| Forster Art Complex, Dennis Gallery: October 11, 2025 - January 20, 2026 |
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| Elements on Earth and BEYOND
II Mars Woodhill Throughout time, humanity has sought to understand our world—both on Earth and within the vast, mysterious cosmos. Over the past five years, Mars Woodhill has engaged with ancient philosophies of the Elements of Nature—Earth, Water, Fire, Metal, and Wood—through sculpture, wall art, and installation. These elemental principles have resonated across cultures and centuries, guiding spiritual thought and informing scientific exploration. They serve as frameworks for understanding the natural world, from the terrestrial to the celestial. This exhibition comprises over eight series depicting how the primal elements intersect with human experience. Woodhill's newest installation, How I Wonder What You Are, imagines a distant realm of inexplicable beauty and mystery. The series invites contemplation: might such forms be composed of materials we recognize, or of something yet unknown? Working with mixed media—acrylic polymers, acrylic mirrors, and organic substances—Woodhill examines how materials parse color, texture, and surface so that transparency and illumination become liminal. The deliberate juxtaposition of polished, reflective surfaces with earthy materials fosters attention and care, promoting a renewed respect for our connection to the natural world while creating the paradox of a potential cosmic encounter. Join Mars Woodhill in this odyssey into what is and what might be. About the Artist An alumna of Austin College (B.A., Art and History, 1976), classmates may recognize Mars Woodhill by her maiden name, Marla Stephens. She has exhibited widely in Houston and the Northeast, with recent solo exhibitions at the Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts (Lubbock) and the Dougherty Arts Center (Austin). Her work resides in numerous private and corporate collections. She lives and works on a ranch in the Texas Hill Country, where she maintains an active studio practice alongside cactus and rock gardening, bird and wildlife stewardship, and time with family—including her husband, Mark, five daughters, nine grandchildren, and their dog, Skylar. www.marswoodhill.com |
 Wall Assemblages Elements of Nature – Series VI left to right: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water 2020 Mixed media – acrylic on canvas, acrylic mirror, wood, bark, leaves, ash, charred wood, soil, rock, iron, rust, foam each 48” x 48” x 2.5”d Floor Sculptures Elements of Nature – Series VII left to right: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water 2023 Mixed media – acrylic on canvas, wood, bark, leaves, ash, charred wood, soil, rock, iron, rust, foam variable sizes What’s happening in this installation? There are five wall assemblages, each based on one of the Elements of Nature. However, in the center of each artwork, man is what you see. But what is the object plopped down in front of each wall assemblage? To create the floor sculptures, I cut out the center of five paintings, replaced it with the man reflecting material, and used the original center as the focus of the sculpture. Integrated with natural materials, it asks many questions. Perhaps the small sculpture represents nature creating a new entity when impacted by man. Or perhaps powerful nature has something else in mind and the structure is simply the beginning of an all new world. Metaphors abound. Can man truly transform nature or will nature have the last word and transform man? |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII – Galaxy 720, 721 – Unknown Origins 2023 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror each 24”sq x 5”d |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII Galaxy 308 2023 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror mounted to frame 42”h x 48”w x 6”d |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII Galaxy 310 2023 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror mounted to frame 42”h x 48”w x 6”d |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII – Galaxies left to right, top to bottom: Metal, Water, Wood, Fire, Earth 2023 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror each 24”sq x 5”d |
 How I Wonder What You Are Installation of Galaxies, Star Babies 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, acrylic mirror, stainless steel balls, steel hemispheres, leaves, bark, mica flakes, bronze, iron, rust, synthetic materials mounted on canvas backdrop 96”h x 288”w x 5-9”d Newly discovered galaxies beckon for detailed investigations into the minutiae of elements, such as precious metals, minerals, previously unknown aggregates of strange compositions, tiny reflective spheres, and most peculiar of all, these new galaxies reflect man. Scientists can’t explain what it means…… |
