Jade Artists - Jade Carvers, Jade Sculptors

John Sheehan Senior

An Inuit flatmate sculpting in whalebone opened New Yorker John Sheehan’s eyes to the world of carving and craft whilst studying for an arts degree at an Alaskan university back in 1969. Little did the man know he was instrumental in setting John on a course as a carver and passionate devotee of jade.

Deciding to do further study in New Zealand, John found himself in Nelson after graduating. It was here that another chance encounter – with greenstone carver Bill Matheson Senior at the Suter Art Gallery - provided a second signpost for John’s career path.

Fascinated by Bill’s work with New Zealand nephrite jade and unable to find anyone to teach him to carve greenstone, John purchased his own gear and raw stone and began his journey of self-discovery as an artist and jade carver. Nourished by knowledge freely passed on by many of New Zealand’s best stone carvers of the day, John flourished as a greenstone carver, his love of carving and jade turning into a lifelong passion, founding a business and also providing a career path for his three sons.

John Sheehan Junior - Rotorua

Award-winning jade carver John Sheehan Junior may be young in years, but his father’s passion for jade and his fascination with carving was passed on to John Junior as a youngster. At just 18 years of age he won a major prize in the illustrious Mana Pounamu Contemporary Awards.

Being part of a strong family tradition of jade carvers also means that John has been exposed to many career-enriching experiences in Canada, China, Japan and Germany.

Inspired by jade’s strength, translucency, colours and tactile nature, John’s approach to jade carving is to push the limits of the stone and seek satisfaction in designs that reflect his Irish and English heritage. Ancient Celtic patterns infused with the traditional Maori designs of his homeland offer a personalised ‘visual language’ that brings the outstanding designs of the young craftsman to life.

Jacob Sheehan - Rotorua

The youngest of the three Sheehan brothers to follow in his father’s footsteps, Jacob Sheehan learnt to carve jade at a very early age. However it wasn’t until he completed his university studies that he began carving full-time.

Based at Mountain Jade’s Rotorua jade carving workshop, Jacob loves being innovative. Although his particular interest lies in the creative process of making jade jewellery rather than purely on the stone itself; he believes mastery of the artisans’ skills is crucial as a solid foundation on which to build the art he likes creating.

Putting his personal twist on the company’s established pendant designs, Jacob’s work is recognisable by the fluid curves that impart a wonderful softness and sensuality to the more edgy, contemporary pieces he fashions from a stone with the hardness of steel.

Phil Margan - Rotorua

After 28 years working as a chef, Phil Margan traded nights in the kitchen for days in the Mountain Jade’s Rotorua carving workshop in October 2009 and loves his new life.

With his inherent talent for detail, the ability to ‘see’ a design or shape within the stone, and generate creative ideas, Phil took to carving with ease and it wasn’t long before he was completing work (with touches that reflected his individuality) on his own under the watchful eye of mentor John Sheehan Junior.

Phil forms a personal relationship with each piece of jade he carves. He sees the stone rather like the ingredients of a dish on a menu; raw material to be transformed and enhanced by the creative process. A perfectionist nature means Phil’s pieces are characterised by their clean lines and immaculate finish.

 

Des Hetherington - Hokitika

A full-time artist in the carving studio of Mountain Jade in Hokitika for the past nine years, Des Hetherington's fascination for jade was sparked by an encounter with an ancient pounamu (jade) adze at Karamea on the West Coast of the South Island.

When his family moved to Hokitika, in the heart of New Zealand's greenstone country, in 1968 Des was exposed to New Zealand jade in its many forms and his fondness for Kokopu, Inanga, Kahurangi and Marsden Flower jade remains with him today. Although he particularly enjoys working with Siberian and British Columbian jade, Des says he's happy with any nicely coloured, consistent material that allows the design to reveal the stone's inner beauty and spirit.

A creative person who enjoys writing and playing music, Des was encouraged to try carving the stone he felt an affinity with by a friend in the early seventies.

It was the start of a lifelong learning process. In the past few years his fascination for Maori art has grown. Fortunate to be mentored in the intricacies of wood carving by a Maori master carver in the past two years, Des believes this additional knowledge has infused his (mainly) one-off designs with a new purity.