Preston Gaines -Post Natural Landscape
Date/Time
Wednesday, June 21, 2023
6pm—9pm
Location:
Mashburn Gallery in the Gerald D. Hines College of Architecture and Design
Exhibition Details
“Post Natural Landscape” presents a rich anthology of works borne out of Gaines’ residency at the Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts. This exhibit creatively bridges the gap between the organic and synthetic, mirroring Gaines’ deep engagement with the local community and his innovative experimentation with new materials and techniques during his residency. It’s a testament to the transformative power of his Artist in Residence program, which provided the opportunity to closely study and interact with the Houston environment, thereby influencing the development of his work.
The exhibition embodies the “Post-Natural Landscapes” theory, a perspective Gaines honed during his residency, which posits that the human influence on the environment has rendered ‘untouched’ nature an obsolete concept. This concept underscores a new environmental reality, where landscapes, transformed by human intervention and technological advancement, have evolved into a new form of nature, no longer entirely natural.
Deeply influenced by his residency, Gaines stated, “This exhibition is a reflection of my immersive journey as an artist in residence. It’s a meditative exploration of the complex interplay between nature and technology. The residency period allowed me to dive deep into these themes, challenging myself and now, the viewers, to contemplate how our actions are influencing the future of our planet.”
In “Post Natural Landscape”, Gaines extends the transformative experience of his residency to the audience, inviting them to partake in an important dialogue about our place within this new environmental reality. His work encourages us to reflect on how we can coexist and flourish within these “Post-Natural Landscapes”, transforming them into spaces of creative potential and innovative evolution.
The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Center for the Arts, along with its collaborators, extends a warm invitation to all to experience “Post Natural Landscape” and engage in this critical conversation about our collective environmental future. The opening reception, scheduled for June 21, will offer guests the opportunity to interact with the artist and enjoy refreshments provided by the Saint Arnold Brewery, who will be contributing to the opening exhibition night.