Westmont Magazine The Art of Giving

Santa Barbara architect and art collector Barry Berkus has donated a sculpture by environmental artist Robert Lobe to Westmont.

The piece, displayed on the lawn outside Reynolds Gallery, has been on loan to Westmont for a number of years. Berkus donated four other sculptures to the college last year that also were on loan from his private collection.

The aluminum sculpture, like many of Lobe’s works, features the shape and texture of a tree.

“Placing these sculptures in urban areas reminds people of nature and taking care of the environment,” Reynolds Gallery Director Tony Askew said. “The college is grateful for Berkus’ love of art and long-time support of Westmont and the Art Center.”

Lobe was born in 1945 in Detroit and attended Oberlin College in Ohio and Hunter College in New York. He lives and works in New York City and Jersey City, N.J.

Berkus is the founder and president of B3 Architects and Berkus Design Studio, based in Santa Barbara with offices throughout the world. Considered one of the top 200 art collectors in the world, Berkus appeared as one of the top 100 architects in 1991 in Architectural Digest. In 1999, Builder magazine called him one of the past century’s most influential individuals in the building of American homes.