Lionel Banks, 1951-52

Graphic artist Lionel Banks, a Bruin from 1951 to 1952, known as "the world’s most prolific wine-cork sculptor," passed away recently.

Banks and his wife, Aphrodite, were longtime members of Westwood Hills HOA and moved into their home on Veteran Avenue in 1966. Over the years, the couple were avid fine art collectors and instrumental in creating the California pop art scene of the 1960s. Fellow Bruin William McNally, who collaborated with Banks, is holding a final exhibition of his friend's wine-cork sculptures June 28-29. It will feature 51 pieces of Banks's work; one sculpture has 20,000 corks. The first 10 visitors who sign the guest book get a free Lionel Banks, Magic Wine Wand.

Both Banks and McNally were members of UCLA’s KELPS (1947-70) who, according to McNally, were the University of California’s first men’s group to allow membership to all male students.

"In 1950, the KELPS engineered the election of UCLA’s 1st African American student body president (the second in the nation), the Hon. Sherrill D. Luke '50," said McNally. "ZBT KELPS urged him to run for office, as they did Rafter Johnson in 1958."

Banks and McNally were instrumental in the KELPS being reborn, 1979-97.

The exhibition will take place at 507 Veteran Ave. Los Angeles, CA 90024, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.