Intern Pick: Floral Assemblage (1999), Paul Stankard
Written by Sophia Plancich
Published on September 27, 2024
Paul Stankard's work is a union of magic and the natural world, intimately portraying the beauty around us through the mind of a creative. Stankard is one of the pioneers of the modern and contemporary studio glass art movement, a relatively new medium that came to fruition in the 20th century.
What captivates me about Stankard is his intersecting identity as both an artist and a scientist. With a degree in Scientific Glassblowing, his glass art is not only a testament to his technical skills but also to his deep understanding of his medium. Any scientist or creative can appreciate how Stankard seamlessly integrates the precision of science with the expressive creativity of art, while simultaneously weaving in themes of the natural world.
As Stankard himself says, "I reference the continuum of nature and celebrate on an intimate level her primal beauty." His ability to manipulate studio glass into fantastical works that glamorize and stylize elements of the natural world offers a fresh perspective on nature’s beauty, seen through an artistic lens.
Interestingly, Stankard’s journey began with creating glass instruments for laboratories, while crafting glass animals and flowers in the form of paperweights during his downtime. These paperweights went on to become the focal point of his artistic career.
One of his pieces, titled Floral Assemblage, showcases several of Stankard's unique botanical representations, all of which embody a surreal interpretation of the natural world. When viewed up close, the careful attention to detail is remarkable—tiny figures form the roots of flowers, and blueberries grow alongside wildflowers, adding to the magical and intricate nature of his work.
Stankard’s work reminds me of the intricate relationship between art, nature, and science, offering viewers an opportunity to appreciate the hidden beauty in the natural world through Floral Assemblage and his other works. His ability to blend these elements into captivating, meticulously crafted pieces not only demonstrates his technical strengths but also his attention to nature’s delicate details. As we explore his work in the Lowe's Myrna and Sheldon Palley Pavilion for Contemporary Glass and Studio Arts, we’re invited to slow down, observe, and reflect on the wonders of both the artistic and natural realms—each piece a small universe, full of life and imagination. Through Stankard’s glass art, we are reminded that the beauty of nature lies not only in its grandeur but also in its smallest, most intricate parts.
References:
Adelson, F. (2018) “South Jersey master glass artist Paul Stankard focus of ‘Beauty Beyond Nature’” Courier Post. https://www.courierpostonline.com/story/life/2018/07/19/beauty-beyond-nature-offers-look-paul-stankard-glass-art-wheatonartsmillville/801358002/
“Paul J. Stankard” (n.d.) Artist Statement. https://www.paulstankard.com/new-page-1
“Paul Stankard”(n.d.) Artist. Smithsonian American Art Museum. https://americanart.si.edu/artist/paul-stankard-6162
“Floral Assemblage” (n.d.) University of Miami Lowe Art Museum
https://emuseum.as.miami.edu/objects/25684/floral-assemblage?ctx=c20fc29363a637b960df5c57042bd227c1199735&idx=1
