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The gift of inspiration

Artist Susan Stromberg-Stein gives back to Concordia
October 26, 2015
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By Louise Morgan


Award-winning contemporary artist and sculptor Susan Stromberg-Stein, BA 74, wants to help inspire Concordia’s next generation of artists.                                                    

She has made a planned gift to the university to create a scholarship and has begun donating her collection of art books. Gathered over the last 35 years during her life as an artist, she hopes to make accessible a wealth of knowledge for Concordia art students.

Susan Stromberg-Stein Susan Stromberg-Stein with several of her signature figures | Photos courtesy of Susan Stromberg-Stein

Stromberg-Stein envisions her treasured books in a reading room — housed within the Department of Studio Arts — where student artists can read, relax and get inspired, without even leaving the building.

“A reading room is a way to open minds,” says Stromberg-Stein. “You never know what’s going to be the trigger, but maybe you can light a spark in their imaginations by making these books easily accessible to the students — in their own space.”

The idea for the reading room germinated at a neighbour’s estate sale. “I saw all these books all over the floor, mainly art books, and I asked if they would consider donating the books to Concordia art students,” says Stromberg-Stein.

When the estate agreed to donate the books, she loaded up her car and drove them straight to the university, where four students she enlisted at the entrance happily helped her take the entire collection upstairs to the Department of Studio Arts.

Stromberg-Stein had just been given a private tour of these art studios the week before and says she spontaneously knew this would be a great idea for the art students.

"I want to make it a comfortable environment for when they take a break. Having these art books to choose from could perhaps trigger a spontaneous idea: the famous 'lightbulb effect'. One never knows when or where this will happen. Art books and art magazines are certainly a good beginning."

The Dancers, 1980 Stromberg-Stein's The Dancers, 1980

“We’re delighted and very grateful to receive this gift,” says Eric Simon, chair of the Department of Studio Arts. “I remember, as an undergraduate student myself, spending hours looking at the works of important artists in art books. It was very inspiring and I think our students will feel the same way about Ms. Stromberg’s idea.”

The scholarship she has funded is designated to help female students in the Department of Studio Arts.

“I envision helping women who are like I was,” says Stromberg-Stein, although she studied art after she had already acquired three degrees and left university.

Stromberg-Stein has fond memories of her alma mater, where she studied English literature and graduated with distinction. Her mentor, the late professor Michael Brian, recognized her talent and encouraged her to excel. She went on to get a Master of Arts at McGill University.

In Brian’s honour, two of her stone sculptures of books, Toile de Vie and Voir, are installed in the fifth-floor atrium of the J.W. McConnell Building, near Concordia’s Department of English.

Stromberg-Stein took many courses in painting, drawing and printmaking before discovering her true passion during her first sculpture class. “That very day, I said to my family, ‘I know this is what I want to do for the rest of my life!’ — and I have!” she says.

The late, prominent art dealer Max Stern of the Dominion Gallery exceptionally purchased all of her bronze works outright when he first viewed them and continued to do so until his death in 1987. They were purchased by the Government of Canada as official gifts to heads of state Canada visted around the world.

Today her works can be found in collections worldwide, including a commissioned piece OSMOSIS at Rideau Hall, official residence of Canada’s Governor General. It is in the garden on view year round.

Stromberg-Stein continues to work on both private and public commissions and teaches sculpture to both adults and children. She is represented by Galerie Dimension Plus. She will present a lecture for the Womens' Art Society of Montreal on April 12, 2016, at 1:30 p.m. at the McCord Museum, 690 Sherbrooke St. W., Montreal.

  • If you'd like to add to the collection and make a donation of art books, please contact Adrienne Johnson at adrienne.johnson@concordia.ca
    or at 848-2424, ext. 7354.

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