Artists often employ reflective and high-contrastsurfaces to shape how a work receives andreflectslight, prompting shifts in perception asthe viewer moves. In this exhibition,the materialsthe artists use– metallic leaf, diamond dust,polished patina, and tonal contrast – function asstructural components of meaning rather thandecorative effect. In Carolyn Reynolds’ Trio in Clearing Skies, layered silver leaf diffuses lightacross the panel, generating an atmosphericfield that suggests clarity and spatial openness. Hunt Slonem’s Black Lagoonwith Diamond Dustpresents a rhythmic arrangement of rabbits,the surface activated by embedded crystallineparticles that heighten pattern, texture, andoptical movement. In Richard MacDonald’s Duality, Platinum, the artistemphasizes formthrougha polished reflective finish, reinforcingthe equilibrium and tension present in the figure’spose. Daniel Maltzman’s Classic Contrast,absentof metallic materials, achieves comparable visualclarity through black-and-white tonal balance,directing focus toward contour, gesture, andcompositional restraint.
