Artificial Landscape: Kia Neill's Terrain at Women and Their Work [Art Preview]

In Central Texas, we have limestone and water to thank for creating some of our favorite natural destinations; Barton Springs, Hamilton Pool, and Inner Space Caverns are just a few of the rock and water formations we seek out on a regular basis. Houston artist Kia Neill has spent the last few years recreating structures that have been perfected in nature by rendering them in everyday materials like paper-mache, chicken wire, Christmas lights, and typical craft store standbys like paint, glitter, and rhinestones. On Saturday, her latest exhibit Terrain opens at Women and Their Work Gallery. For Terrain Neill will focus on the above ground landscape where us terrestrial beings haunt. Inside the gallery, patrons will walk through an environment of artificial rocks, handmade stalagmites, and geodes sparkling with the help of crushed CDs and LED lights. The opening reception for Terrain will start at 6pm and Neill will give a talk about the installation at 7pm.

Neill works in a world where nature intersects with artificial. She was intrigued by the allure of synthetic imitations when, at a local craft store she stumbled across a styrofoam apple that a child had attempted to take a bite out of. Inspired, she fabricated a geode out of plaster, paper-mache, and rhinestones, with plastic grass and flowers. Moving into larger scale work, she created Cave and Grotto, two life-life sized, embellished recreations of nature. For Terrain, Neill is interested in exploring how an above ground, more exposed perspective alters the viewer's experience and interactivity with the installation. Avoiding direct duplication of natural forms, Neill instead places "emphasis on gaudy or absurd embellishment so to render an enhanced synthetic ideal". Remember, tread lightly and be careful where you step.

Terrain will be on display until February 27th at Women and Their Work.