He is a man full of vigor. A man of style, aesthetic, and some serious talent! Luke Jacomb is one half of the team that makes up Lukeke Glass. We were lucky enough to chat with him on the phone and hear a little bit about the man, the myth and the mystery behind the glass.
How long have you been creating? Has it always been in this medium?
I have been blowing glass for 20 years. I am a 2nd generation glass maker. My father is John Croucher originally from Hawera. My grandfather started Croucher and Crouder in Taranaki.
Who taught you or how did you learn your craft?
My father John Croucher taught me how to blow glass. After that I headed to the New York state and worked at The Corning Museum of Glass near the city of Ithica. That is where I was blowing murano style glass. I was blowing goblets and was introduced to caste glass when I met Kate. Our first collaboration was making eggs and baby chicks. I would blow the big glass egg and Kate would create the caste glass baby chick. And that was the beginning of Lukeke. It all began in 2002.
If you weren’t creating your art works what would you be doing?
Probably advertising or writing. I write for magazines. Skateboarding magazine, shoe magazine - I’m a walking encyclopedia for shoes.
Have you passed your techniques onto others? If so, who?
Simon Lewis Wards and Matthew Hall. We have been friends for 25 years. We went to school together. Together as a young crew we went to work for my dad at the glass fabricators. My father taught me and I taught them what I was learning. We did it together.
Is there a specific piece you have created that is dearest to you heart? If so, why?
I have this mythological sea monster I created with Elio Quarisa. He is one of the most famous glass blowers from Italy. He has since passed away so that’s pretty special. Some others are the very first pieces my father made.
Do you display your works in your own home?
We just bought a house a few years ago- renovated it into boho-chic style and we are just starting to display our art now. So, it’s coming out eventually.
If you could plan your perfect day what would it consist of from start to finish?
It would be a Friday, wake up late, go have awesome Japanese food for lunch, head over to 'Swashbucklers' with friends (it's an old seamans pub down on the wharf - looks out over the water and has great fish and chips), going out to Leigh and play balls with friends and the whole time cruising in my Cream 59 Impala.
What is your favourite meal and who would prepare it for you?
Jiro, he has a sushi joint in Japan down on the subway- he makes the best sushi in the world.
If you were to be an animal which one would you be?
Pappillon or a Japanese Spitz. I’d be one of my own dogs.
Pick a Beatle any Beatle.
John Lennon.
