have changed since Buchanan was the ambassador and this is apparent in the security team that accompanies Traina and his family everywhere in Austria. } .fail(function(jqXHR, textStatus){ Ive forgotten which museum its in, but a Degas of the ballet studio with all the dancers in tutus. William Van Meter in Partnership With Royal Salute Scotch Whisky. Subscribe to our newsletter to get the breaking news, eye-opening interviews, and incisive critical takes that drive the conversation forward. . setTimeout(function() { link.href = fileName; I am thankful for what Nimbus Arts has done for the community and look forward to continue working with them to increase access to art for all of Napa Countys residents and visitors., Diane Dillon, Supervisor, District 3, County of Napa, Everyone at Nimbus is friendly, accommodating and supportive. Im doing a good job and most of the people who really dont like me Ive never met anyway. var $modal = $('#ouibounce-modal'); } Dede Wilsey, born Diane Dow Buchanan, was the great-granddaughter of the founder of Dow Chemical Co. I didnt feel any better. He is heir to a name that has long been synonymous with Napa. Her father had been an ambassador to Luxembourg and Austria, and chief of protocol to President Dwight D. Eisenhower. + '<\/div>' She is a grandmother on the loose, with good taste. He's a very complicated character who had a complicated childhood and turned it around. "Oh the Glory of It All," the coming-of-age story of troubled rich kid Sean Wilsey, won't arrive in bookstores until mid-May, but it's already the talk of the party circuit -- and is likely to become the juiciest gossip in years when the book is excerpted in the New Yorker in its April 11 issue, hitting newsstands this week. }; And living in a house like this, you realize that a great big kitchen and a great big porch are really where you want to be., For his part, Trevor adds that even the houses indoor living can feel somewhat alfresco: I joke that were camping here, because we have 18th-century wallpaper. Though they both grew up in high-style households, Trevor says, were very casual and we arent at all fancy here., Trevor and Alexis are undoubtedly the chicest couple I know, says design impresario Ken Fulk, a close friend. } } To read an interview with Sean Wilsey, author of "Oh the Glory of It All," log on to www.newyorker.com. It is both an honor and a source of ongoing wonder to see all the ways that art makes us think, brings us joy, and makes the world a better place., Dana Johnson, Nimbus Arts Co-Founder and Board President, In any discussion about Napa Valley culture, the first two words that invariably come up are wine and food. But theres a third dimension to the region- the arts- that has been steadily expanding in scope and inspiring residents and visitors to enjoy and embrace their creative side. var cookieSettings = { They married in 1969. Maupin doesn't think so. + '
' Festival Napa Valley was founded in 2006. Diane "Dede" Wilsey. See our Privacy Policy for more information about cookies. Its popularity led a group of local leaders to imagine a festival that would define Napa Valley as a cultural destination. She's sitting in an armchair in her Napa Valley homethe place where she is most happyher 10-year old Maltese at her feet. }); */ Theres just a lack of camaraderie in this city anymore, and thats really sad., Speaking of camaraderie, is Wilsey seeing anyone special? Once it is yours, you can do whatever you want with it. Just fabulous. Its the most beautiful picture of a girl in a fabulous negligee, lying on a sofa reading a book. Alexis Trainas ode to Napa Valley, which appears in the November issue of Town & Country, went to the printers before the devastating fires broke out in California earlier this month. That's the most powerful kind of memoir. Please join me in supporting Nimbus., Nimbus Arts We may earn commission on some of the items you choose to buy. But she didn't handle stress well. var initOuibounce = setInterval(function() { However, she has never seen herself as one and doesnt want to come across as frivolous. $modal.show(); And I love the fact that its a constant learning experience and then you work with wonderful people., Wilsey has just finished her latest project with the museums. Now theyre reinventing the narrative of wineand doing a good job at it. + '<\/i>' Wilsey and I are 30 minutes into an hour-long conversation, and I . //default prefix is 'artnet_newsletter_' var expirationMinutes = settings.expiration_minutes; while (c.charAt(0)==' ') { head.appendChild(link); The Best Carry-On Backpacks for Every Traveler, The Best Luxury Luggage for Traveling in Style, A Guide to 8 Hotels in The Reluctant Traveler. setTimeout(function(){ the San Francisco Fine Art Museums nabbed it. var paywallPagesRegex = /^\/subscribe|subscribe-confirm|my-account(\/|$)/; Now living in Los Angeles, she's writing her own memoir. What does the story tell readers about high-society life? .addClass( 'slideIn' + upOrDown ); appendNewsletterSignup(); More than 200 artists, wineries, resorts, theaters, restaurants, chefs, and vintners participate each year, joining with audiences, patrons, staff and volunteers to create a vibrant and vital community. There was a very nice dealer who we knew in London. }) We have such diversity in our exhibitions, and its a learning experience every time we open an exhibition. A new book offers a primer on how to spot, seize, and exploit and create lucky breaks More, Get a high-tech upgrade with innovative televisions, vacuums, purifiers and LED face masks More, Interior designer Sergio Mercado worked with a Palm Beach family to create a serene oasis in the sky More, The luxury lifestyle brand opens its first guest house retreat in the Meatpacking District More, The dream team of interior designer Ken Fulk and Major Food Group brought the Italian restaurant to Dallas, More, Celebrate French haute couture and the iconic LV artisans with these coffee table books More, The James F.D. In October, she funded the museums acquisition of Canalettos Venice, the Grand Canal looking East with Santa Maria della Salute. 