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Paul Schwieder

Artist Biography

"When I originally began sculpting with the sandblaster (1985, I think) I was trying to find a way to articulate my perception of my relationships, particularly my relationships with women. Be it my mother, my sisters, or my lovers."

Schweider has found inspiration from both his surroundings, including man-made objects and nature, as well as his own life, from his own unconscious to his personal relationships.  Additionally, the fluid colour and rhythm of his sculptures reflect the rolling landscapes of Saskatchewan that Schweider was brought up on.  Thus, while each work is conceptually based, he is equally concerned with preserving the natural integrity of the materials, including line, movement and colour.  

The influence of personal relationships and intimacy noted by Schweider are probably best reveal through the combined processes of blowing and sandblasting the glass.  For him, the initial molten material is inherently seductive and alluring suggesting a "female-like disposition."  The second step of sandblasting the piece allowed him to enhance the characteristics of the glass material and shape.  The response by the viewer at once pulls him in with the aesthetic qualities creating a highly personal space between the viewer and the object.

Public collections of Schweider's work include the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Corning Museum of Glass in New York.  He has twice received the Fellowship at the Creative Glass Center of America and has exhibited in Canada and the United States.