Sphalerite, Zinc Sulfide, Zinc White, Chinese White, Zinc Oxide 

Curator: Here we have "Sphalerite, Zinc Sulfide, Zinc White, Chinese White, Zinc Oxide," an intriguing piece manufactured by the New Jersey Zinc Co. It’s essentially a raw chunk of zinc ore, presented in its natural state. Editor: My first impression is one of earthy heft. The color is almost like burnt umber, and the texture looks incredibly rough, tactile, almost begging to be held. Curator: Exactly! Its value lies in its materiality, representing the raw source of pigments used in art. Sphalerite, when processed, becomes the very 'zinc white' listed in the title. Editor: So it's art about art materials. I suppose in a way, this celebrates the hidden origins, the quiet, geological genesis of so many masterpieces we admire. It makes you wonder what other raw materials are waiting to be celebrated. Curator: Precisely! Looking at it, I'm reminded that art isn’t just about the final product but also the journey, the raw ingredients, the earth itself. Editor: It's a conversation starter, that’s for sure. Nature's handiwork, recontextualized as art.