Paul Stankard’s Art Donation Shines at RCGC Gallery Opening

The sun illuminated two gorgeous stained-glass panels at Rowan College at Gloucester County’s (RCGC) Sept. 22 fall art gallery opening, painting the room in fragments of color to a dazzling effect. The panels are a beautiful representation of J. Kenneth Leap’s work, and a generous gift from two of the College’s most magnanimous art donors – Mantua artist Paul Stankard and his wife Pat.

Stankard, known as the father of the modern glass paperweight, was in attendance for the dedication of his latest gift to the College. As a youth, he was diagnosed with dyslexia and had low self-esteem. Today, Stankard is an internationally acclaimed glass artist and the author of three books. His artwork is on exhibit in 70 museums around the world, including the Smithsonian Institute in Washington, D.C., the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Musee du Louvre in Paris and many others.

RCGC is privileged to have one of Stankard’s renowned glass orbs on display in the College’s library – one of many earlier gifts from the artist. The addition of these stunning stained-glass panels, entitled “Sunflower and Foxglove” and valued at $24,000, bring the Stankards’ donation of artwork over the years to a remarkable $70,000 grand total. The two panels – positioned in front of a window in the Dr. Ross Beitzel art gallery where they catch the light perfectly – feature a nature-inspired design and soothing color palate. The artwork was a fixture of the Stankards’ private collection until the couple donated them to the College where they will be enjoyed by all who encounter them.

The Stankards’ latest donation is the work of Leap, an artist primarily known for his achievements in the field of architectural stained glass. Working in a tradition that dates back to the cathedrals of medieval Europe, Leap created his panel by hand-painting colored pieces of glass with vitreous pigments. He is a stained-glass artist in residence at Glencairn Museum, ambassador artist for the Wheaton Arts and Cultural Center, past-president of the American Glass Guild, member of the British Society of Master Glass Painters, teacher of the art of stained glass at Bryn Athyn College and the recipient of numerous awards. RCGC is proud to have his work on display as a part of the College’s permanent collection.

The Stankards’ donation stood in sharp contrast to the subject matter of the fall art gallery, entitled “Presence.” The artwork ranged from abstract images to politically-minded pieces on such topics as women’s rights, the crisis in Puerto Rico and immigration. The local, all-female artists featured included Loren Dann, Michel Gigante, Maria Payer, Susan Blaker, Elaine Goodman and Jacqualynn Tomasello, set to a backdrop of music provided by local artist Sara Donnachie.

The “Presence” exhibit runs until Oct. 26 in the Dr. Ross Beitzel Art Gallery, located in the Eugene J. McCaffrey College Center. Operating hours are Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. through 3 p.m. For more information, call (856) 415-2122.

Rowan College at Gloucester County is located on a 250-acre campus on Tanyard Road, Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.

Photo: (from left to right) Gloucester County Cultural and Heritage Commission Administrator Erika Gardner, Professor Emeritus Dr. Ross Beitzel and artist Paul Stankard with his donation of “Sunflower and Floxglove.”