2023 Artnet Worldwide Corporation. Wendy Sheanin, events manager at the store, said that anything associated with McSweeney's or bearing the word McSweeney's pricks the interest of readers. Website design by Compass Marketing, website development by StoryWorkz. setNewsletterCookie('recentlyShown', 1); Steel and Traina split up in 1995. Everybodys psyche is high, and now theyre very much looking forward to the new director, Wilsey says. ". Montandon was awarded $20,000 a month, which she said was too little to maintain the lifestyle to which she'd become accustomed. Wilsey's family got a direct thanks from the Trump administration for their past support . His addition to our metal arts team sharpened our offerings and his popular programs have proven to be a cut above! Sean Wilsey's charming manner, the quality of his writing and his connection to McSweeney's will lend an already compelling story some extra cachet, booksellers said, as will the bird's-eye view into the lifestyles of the rich, if not famous. At Nimbus Arts, Neil teaches a myriad of dynamic and very popular blade smithing classes. Which works or artists are you hoping to add to your collection this year? I thought if I buy another one, then I would feel better. Its like having a mini-course every time we have a new exhibition. After it was damaged by the 1989 earthquake, Wilsey single-handedly raised the necessary funds to build a new museum. } googletag.pubads().setTargeting("width", w), googletag.pubads().setTargeting("height", h), 1 == isnewsletter && googletag.pubads().setTargeting("isfirstpage", ['Y', pagetypeforce] ) w = pagetype + 20 * Math.round(w / 20), h = pagetype + 20 * Math.round(h / 20), googletag.cmd.push(function() { // Extends jQuery with a function to serialize to JSON while (i--) { Paul Pelosi's DUI arrest over Memorial Day Weekend in Napa has become major fodder for right-wing loons who have been misinformed that he's skirting any charges, but society doyenne Dede Wilsey . Michael Taylor decorated Trevors parents homes, and his grandmothers house in Newport, Rhode Island, was done in the 1960s by Valerian Rybar; Thomas Britt decorated the homes of Alexis parents. Hotel Mousai Puerto Vallarta, Room Request: Four Seasons Hotel Bogota Casa Medina, New Restaurants and Bars in New York City, Clare V., Mulberry and More New Retail Openings in NYC, Our Favorite New Tech Gadgets and Devices Right Now, Carbone Opens in The Dallas Design District, Stylish New Reads From Louis Vuitton and YSL, Get behind-the-scenes pictures on Instagram. Jeanine Willi Markie pagetypeforce = pagetypeurl.substr(pagetypeurl.length - 3); info@nimbusarts.org, 2023 nimbus arts tax ID: 27-1503762, Nimbus Arts There were two choices: Be without one museum or rebuild it. e.preventDefault(); "My parents always had friends around and there was a lot of entertaining, and summer was . . Son of Pat Montandon and the late Al Wilsey, stepson of Dede Wilsey. Sean Wilsey was Al Wilsey's third son, from his third marriage. But Harry de Wildt, a fixture on the San Francisco society scene for 38 years, was simultaneously curious about and dismissive of the memoir. Reading between the lines, a reader could glean that rich people have problems, just like everyone else, but have the money to solve their troubles differently -- sending problem children out of their lives, in hopes that someone else can fix them. Dede Wilsey said she has no intention of reading the memoir. Dede Wilsey has been a supporter of the de Young Museum in San Francisco since 1998, but she only began collecting art for herself a few years later, when she was looking for a place to put her . 2023 Napa Valley Festival Association, a nonprofit public benefit corporation. var SignupForm = { . Neil Sucheck has been collecting production knives for about 30 years, searching for the perfect do-all EDC (everyday carry) knife. All Rights Reserved.var w = Math.max(document.documentElement.clientWidth, window.innerWidth || 0), I was at boarding school when my parents (pictured here) called to say, We just bought a vineyard in Napa Valley! Then Montandon became hostess of a TV show, where she caught Al Wilsey's eye. + '
' She is the chairman emeritus of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. // ------------------------------------------------------------------- 3 of 17 4 of 17 Boaz Mazor and Dede Wilsey pose with models during the Opera Ball, celebrating the opening night of the San Francisco Opera Sept. 9, 2016 in San Francisco, Calif. Leah Millis/The . Dede Wilsey. }, } else { Dede Wilsey has been a supporter of the de Young Museum in San Francisco since 1998, but she only began collecting art for herself a few years later, when she was looking for a place to put her energy after the death of her husband, dairy and real-estate tycoon Al Wilsey. Unless you're Sean Wilsey, who wrote a book and is bringing it all out into the open. if (getCookie(cookieNames[i]).length) { Its as if shes seeing it for the first time. I bought it in memory of Ann Getty. + 'Signup failed. Napa; SF Insider: Things to do; Wine Country; Monterey-Carmel; Real Estate. Website design by Compass Marketing, websitedevelopmentbyStoryWorkz. Needless to say, we were immediately smitten. The drive from San Francisco to the Napa Valley takes only a little more than an hour, but for tech entrepreneur and IfOnly CEO Trevor Traina and his wife, Swanson Vineyards creative director Alexis Swanson Traina, the two places feel as far away from each other as possible. . map, photo credits | site by tmarks | dev by, 2023 nimbus arts tax ID: 27-1503762, Galbraith, Mayor of St. Helena and Supporter, Continued Support from Napa County Art and Culture Advisory Committee, Benefits of Artmaking on Mental & Emotional Health, Napa Valley Coffee Roasting Co.s Nimbus Creativity Blend, CL 1 Foundations in Clay: Hand Building and Wheel Throwing Techniques, PD 1-2 High School Master Artists Open Studio. Her father was, variously, the U.S. ambassador to Luxembourg and Austria, as well as the White House Chief of Protocol under Dwight Eisenhower. } + ' @media (max-width: 575px){ #ouibounce-modal {display:none !important;} }' }, '