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This article is from the May 2008 edition of Contemporary Craft News, our quarterly friends and members newsletter.

Loebers Give New Definition to “Donor”
We’ve begun highlighting our donors in this newsletter as a small way of saying thank-you for the tremendous generosity that they have shown to us over the years. This month, we introduce Rolf and Magdalena Loeber (pictured above), and as with many of our key supporters, their multi-faceted relationship with this organization cannot be defined simply by the word donor. Over the past 15 years, their association with SCC has found them playing many roles to support the organization that they say has filled them with a “sense of discovery.”

The Loebers found SCC by wandering in one Saturday morning while searching for espresso in the Strip. What they found would inspire them to become more involved in the arts. After their initial visit they returned on a regular basis to shop for friends and family and to see “one of the more interesting places with exhibitions in town”, eventually becoming friends with Kate Lydon, director of exhibitions, and then executive director Janet McCall. Janet was welcoming, recalls Rolf, and she eventually persuaded him to join the board, where he served on the development committee. Rolf and Magda tribute Kate with sharing her vision to open up their eyes to the different uses of traditional craft media.

Over the years the Loebers have amassed quite a collection of contemporary and traditional art from their frequent travels to Holland and Ireland as well as some exquisite work from SCC. Their Shadyside apartment collection includes three beautiful pieces of Shaker-inspired furniture made from scrap steel by 2005 Raphael Prize winner Jim Rose, and a Stephen Perrin chair from the Store, which they eventually donated back to SCC’s permanent collection. Another piece they donated was a necklace by artist Maria Phillips, the Raphael Prize runner up in 2001. Magda explains that it is better to be able to share them with the public this way.


The Loebers like to travel and have enjoyed being part of SCC’s study trips to local studios as well as the Japan Trip in 2004 hosted by native wood craftsman Tadao Arimoto. Not only did the Loebers find the trips to be educational, they saw things from an insider’s perspective that they would not have been able to experience on their own.


While they agree that having the means to support the organization financially is helpful, the Loebers have found other ways in which someone in any income bracket can get involved. For an anniversary party they hosted for their staff a few years ago, they gave out gift certificates for the Studio and the Store, as a way of introducing more people to SCC. Magda praises the Store with having some of the most unique gifts in the area, and proudly brings her out of town guests to show off the “gem in the city that is not necessarily well known.” She also points out that with free admission and programming, SCC is accessible to a diverse audience including children, which is increasingly rare to find these days.


When asked about whether they intend to acquire a fourth Jim Rose piece, Magda claims they have no room, while Rolf jokes about renting out a third apartment to house their growing collection. One thing they can agree on is that their relationship with SCC has enriched their lives and they encourage others to get involved.

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Rolf & Magda Loeber