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."
Stromberg-Stein's The Dancers, 1980