LUKE JACOMB

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Black) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1350 x 187 x 73 mm

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Cream) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1333 x 195 x 75 mm

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Red Brown) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1365 x 192 x 82 mm

Kete Paddle (Lime Weave) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1385 x 218 x 54 mm

Kete Paddle (Black Weave) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1385 x 215 x 74 mm

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Lime/Red) (2014)

blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1335 x 208 x 70 mm

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Brown) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1377 x 208 x 88 mm

Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Red) (2014) blown glass, nylon cord, paddle: 1320 x 195 x 80 mm

In Parison Pacific there are two groups of inter-related blown-glass canoe paddles with cold-worked carved shafts.

This significant exhibition is numerically dominated by paddles featuring reliefcut kowhaiwhai designs on the blades and intricate wheel-cut textures on the shaft of each paddle. These differing elements are united by the woven cord lashed along the shaft.

Jacomb’s acclaimed mastery of this paddle form, his assured simplicity of design and statement are evidenced in the dignified grace and aesthetic beauty of these compelling works.

In the Kete Paddles Jacomb again references the patterns and overlays of weaving by introducing a linear element of drawn lines that float and hover in space, both in front and behind the blade, thereby building an illusion of space and depth which are enhanced and then further complicated by the resulting shadow.

Jacomb uses the abstract language of pattern and utilitarian cultural artefacts, the implied notions of journey and endeavour inherent in the language of the paddle as core constructs.

These are objects imbued with the patterns and symbolism of Maori culture, the dynamics of event, deed and history and unified by the refined aesthetics of one of New Zealand’s finest glass artists.

EXHIBITION PRICELIST

1 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Black) (2014) 14,500

2 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Cream) (2014) 14,500

3 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Red Brown) (2014) 14,500

4 Kete Paddle (Lime Weave) (2014) 14,500

5 Kete Paddle (Black Weave) (2014) 14,500

6 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Lime/Red) (2014) 14,500

7 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Brown) (2014) 14,500

8 Kowhaiwhai Paddle (Red) (2014) 14,500

All prices are NZD and include GST; Prices are current at the time of the exhibition

LUKE JACOMB

b. 1977, lives Auckland

Reticello Canoe Paddle MH5 (2008)

New Zealand glass artist Luke Jacomb has received considerable critical attention, awards and inclusion in major museum collections worldwide.

“Luke uses both cast glass and glassblowing techniques, taking glass to intriguing and unexpected places, far outside of conventional expectations of this medium.” (1)

"Jacomb brings a unique viewpoint to the contemporary glass scene...he has been able to reinterpret such basic artefacts of Maori culture as canoe paddle (waka), war clubs (patu) and ceremonial gourds (taha)by crafting them of glass utilizing such spectacular traditional Venetian techniques as murrine, incalmo and reticello. Underlying the mastery of these complex techniques are Jacomb’s highly developed talents of blowing, casting and cameo-cutting." (2)

“Luke worked on a way to achieve a juxtaposition of these 15th, 16th and 17th century methods with a contemporary Polynesian flavour… For Jacomb the paddles speak of a shared heritage. Some centre shafts, for instance, feature reticello, an advanced cane-working technique which may have been invented in Italy in 1549 but looks like fishnet, hence the Polynesian references. Other techniques resemble lashing and weaving.” (3)

“Jacomb’s work is notable not only for its form, but for the material he used. His work with photosensitive glass - which his father [John Croucher] pioneered as a glassblowing material in the early 1990s - has inspired other artists to adopt it, and led to an influx of artist-in-residence invitations from art colleges across America.” (4).

1. Nicole Stock, ‘Luke Jacomb’s New Glass Works’, Urbis Magazine, 2011

2. John Webster Keefe, Arts Quarterly, Issue 4, 2008

3. Claire McCall, ‘Art of Glass’, NZ Herald, 2010

4. Tim Hume, “Glass Act” Sunday Star Times, July 2007

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

LUKE JACOMB

b. 1977, lives Auckland

2014 Parison Pacific, milford galleries queenstown

Ananas, Masterworks Gallery, Auckland

2012 Masterworks Gallery, Auckland

2011 Translation: New Works in Glass, Otago Museum, Dunedin

2009 Seeking the Light, milford galleries queenstown

2008-2009 Seeking the Light: Studio Glass by Luke Jacomb, touring exhibition, New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), USA; Milwaukee Museum, USA

