The last word on this show is the beauty and subtle sense of humor the work expresses.  As already mentioned the beauty begins in the materials but continues in the relationship to context and is completed in the finished piece.  If seen lying out on the street or in a dumpster you might notice the intrinsic esthetic qualities of these discarded things (as the artist obviously does) but more likely not.  Because Robey    

Joan Robey, OK Harris Gallery

Joan Robey, OK Harris Gallery

isolates these bits and parts of superfluous stuff in a clean, well lit environment they accumulate a new esthetic value beyond their original function.  At the same time, depending on which objects are included and/or how they are presented, the results can be quite amusing.  A yellow leg from a chair or small table combined with a thick curved piece of wood and placed on a circle might represent nothing more than an intelligent abstract arrangement of materials.  Could it also suggest a sort of funky abstracted saxophone? Or maybe a passing reference to a cartoon pipe?  Any of these inferences are plausible but what really counts is the underlying sense of humor captured in the subtleties.  This quality of fun and beauty is no less important then the larger issues of balance and disparity the work engages.