About the Artist
Artist Statement
“By blending mysticism with magical realism, I work to express organic credibility through my botanical interpretations. Crafted in glass, I reference the continuum of nature and celebrate on an intimate level her primal beauty. I am influenced by the poetry of Walt Whitman. ”
Paul Stankard is an internationally acclaimed artist and pioneer in the studio glass movement. He is considered a living master in the art of the paperweight, and his work is represented in more than 70 museums around the world. In 1961, he enrolled in Salem County Vocational Technical Institute’s Scientific Glassblowing program (now Salem Community College). During his ten year scientific glassblowing career, he became a master of fabricating complex instruments. In 1972, Paul left industry to pursue his dream of being creative in glass fulltime.
Over his forty-year artistic journey, he has received two honorary doctorate degrees, one honorary associates degree and many awards within the glass community, most recently the Masters of the Medium Award from Smithsonian's The James Renwick Alliance, Glass Art Society’s Lifetime Achievement Award and American Craft Council College of Fellows. He is an Artist-in-Resident and Honorary Professor at Salem Community College.
Stankard divides his time between flameworking and writing. He is the author of four books; an autobiography No Green Berries or Leaves: The Creative Journey of an Artist in Glass, an educational resource Spark the Creative Flame: Making the Journey from Craft to Art, an unusual two-section resource guide Craft as Career: A Guide to Achieving Excellence in Art-making, and his newest book Inspiration from the Art of Paul Stankard: A Window into My Studio and Soul.
Recently, I was commissioned by Rowan University to create a botanical glass sculpture. The artwork, “Rowan in Bloom,” was presented to Sir David MacMillan in honor of his lecture at Rowan University commemorating the university's centennial. In 2021, Sir David MacMillan received the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. Sir David, knighted in 2022 for his contributions in the field of science, is from Scotland and is currently a professor at Princeton University.
This was a very special event for me. At 80 years old, I felt my father’s presence and pride knowing that his son was presenting a Nobel Prize winner in Chemistry with a botanical glass sculpture. What makes my presentation so special is that my father was an organic chemist.
He was excited about Salem Community College’s scientific glassblowing program and he encouraged me to enroll in 1961. He didn’t know why I was a poor student (undiagnosed dyslexic) but knew my hand skills would allow me to make a good living.
This is a testament to the value of education and I am grateful for the dedication and creativity of educators.
Receive This Glass
"Receive this glass
it holds my memories
crafted blossoms
suspended
in stillness
to be pollinated
by your sight
anticipating
your touch through time."
- Paul J. Stankard
Photography Credit:
James Amos
Kayla Dawn
Jeff DiMarco
Ron Farina Photography
Lauren Garcia
Theodore H. Lewis III
Gary Mattie
Douglas Schaible - Schaible Photography