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 Craft Culture June 30, 2006 "The catalogue for jeweler Elfrun Lach's exhibition at Pieces of Eight gives us some clue to the title Correlation. There are connections to be made everywhere. Not just to the word play on coral , a source of inspiration and material for Lach, but also in the juxtaposition between the objects and both historical and natural references. We see the infant Jesus on Mary's knee in a 15th century painting by Piero della Francesca. Around His neck a chain of scarlet beads is punctuated by blood red coral. A full page is devoted to the gnarled bark of a tree, its sister image a brooch created from a small twig bound with red cotton thread. What are we to make of all these signifiers? Do we read the work as a narrative? It is only jewelry after all. These days you can remove the only. In the current craft climate jewelers rule supreme as the object makers of the day. They can load their work not just with statements but stories as complex as the work itself. Lach is not afraid of sophistication. She fully embraces the historical in her very contemporary pieces. She reveals her fine art background here – wanting a context for the work. This is always a fine thing in an exhibition context. We want so much more than small price tags and nice lighting. Lach does not ignore wearability. All the pieces respond well to the body. A bangle constructed from coral/leaflike leather shapes could be production work. A set of coral branch earrings, finely beaded and understated may find there way home to this reviewer's top drawer. There are some real show stoppers among the 25 pieces on display. ‘Broome ' is a single strand necklace constructed from white porcelain and coral and is fit for an underwater queen. There is a red version too that is a real statement piece. The two necklaces stand as punctuation for the show – both are flanked by more challenging work. ‘Made in Germany ' is a shorter neckpiece constructed from curved sections of white recycled plastic. But for me the really finest work in the show is where Lach allows herself to completely strip back the preciousness. The final piece ‘Corallium Pentop' a simple sterling silver chain ‘studded' with common plastic red pen lids. Clearly Lach has begun to see coral everywhere. I was struck by its simplicity, and yes its beauty even. It was playful, irreverent even amongst the finer pieces." – Ramona Barry 
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