The Giving List by Steven Libowitz
A Resurgence
Santa Barbara Museum of Art’s renovation has people flocking to the venue
I
t was just three months ago that the Santa Barbara Museum of Art (SBMA) celebrated the completion of a six-year, $50 million renovation, a project addressing critical needs of the main building, which hits the century mark in 2012, including seismic retrofitting, replacement of the roof, and upgrades to the mechanical and climate control systems, among other work. The project also incorporated new galleries for contemporary art, new media, and photography as well as a redesign of other galleries, the better to allow the museum to display more of its impressive 25,000-object permanent collection. That’s a number that represents a magnitude and quality more commonly found in cities eight times the size of Santa Barbara and encompasses arts of Asia, Europe, and the Americas and includes paintings, sculptures, prints, drawings, photographs, ceramics, glass, jades, bronzes, lacquer, and textiles. SBMA’s collection includes classical antiquities
Looking at art in Ludington Court
SBMA has been a popular spot since its reopening
rivaled in the West only by the J. Paul Getty Museum, and multiple masterpieces of French Impressionism — no West Coast museum owns more Monet paintings. With the renovations in the rearview
mirror, the Museum of Art has resumed its rightful place as a centerpiece in the Santa Barbara downtown arts district, where it sits prominently within a block of the Granada, Arlington, and Ensemble theatres, and just a little more than two blocks above the Lobero. Residents have been rejoicing in the museum’s re-emergence, which came less than two months after the relaxing of the general restrictions due to the COVID pandemic. More than 2,000 people poured through the main doors during the grand opening weekend, when they witnessed firsthand the gorgeous reimagining of the entryway that now offers an unob-
structed view up to the galleries and skylights, representing an invitation befitting an area that enjoys more than 300 days of sunshine yearly. But opening weekend was just the beginning of the museum’s resurgence, said Susan M. Bradley, the museum’s Deputy Director of External Affairs. “Our visitor numbers have been steadily climbing as the community is discovering we are fully reopened,” she said. “It’s been really heartening.” Indeed, she said, people were streaming through the front doors of
The Giving List Page 554
Keith C. Berry Thank you, South Coast Santa Barbara, for your confidence in allowing us to assist you with your Real Estate needs this past year. In honor of your continued support, and to promote community strength, donations have been made this year to the following organizations:
Goleta Valley Softball Little League
Santa Barbara Community Prayer Breakfast
VNA Health Foundation
Montecito Trails Foundation
American European Bethel Mission, Inc.
Santa Barbara Scholarship Foundation
SB Club Preservation Foundation
Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation
True Vine Bible Fellowship
Young America’s Foundation
Ensemble Theater of Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara Athletic Round Table Channel Islands YMCA
Council on Alcoholism & Drug Abuse KEITH C. BERRY, REALTOR®
Global Luxury Specialist/ Architectural Properties Division Specialist Cellular 805.689.4240
Lic. 363833
1482 East Valley Road Suite 17, SB CA 93108
Email Keith@KeithBerryRealEstate.com
www.KeithBerryRealEstate.com
18 MONTECITO JOURNAL
16 – 23 December 2021
