The Quarry 

Editor: So, here we have "The Quarry," a landscape drawing rendered in ink by James Ward. I’m immediately struck by the contrast; there's this rugged, almost harsh, terrain, yet it's presented with such delicate lines. It feels very intentional. What's your read on it? Curator: It's a powerful piece, isn't it? Ward’s “The Quarry” whispers of transformation. The harsh lines and seemingly desolate landscape initially present a picture of industry and its impact, sure, but squint a little. Do you not see resilience etched into those rocks? Editor: Resilience? I see the…erosion. Curator: Exactly! Erosion IS resilience. The quarry is more than a scar. Ward has captured, for me, the beauty inherent in how the landscape reforms and finds a new existence. Think about it: the vegetation is beginning to encroach on the rock face, softening those harsh angles, almost as if nature is reclaiming its own. Editor: I suppose that’s why it doesn’t feel entirely bleak. The trees in the background seem almost untouched, juxtaposed against the exposed earth. Curator: Precisely! The interplay of light and shadow… it's an ongoing dialogue. It shows you not just where something has been taken, but also hints towards renewal and rebirth. What initially felt like desolation begins to morph, if you're ready for it, into hope and new beginnings. Editor: I definitely see that now. The composition almost forces you to confront that duality. I walked in thinking about the negative impacts of extraction, and now I'm contemplating something deeper about adaptation and change. Thanks for that! Curator: My pleasure. Isn’t it funny how a quarry, a symbol of taking away, can reflect the world adding back, bit by bit? Just gorgeous.