approx. 4"  with signature cane

Paul Stankard, a pioneer in the studio glass movement, is considered the father of modern glass paperweights.

“I am interested in integrating mysticism with botanical realism giving the glass organic credibility. Through the work, I reference the continuum of nature by portraying and exploring the mysteries of seeds, fertility and decay. The work celebrates the primal beauty of nature on an intimate level.  It is influenced by the poetry of Walt Whitman. From the beginning, I was drawn to Whitman's response to Nature, his view of life as a creative spiritual journey, his references to native flowers, insects and birds which are the subjects of much of my own work. I love the way he takes seemingly ordinary experiences and shows them to be miracles. A simple flower is symbolic of the mystery of living things: ‘A morning glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.’”