Precious by Micah Adams, Christine Dwane and Lawrence Woodford

Artist list

Micah Adams, Christine Dwane, Lawrence Woodford

We overlook the common, the routine, and call it ordinary. We discard everyday things, forever searching for that special moment, special person, special thing, our precious.
If value is a decision made or an opinion held, can we not choose to see it whenever and wherever we please? Do we only understand the value of something when we risk losing it, or are never able to possess it? Perhaps it is only in absence that we truly understand the value of having.


Micah Adams is a Toronto-based artist whose work is reminiscent of lost treasures renewed and curiosities hidden behind glass, reimagining found objects as jocular sculptures and jewellery pieces. Equal parts artist, collector and tinker, Micah creates art inspired by the material itself, pushing the boundary of what is possible and questioning the limitations of his chosen medium. With delicate tedium Micah uses his sawblade to remove images from coins, then solders them back together in new configurations, inventing fantastic new creatures and narratives. He creates challenges for himself through his working process, and seeks solutions with a meditative quality; like the tactile repetition of countless bricks etched into glass.
As an artist, I am a collector of objects as much as I am a maker. I collect and reassemble found objects, searching for new meanings and new possibilities. I work in deliberate contrast to high tech modes, preferring the intimacy of developing my own repertoire of manual techniques. I value quiet personal moments of the day in which I construct small works that simulate a place for wonder and contemplation.
/ Micah Adams
It is not only material that influences Micah’s work – but also the notion that nothing new is ever created, simply recycled and repurposed over time. And yet he rejects many technological advancements that allow for cheaper and faster production, preferring instead to give each piece the individual care and attention that renders it valuable. Micah begins with an overlooked item, its purpose limited to single-use or circulation, and transforms it into something special, making it meaningful in a way only an artist could.

Christine Dwane is intrigued by the challenge that comes from creating art from unlikely materials, and by giving new life to items created for a single purpose; especially consumer-based wrappers and plastics. She is interested in the way these materials can be manipulated and reconstructed into beautiful new shapes, textures and colours.
With increasing urgency of the ecological state of the planet, exploration of unconventional upcycled materials, such as fibers and acrylic have become a point of interest for me. Creating many new possibilities of colour, shape and texture in my work, these materials also present points of discussion. Milk bag ties are used as necklace links and gum wrappers are used as pearls alongside silver, gold and fine gems. The stark contrast between what is perceived as precious and what is not are used to question the norms of value and social standing.
/ Christine Dwane
Christine’s work is a refined juxtaposition between ‘precious’ and ‘non-precious’ materials, a balancing act replacing pearls with wrappers and gold links with milk tags. It forces us to ask why we keep certain things and throw away others – a reminder that we are surrounded by everyday beauty, if only we take the time to look.

Lawrence Woodford is a Canadian artist known for creating what he describes as metaphysical landscapes; sculptural jewellery pieces reminiscent of rugged terrains and geological configurations. Through his work one cannot help but feel connected to the earth, not only for the aesthetic quality but also the method of creation; layers of rough stone contrasting found synthetic and man-made materials. With his work, one has the sense they are peering at a topographical map that increasingly reflects human interference – a shift in our natural balance.
My work documents theoretical terrains, metaphysical landscapes, geological configurations and crystallizations as well as humanity’s endless search for paradise on earth. These wearable objects are visual recollections of the places I seek to recreate, diagrammatic maquettes of mountains, valleys and rock formations. The ambiguity and juxtaposition of the shapes and circumscription of the pieces are atlas-like, mineral-like and elevation-like… My use of discarded materials and repurposing them is a direct response to mass consumerism. I am in love with the idea of gathering scrap steel sheet, raw slabs of stone and cast off composite countertops and making them into something luxurious.
/ Lawrence Woodford


Precious is an exhibition that asks us to compare what we desire versus what we discard – to consider the ease with which we abdicate responsibility from items determined to be of ‘lesser-value’. By creating precious artwork from everyday, discarded and overlooked items, Micah Adams, Christine Dwane and Lawrence Woodford remind us that our world is shaped by the decisions we make. Whether disposable or sustainable, beauty is everywhere we choose to look.