After a recent surf session with your good
friend, Jacob
Campbell, the two of you sat down to lunch at Café Haleiwa on the
North Shore of Oahu, where Mr. Campbell has chosen to present an exhibition of
new drawings entitled Absolute Independent Reality Is Hard To Find.
Originally from Oxnard, California, Jacob studied fine art at the
University of California--San Diego, receiving a B.F.A. in 2006. He is
also the son of Malcolm Campbell and nephew of Duncan Campbell, the duo who’ve
been behind Campbell
Brothers Surfboards since 1970. Malcolm still shapes boards in
California, while Duncan owns Café Haleiwa. Their design, called the
“Bonzer,” is unique in surfing history because it was the first to feature
three fins, making it the archetype for the modern surfboard. You took
the opportunity to catch up with Jacob about art, surfing, and music, among
other things.
THINGS IS COOL: First of all, congratulations.
This was kind of a long time in the making.
JACOB CAMPBELL: Thanks. Yeah, it’s easily
been over a year. Last year [in 2011] when I was in Hawaii I started with
a few drawings.
T.I.C.: Why Café Haleiwa?
J.C.: It’s
been an outstanding offer that I do a show at the family’s Café. I’ve
wanted to see more surfing on the walls in here. I remember coming in as
a kid, years ago, and seeing all of the older Bonzer imagery. So, to also
commemorate the 40th anniversary of the
Bonzer surfboard design, I wanted to create some artwork that was related to my
dad and Duncan’s visual history, in a sense.
