Visitors to Acadia’s Vaughan Memorial Library will now have an opportunity to glimpse into the mind of David Silverberg who has donated his collection of nearly 1,000 fine art books to Acadia University. An internationally-acclaimed artist, Silverberg said he wanted to give back to Acadia, where he served five years as the university’s first artist-in-residence.

The public is invited to an Opening Reception with Silverberg on Tuesday, May 22 at 5 p.m. in the Quiet Reading Room of the Library. The collection of books will be housed in the climate-controlled Kirkconnell Room and available for use by students and the public.

“I wanted to give back to Acadia because I was well-treated while I was here,” said Silverberg. “I hope students find the collection and take some time to look at the books and to learn from them, and then leave with more understanding and happiness, and then it will have served its purpose.”

The books were collected over Silverberg’s lifetime during his travels abroad.

“We are thankful and honoured that David has given us this collection,” said Sara Lochhead, Acadia’s vice-president of Enrolment Services and Head Librarian. “Our students are not in fine arts but they are students of life and of the world. The breadth and depth of this collection is so extensive that it will reach out and speak to students no matter what course of study they are taking.”

About David Silverberg
David Silverberg was born in Montréal in 1936. By the age of seven he was already studying art under the tutelage of Group of Seven master Arthur Lismer. In 1957, he graduated with his Bachelor of Arts from McGill University. That same year, he studied etching and engraving with William Hayter at Atelier 17 in Paris, and was influenced by those around him, including Max Ernst, Marc Chagall, and Matta. Silverberg soon started to develop a unique, personal style to produce beautiful engravings.

Not content with a single medium any more than a single subject, Silverberg also works in batik, ceramics, Japanese woodcut, and photography. Silverberg's interest and research into his heritage is evident in many individual engravings on Jewish themes. He has delved into stage design, creating sets for the DancEast production ofNutcracker.

Silverberg's passion for art and travel is legendary. He has voyaged around the world, visiting and/or living in more than 80 countries. His critically acclaimed work has been the subject of 185 solo exhibits in North America and abroad. In 1991 and 1992, Silverberg was invited by the Chinese government to travel, work, teach, and exhibit throughout China. Many of the books in Silverberg's fine collection were acquired on these travels.

In 1984, Silverberg was appointed a member of the Royal Canadian Academy, and in 1986, was elected Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts, London, England.

In 1995, Silverberg joined Acadia University as artist-in –residence after holding the position of professor in the Department of Fine Arts for many years at Mount Allison University. He still works at his studio at 17 Hillside Avenue in Wolfville.

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