TAKE IT FROM NATURE

TEXAS STATE UNIVERSITY

TXST student curates show connecting artists to nature

The natural world has been a source of inspiration to artists of all mediums since the beginning of time. Our connection to nature and the creativity it provokes was the muse for TXST senior Syd Perkinson’s group show Take It From Nature at the TXST FLEX galleries. The FLEX is a gallery space that students, faculty and alumni can propose art shows to every semester, and Perkinson’s nature focused application was chosen for the Spring 2025 run of shows. Perkinson organized a call for art and collected artwork from TXST students and alumni with an emphasis on work inspired by nature. The reception was packed with attendees viewing the wide variety of work from paintings to sculptures and everything in between. There was an interactive element to the show where attendees could take a plant clipping that lined the walls of the gallery and in its place leave a drawing inspired by the plant.

Perkinson is in their final semester at TXST soon to graduate with a BFA in painting along with a teaching certification. They started painting a decade ago after suffering a head injury that resulted in displaced memory and hallucinations.

“I started painting just what I saw — the faces of hallucinations — and then I started placing them in nature, in environments. That was the next step,” Perkinson said. “I call them flesh scapes.”

As Perkinson’s art evolved they decided to organize a group show to showcase artwork from similar sources of natural inspiration.

“I’m really interested in nature, and how it can inspire people and how people can take little bits of information from nature, whether it’s literally taking from nature to create art or if it’s taking an idea or seeing a pattern and making a whole work about it,” Perkinson said.

The group exhibition was a way that Perkinson could take their connection to nature and highlight how that connection ties us all together. It was actually being in nature that connected Perkinson to the San Marcos art scene. They volunteered on the trail crew with the San Marcos Greenbelt Alliance where they met other artists who encouraged them to show their work at The Price Center.

“I attribute a lot of myself and my confidence as an artist to the community of San Marcos,” Perkinson said.

Artwork of all kinds filled the FLEX gallery, from paintings, drawings, prints, ceramics, metalwork, sculptures and more; the common thread was each piece’s initial inspiration, nature. A station was set up with paper and drawing materials prompting guests to choose a plant clipping and leave a drawing inspired by the plant in its place. Throughout the night of the reception the plants disappeared with drawings taking their place. The interactive element of the show was a hit with people of all ages taking — not only inspiration from the nature in the room but literally taking nature home with them.

The show had a limited run but one can follow Perkinson’s work on their instagram at @artsydperkinson and keep up to date with all the upcoming shows at the Texas State University Galleries on their instagram page @txstgalleries