STANKARD INTRODUCES NEW ORB SERIES CELEBRATING
THE HEALING VIRTUES OF THE PLANT KINGDOM

     Paul Stankard, an internationally renowned glass artist, has released the first two in a series of five glass orbs dedicated to the spiritual and healing properties found in nature.  These exquisite creations are inspired by the artist's personal challenges with cancer and a recovery enhanced by meditation and prayer.

     "Beauty heals," Stankard said.  "Creativity has healing powers, and through my work I want to express how I embraced and owned my cancer challenges."

     "That is how the creative spirit works for me.  I overcome fears by confronting, embracing, and then owning them."

     Each orb in his series focuses on a certain illness Stankard is experiencing, and the related healing virtue of that orb's design.  Stankard has produced two floral clusters in the series of five, each exploring an illness he has overcome through modern medicine in tandem with the healing virtues of creativity.  Each orb romanticizes the plant kingdom with delicate flower, fruits, bees, buds, figures and roots.  They depict an insight into the spiritual realm that permeates Stankard's creative process.

     "I have always been keenly aware of how mystics celebrate the virtues of labor as prayer," said Stankard in reference to this new series.  "My studio has been my sanctuary, nurturing my creative spirit while inspiring my work.  I have drawn from my personal experience during recent illnesses while feeling the healing virtues of the creative act leading to the ethereal dimension of my art making as I craft glass paying homage to God through the Plant Kingdom, each component sculpted in glass has become a prayer mantra to reinforce the healing benefits of medicine."

About Paul Stankard 

     Paul Stankard's work is represented in more than 70 museums worldwide.  A pioneer in the studio-glass movement, Stankard is known for interpreting native flowers in small scale glass sculptures.  His work explores and interprets color, texture and delicacy while continuing to examine and celebrate the fecundity of the plant kingdom.  A resident of Mantua, New Jersey, Stankard teaches and lectures at Salem Community college, inspiring students to search for their individual creative spirits.  Stankard was recently recognized as Master of the Medium by the James Renwick Alliance affiliated with the Renwick Gallery, Smithsonian Institute, Washington D.C., and was also awarded the Glass Art Society's Lifetime Achievement Award.  For more information about Paul Stankard, please visit www.paulstankard.com.

Please note:  Additional photos are available and interviews can be arranged by calling Jane Kaplan, 847.433.8594 or via email, jane@JKaplanCommunications.com.