Students with an interest in art should head to the Humanities Building and look at the Berkus Collection, a sampling of what one art critic called one of the best collections in the world.

This exhibit represents new artists, as well as those more experienced. It offers students an opportunity to see different styles of modern and contemporary art, from ceramic sculpture to photography.

The Atkinson takes on the feeling of a much bigger museum with this prestigious show, set up by Dane Goodman, the gallery art director, who has years of experience in curating major shows.

The room is quiet and gives visitors a sense that something special is present. Looking around the room, one’s eyes rest on one specific sculpture, “Being Sleeping.” The creator, Luisa Rabbia, is an up-and-coming artist whose work is unlike any other in the exhibit.

This piece displays a person lyin g on the ground. The sculpture uses only paper, blue ballpoint ink and wire.

Rabbia’s work is one of the many unique collections that belong to Barry Berkus. Berkus is a well-known art collector.

Art News, a prestigious art magazine, named him as one of the top 200 art collectors in the world. Berkus has been collecting art for nearly 50 years.

“The unique part about how Barry collects art is that Barry collects what he likes,” Goodman said. He and Berkus have been acquainted for years, and it was Goodman who suggested that Berkus consider displaying some of his more recent pieces in the gallery.

“Before this year it was not possible to show exhibitions such as this one because of a lack of proper security,” Goodman said.

Goodman also explained that this year, the school has invested in a better security system.

This allows the Atkinson to show exquisite pieces of art and have them safely displayed for SBCC students, as well as the public.

Berkus’ passion for art is shown through the pieces of art he invests in and the two books he has written on art and architecture, titled “Sculpting Space: House Design” and “Architecture/Art/Parallels/Connections.”

His collection displayed in the Atkinson Gallery is so unique that it is easy to understand Berkus’ reasoning for investing so much of his time and money.

Whether or not students are interested in art, this exhibit is amazing for our campus to have on display.

The collection will be on display in the Atkinson Gallery for most of September, on the second floor of the Humanities Building, East campus.