Jesse Reece

Jesse Reece was born in Brooklyn, NY in 1954.  His early interest in glass began while observing his maternal grandfather, an immigrant from Moldavia, pour cognac from a beautiful hand-cut, crystal decanter into an elegantly shaped snifter and then performing a myriad of arcane rituals including toasting, clinking, shouting and laughter along with smoking and more shouting.  This ceremony intrigued the young child.  For him, the glass pieces stood out as some otherworldly element releasing a power to spur this odd behavior among the adults.

After moving with his family to the exploding suburban sprawl of Long Island, Mr. Reece enjoyed what most would consider a normal childhood.  His interest in glass remained and he amassed a small collection of unusual glass pieces.  Unfortunately, many of these pieces are now lost.

Jesse graduated from high school unexpectedly in August 1971 before his senior year began.  He then immediately obtained a passport and left for England – where he knew no one.  A few days later he arrived in the Middle East and continued travelling over the next several months.  His goal ultimately was to reach the forbidden Kingdom of Tibet, of which he had heard remarkable tales from fellow travelers.  Well on his way, he suffered a near fatal mountaineering accident.  Disabled by numerous injuries and broken bones he was unable to continue.  Brought back to Katmandu to heal Jesse soon after returned to the States.

He went to college, dropped out, got jobs, then enrolled at Goddard College in Plainsfield, Vermont.  Goddard in the early 70’s was known as a radical anti-war, ultra-progressive, liberal arts experiment.  Located on an old sheep farm in the Green Mountains, it lived up to its reputation.  The education, though unconventional in structure, proved rigorous, with studies as diverse as neo-Jungian Psychology and Chinese Painting, to Glassblowing 101.  Jesse graduated in 1977.  His senior work included a performance video titled “Reincarnation and the Story of Glass.”

Over the years Mr. Reece has been developing his glasswork.  In 1992, he built his current studio on Long Island’s North Fork.