“I applied a platinum overglaze to the section of the work that suggested the film negative, something not printed. It was the ashtray on the table that printing had released into the real world. What awaited was someone’s hand seen reaching for it to tap the ash off their cigarette or put it out. Since the ashtray was in the world of change, I used actual ones I’d picked up here and there rather than ones I made. The work wasn’t finished until someone looking at my work made use of the ashtray by flicking ash off their cigarette or putting it out. It had to do with the piece coming alive only when it was being completed, only when it was being used.” –Jim Melchert