Joan Davidson at the Tenth Anniversary of Westbeth 1980. Photo: Shelley Seccombe

Throughout my tenure on the board – and most importantly in my role as chair – Joan was an enthusiastic, sage and generous advisor and supporter. Always available to listen, opine and contextualize this daring and unique experiment that is Westbeth. Her dedication to the mission evident until the very end of her most extraordinary life. We will carry on her legacy – using her tireless commitment as our guiding star.
– Joe Versace, President Westbeth Board of Directors

We at Westbeth are saddened to hear of the passing of Joan Kaplan Davidson, a trailblazing preservationist and tireless advocate for the arts. As the president of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, she played an essential role in the founding of Westbeth and served as our first president. We are grateful to Joan both for her leadership in the early days and for her continued support over the years. We will continue to honor her life’s work by lifting up the very artists she sought to protect.
– Peter Madden, Westbeth Executive Director

…Ms. Davidson made her most lasting mark from 1977 to 1993 as president of the J.M. Kaplan Fund, a foundation established by her father, Jacob M. Kaplan, in 1945. The fund has a modest endowment… but it has often been the first stop for those seeking grants to save buildings, support cultural institutions or restore landmarks in New York. Under Mr. Kaplan, the foundation provided the money to save Carnegie Hall in the 1960s when no one else seemed interested. It also created Westbeth, the artists’ housing complex in Lower Manhattan that became the model for the rehabilitation of industrial buildings everywhere. Ms. Davidson managed the creation of Westbeth for her father and was its first president.
– Excerpt – NY Times Obituary Aug 11, 2023 by Enid Nemy. Photo on Home Page: Alan E.Solomon. Link

Westbeth through the years, A gallery of photos celebrating how Joan Davidson’s vision continues to resonate in the art created here.

There ae 3 pages of photos. Click on photos for enlarged versions.

Westbeth apartment 1970s. Photo Leonard Freed.

The Village Halloween Parade was started in Westbeth Courtyard in the 1970s by Parade founder Ralph Lee. Shown here is the very first parade.

Curated by Jack Dowling, Westbeth Gallery Director, celebrated the early painters at Westbeth for Westbeth's 40th Anniversary. Robert De Niro Sr, Mary Frank, Benny Andrews, Anne Tabachnick, Philipp Weischberger, Jonathan Borofsky, Irving Kreisberg, Harry Shunk, Jay Milder, Thomas Maile, Bill Anthony, Peter Ruta, Kathleen Zimmerman, Ralph Lee, John Dobbs, Lucia Salemme, Beate Wheeler, Spencer Holst, Jon D Órazio

One of the first feminist theater companies of the 1970s. co founded by playwrights Gwen Gunn, Pat Horan, Susan Yankowitz, Helen Duberstein (not shown), Sally Ordway, Christina Maile, and Dolores Walker. Their papers are in the collection of the New York Historical Society

Westbeth Icon won the Pulitzer Prize for Music

First Fridays is a year long series of music concerts by Westbeth musicians and their friends. Sponsored by Westbeth Artists Residents Council (WARC)

Readings and awards are funded annually by the Miriam Chaikin Writing Foundation. She was a noted author of children's stories, and former Literary Chair of Westbeth Artists Residents Council

Dance rehearsal in Courtyard 2000s

Westbeth Print Studio was founded in 1970 with donations of Charles Brand print presses. The 2023 Westbeth printmakers in this show included Hans Haacke, Juanita McNeely, Parviz Mohassel, Claire Rosenfeld, Cari Rosmarin, Simon Carr, Jackie Lipton, Francia Tobacman Smith , Sheila Schwid, William Kennon, and Gerry Marcus

Ze'eva Cohen and Avri Ohana exhibition featured an interview with Terry Stoller, WARC Literary Arts chair.

Dance performance in Westbeth inner courtyard, part of the Unnatural Processes exhibit at the Westbeth Gallery, curated by Valerie Hallier, Visual Arts chair of WARC.

Westbeth artist Veronica Ryan won the 2022 Turner Prize . She is also a volunteer gardener for Westbeth Beautification Committee

Poetry readings sponsored by WARC.

PEN America sponsors the Westbeth Literary Quest of PEN authors doing readings of their work in Westbeth apartments. Visitors self guided the hallways in search of apartments where the authors were reading, A green balloon at the door was a clue!

PEN author reading in Westbeth apartment

Westbeth apartment. 2019 Photo Joseph Holmes

Working with Artists Freedom Initiative, Westbeth offers temporary Safe Haven artist residencies to international artists who are at risk for producing art in their countries. Program initiated by Westbeth Board of Directors.

Westbeth celebrates Pride Month. Poster design Roger Braimon

Early childhood puppet theater founded by Westbeth puppeteer Penny Jones Puppets annually presents a season of puppet shows.

Taught by Eve Zanni, Westbeth musician

Westbeth apartment 2019.

Westbeth apartment 1970s. Photo: Leonard Freed

Annually Westbeth is part of Open House New York where visitors can tour Westbeth apartments and studios.

An event sponsored by WARC Conservation Chair

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