“That weight is particularly evident in the accumulations of precious metal that lend heft and pronounced texture to his compositions. He takes sheets of silver—or, occasionally, gold—and crumples them the way one might crumple a sheet of paper before throwing it away. Sometimes the results are convoluted and sharp, sometimes wrinkled and torn. When those pieces of metal are attached to the canvas, their crevices and protrusions take on a topographic quality. In places, chemical treatments or selectively applied varnish have caused striking tonal and chromatic variations. Elsewhere, the metal has been scorched by fire. These processes defy conventions of preciousness and heightened aesthetic value. Instead, they emphasise the elemental nature of these metals, the earthy grandeur that only emerges when they are subjected to slightly disrespectful handling. Materials surprise us when their treatment differs from the predictable” - James Lawrence —— A Miracle, 2012 Handmade sterling silver, household paint 10 x 8 feet 🌺M️~O-O~ #ARTFIRST