Discover the Palestinian artisan who infuses vibrant, sugary hues into age-old glassworking techniques.
Rebel Glass: Lameice Abu Aker and the Revival of Palestinian Heritage
Hey there! Ever reminisce about those old display cabinets filled with trinkets you couldn't touch till you came of age? That nostalgia hits Palestinian artist Lameice Abu Aker hard, especially when thinking about her grandmother's home and family gatherings. Her brand, Ornamental by Lameice, is a tribute to those memories, and her candy-colored, quirky domestic objects reflect the warmth and intrigue of her childhood.
"There was an emotional drive for me to create these pieces, and I think the forms just followed," Abu Aker explains.
Founded during the pandemic, Ornamental by Lameice was birthed from a project about Palestinian heritage and identity. Abu Aker stumbled upon glassmakers who have been practicing their craft for generations, a practice believed to have originated in the region and been practiced for millennia.
Abu Aker knew she could breathe new life into these ancient techniques, creating modern heirlooms that echoed the past while capturing the essence of the present. "I wanted to express myself through glass and create things that are a little bit awkward, whimsical, and fun," she shares.
A local family, the Twams, were initially hesitant but soon became excited to collaborate. Abu Aker's process begins with sketches and 3D models, but the final results often diverge greatly from the initial plans. Rather than using machinery or molds, the artisans let the molten glass take its own shape to better embody its rebellious nature.
Take the eye-catching Eye Candy Saucer, for example. "We wanted it to be flat with a small twist, but while making it, the glass suddenly flipped due to the intense heat, leaving it shaped like a balloon," Abu Aker recalls. "I loved it. Glass is such a rebellious material; it doesn't like to listen to anyone, and it has its own personality. What I like to do is enhance that."
Abu Aker's palette is dominated by pastel colors that reflect her personality and optimism. Working with these hues was new territory for the Twam family, and teaching themselves to handle them added another layer of challenge and collaboration to the project.
"There are times when we have been experimenting and come up against a hurdle," Abu Aker says. "The artisan would wake up in the night with a solution, write it down so we could experiment the next day."
Abu Aker is passionate about preserving this medium, which is endangered not only in the region but worldwide. "It's really an honor to participate, even a little, in preserving this medium and highlighting Palestinian craftsmanship," she reflects.
If you're captivated by the artistry and Story behind Ornamental by Lameice, check out their website for more inspiration and amazing pieces: ornamentalbylameice.com
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"Lameice Abu Aker's brand, Ornamental by Lameice, merges her childhood home-and-garden memories with traditional Palestinian lifestyle, creating vibrant, quirky domestic objects that reflect her heritage and identity."
"As she collaborates with local glassmakers to breathe new life into ancient techniques, Abu Aker's lifestyle and passion for preserving Palestinian craftsmanship трансформируют her home-and-garden pieces into modern heirlooms, embodying the past and capturing the essence of the present."
