Original artwork description:

I like the idea of working with slate because of the age and nature of the material. Millions of years ago, movement of the Earth's crust, retreating seas and glaciation pushed mineral deposits collected on ancient sea beds to the Earth's surface where they were eventually quarried by man to provide shelter from the winds and rain.

The slate I use has served this purpose and is eroded and marked by exposure to the elements as well as by man-made pollutants in the atmosphere. I am interested in the journey from the seabed to the quarry, the quarry to the rooftop and the rooftop to the artwork.

In ‘Spoon 1’, I have taken a single discarded slate, washed away the grime collected over the years to reveal the natural texture and colouring. Two screws fill the original holes from where it was attached to the roof and a painted metal spoon, representing a commonplace domestic object, stands slightly proud of the work. The ‘R’ is painted, then scratched to give a worn look in keeping with the spoon and slate.

The work is varnished to bring out the texture and then neatened with a thin black wood edging, ready to hang. 40x61x4cm

Materials used:

Used roof slate, painted metal spoon

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