January draws to a close with a landmark moment for The Lifeboat Station Project — the National Library of Wales have acquired twenty of my limited edition prints for the National Collection of Welsh Photographs.
The collection houses over 800,000 photographs connected to Wales. These range from works by pioneering photographers from the earliest days of photography to portfolios by contemporary practitioners of the art.
Will Troughton, Curator of Photography, says of the acquisition:
“The National Library of Wales are delighted to add a selection of these stunning portraits and landscapes to our collection where they will sit alongside works by some of the greats of photography.”
It’s the first time my photographs have been recognised at a national level in this way. I dreamed this might happen one day but I never expected it would happen while in the midst of making the work — one of the largest photographic projects ever undertaken and currently scheduled to be completed in 2022.
Furthermore, I’m over-the-moon for the RNLI lifeboat volunteers too. I can’t make these photographs without them, so it’s wonderful to see our brave lifeboat volunteers placed on such a high pedestal.
THE TIMELINE SO FAR
updated July 2019
January 2017: The National Library of Wales acquired 20 limited edition prints of Aberystwyth, Angle, New Quay, St David’s and Tenby to be preserved in the National Collection of Welsh Photographs.
March 2018: The NLW launched a year long exhibition of all 20 prints to celebrate the Year of the Sea.
July 2019: The NLW purchased six more prints of Conwy, Moelfre and Trearddur Bay.
You can see all the photographs in a dedicated Gallery I’ve created to honour this landmark event:
LIMITED EDITION PRINTS
From RNLI lifeboat crews to Coxswains and boathouse views, you can enjoy these photographs on your own walls too, supporting The Lifeboat Station Project in the process.
Just 50 prints are made from each glass plate, all made, signed, numbered and embossed by Jack Lowe.
THANK YOU
My heartfelt thanks to everybody who has supported the Project so far and helped me get to a point where the work is starting to be recognised in this way.
If you’ve been following the story here, on Facebook and on Instagram for a while, you’ll have got to know me a little bit and gained insight into what it takes to make these photographs.
It ain’t always easy, that’s for sure — here’s a timely reminder of the leap of faith I had to take to get it all underway:
BEHIND THE GLASS: A SHORT FILM BY THE RNLI
https://vimeo.com/187357213
NOTE TO COLLECTORS, MUSEUMS and GALLERIES
Please contact me to discuss acquiring the photographs for your collections.
RNLI PRESS RELEASES
2017: ORIGINAL RNLI PRESS RELEASE
2019: ANGLESEY RNLI PRESS RELEASE2019: CONWY RNLI PRESS RELEASE
Wonderful news Jack.
Hope that the National Museums of England and Scotland follow Wales’ lead. This is really a another Great Leap Forward for you and the project.
Thank you, Gill!