Art For Heart’s Sake

June 22, 2016
Martin Selman’s Harvest sculpture was inspired by the bounty of Hawke’s Bay

Martin Selman’s Harvest sculpture was inspired by the bounty of Hawke’s Bay

Recently retired Executive Dean of Education, Humanities and Health Science Dr Susan Jacobs has celebrated her 30 years at EIT by gifting a marble sculpture carved by EIT graduate Martin Selman.  

Entitled Harvest, the work is prominently located – fronting the corporate administration building on the Oval lawn and facing the main pedestrian approach to EIT.

Jacobs and husband Cap were prompted to donate the sculpture because, she explains, “EIT has been very good to us”.

The couple purchased the work from Selman some years ago when the EIT Diploma in Visual Arts and Design graduate was still endeavouring to establish his creative practice. 

Drawing on a theme popularised in classical mythology, the figurative sculpture, executed in Takaka marble, personifies the fruitfulness associated with Hawke’s Bay.

Now working in Carrara marble from Italy, the Auckland-based artist has developed a practice that encompasses carvings of everyday objects as well as more traditional subjects inspired by antiquity. 

Collections of Selman’s work are held in Hawke’s Bay and in 2001 he was awarded Hawke’s Bay Cultural Trust’s sculpture award.  Travelling extensively, he has tutored at sculpture events staged in Switzerland.       

During her last five years at EIT, Jacobs was a member of an EIT committee which selects art works for permanent exhibition on campus.  Covering a wide range of genres and media, the works are typically purchased from ideaschool students, graduates and staff.

Having recently moved into Napier from Poraiti, the Jacobs say they are settling into retirement and are enjoying their “townie” lifestyle.