2007 Luke Jacomb and Katherine Rutecki, Works Museum, Ohio, USA

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2014 Spring Catalogue, milford galleries queenstown

2013 The Review, milford galleries queenstown

2012 Reboot, milford galleries queenstown

2011 Traverse, Milford Galleries Dunedin

The Review, milford galleries queenstown

2010 With A Little Help from Our friends: Recent Acquisitions to the Decorative Arts, New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), USA

The Earl Street Journa.l, milford galleries queenstown

The Review, milford galleries queenstown

The Royal Queenstown Easter Show, milford galleries queenstown

2009 Masterworks, milford galleries queenstown

Glass 09, milford galleries queenstown

Outbreak, Ebeltoft Glass Museum, Denmark

Vision Realised, Morgan Gallery, Pittsburgh USA

Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, USA

2008-2010 Glass Invitational NZ, touring exhibition, Canterbury Museum, Christchurch; Milford Galleries Dunedin; Lopdell House, Auckland

2007 Kuivato Gallery, Sedona, Arizona, USA

Gallery Alegria, Birmingham, Alabama, USA

SOFA Expo, Palette Contemporary Art Gallery, Albuquerque New Mexico, USA

Glass Weekend at Wheaton Village, Morgan Gallery, Pittsburgh USA

2007 GAS Group Show, Morgan Gallery, Pittsburgh USA

2006 The roaring 40’s, Chappell Gallery, New York, USA

SOFA Expo, Riley gallery, Chicago Gallery, USA

Renewal, Royal Cameo gallery, New Orleans, USA

2005 Robert Lehman Gallery at Urban Glass, New York, USA

Essenze Gallery, ICFF New York, New Zealand/New York

2004 Pensacola Art Centre, Florida, USA

2003 Canopy, Glass House, Seattle, USA

AWARDS & RESIDENCIES

2008 Residency at The Glass Eye, Seattle, USA

2007 Residency at Hastings College, Nebraska, USA

Residency at Works Museum, Ohio, USA

Residency at Salisbury University, Maryland, USA

Residency at Cleveland Institute of Art, Ohio, USA

2006 Residency at University of Wisconsin, Madison, USA

Residency at Hastings College, Nebraska, USA

2001 Arts Council of New Zealand, Creative New Zealand Grant

WORKSHOPS, CONFERENCES & TEACHING

Luke Jacomb has presented a number of workshops, appeared as a speaker in conferences and has taught throughout the USA and in New Zealand including at the Corning Museum of Glass, New York, University of Wisconsin and Pratt Fine Arts Centre in Seattle.

COLLECTIONS

Alfred University, New York, USA

Birmingham Museum of Art, Alabama, USA

Bowling Green University, Ohio, USA

Cleveland Institute of Technology, Ohio, USA

Corning Museum of Glass, New York, USA

Maharana of Udaipur, India

Villa Terrace Decorative Arts Museum, Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA

Milwaukee Museum of Dec Arts, Wisconsin, USA

Mobile Museum of Art, Alabama, USA

New Orleans Museum of Art, Los Angeles, USA

Works Museum, Ohio, USA

Ebeltoft Glass Museum, Denmark

Salisbury University, Maryland, USA

SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY

2011 Stock, Niocole, ‘Luke Jacomb’s New Glass Work’, Urbis Magazine, 8 June 2011

2011 Jopp, Julie, ‘Art Seen’, Otago Daily Time, 7 July, 2011

2010 McCall, Claire. ‘Art of Glass’, NZ Herald, 12 May, 2010

2009 ‘Transparent Success’, Art News, Autumn, 2009

2009 Keefe, John Webster, Seeking the Light, Exhibition Catalogue, New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA), Los Angeles, USA

2009 Benson, Nigel, ‘Spectacular Glass Works Come To Dunedin’, The Otago Daily Times, 12 February 2009

2009 Dignan, James, ‘Heart of Glass’, The Otago Daily Times, 5 March, 2009

2008 Keefe, John Webster, ‘Seeking the Light: Studio Glass by Luke Jacomb’, New Orleans Museum of Art (NOMA) Arts Quarterly, Vol XXX, Issue 4, 2008

2008 (image of work), Glasposten Ebletoft Glass Museum Denmark, No 4 November 2008

2007 Hume, Tim, ‘Glass Act’, Sunday Star Times, July 2007

‘Taking art to a new level’, Newark Advocate, 10 June 2007

2003 Perry, Nick, “Young artist breaks through…”, The Seattle Times, Sept 15, 2003