 1. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 3201 - Opaline 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror Star Babies - 15”, 8”, 6”, 4” dia 2. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 7107 – The Deep 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 18”, 12”, 8”, 6”, 4”, 4”, 4” dia 3. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 8108 - Beacon 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 21”, 10”, 8”, 8”, 6”, 4”, 4” dia 4. How I Wonder What You Are – Star Baby - 9602 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror 12" dia 5. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 3228 - Flourish 2025 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror Star Babies - 10”, 4” dia 6. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 3103- Precious 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 24”, 12”, 12”, 6”, 6”, 6”, 4” dia 7. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 1200 - Timberland 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 15”, 10”, 10”, 8”, 6”, 4” dia 8. How I Wonder What You Are –Galaxy 2102 – On Fire 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 24”, 14”, 12”, 6”, 4”, 4” dia 9. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 5105 - Golden 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 16”, 6”, 6”, 6” dia 10. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 1001- Backwoods 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 24”, 10”, 6”, 6”, 4”, 4” dia 11. How I Wonder What You Are – Star Baby 930 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror 12” dia x 5” depth 12. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 6106 - Aglow 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies - 16”, 8”, 4”, 4”, 4” dia 13. How I Wonder What You Are – Galaxy 4104 - Illuminate 2024 Mixed media – acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror size variable, Star Babies – 15”, 6”, 4”, 4” dia |
 Elements of Nature – Series I/Edition II - Top, left to right: Wood, Fire, Earth, Metal, Water 2022 Mixed media 18”sq x 3”d Elements of Nature – Series I/Edition IIa – Bottom, left to right: Metal, Wood, Earth, Water, Fire 2022 Mixed media 18”sq x 3”d According to the early philosophers, the five elements of fire, wood, water, earth and metal are at the root of all change, creation, and conflict. And they were believed to be the fundamental basis of everything in the universe between which interactions occur. In this installation, the elements are arranged in order of their impact upon another element. Top row: Creating/Generating Wood feeds Fire Fire creates Earth Earth contains/creates Metal Metal collects/contains Water Water feeds Wood Bottom row: Overcomes/Destroys Metal chops Wood Wood changes Earth Earth dams/absorbs Water Water extinguishes Fire Fire melts Metal |
 Elements of Nature – Series V – Star Babies left to right, top to bottom: Earth, Wood, Metal, Water, Fire 2023 Mixed media - acrylic, natural and synthetic materials on acrylic mirror 13.5”sq x 4-5”d The ancient cultures concluded that not only are the ‘Elements of Nature’ found on Earth, but everywhere in the universe. I created ‘Star Babies’ to represent the elements found elsewhere. Perhaps they are new planets or stars, but to me, a ‘star’ connotes light, wonder, joy, and mystery, while a ‘baby’ is a new being or entity with an unknown future. ‘Star Babies’ hold the promise and hope of a shiny, brilliant beginning and a glorious future. |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII – Earth 2021 Mixed media – foam, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, wood, soil, rocks, more 80”h x 56” x 34” |
 Elements of Nature – Series VIII – Earth (view 2) 2021 Mixed media – foam, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, wood, soil, rocks, more 80”h x 56” x 34” |
 Elements of Nature – Series III – Fire 2022 Mixed media – foam, wood, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, cedar, madrone bark, oak bark, more 36”h x 55” x 43” |
 Elements of Nature – Series III – Wood 2023 Mixed media – foam, wood, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, cedar, madrone bark, oak bark, more 36”h x 55” x 43” |
 Elements of Nature – Series III – Water 2022 Mixed media – foam, wood, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, sand, mica, natural and synthetic materials 34”h x 55” x 66” |
 Elements of Nature – Series III – Metal 2023 Mixed media – foam, wood, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, mica, glitter, more 92”h x 52” x 36” |
 Elements of Nature – Series III – Metal (view 2) 2023 Mixed media – foam, wood, acrylic, mirrored hemispheres, mica, glitter, more 92”h x 52” x 36” |
| EXAMPLES of EARLY WORK Artworks were rolled up and stored in our attic for 40 years by my Dad – I didn’t know they existed. |
 Unnamed 5 1975 Acrylic on canvas 66” x 47.5” |
 Unnamed 6 1975 Acrylic on canvas 20" x 34" |
 Unnamed 7 1975 Acrylic on canvas 30" x 25" |
| Where Art Found Her Mars Woodhill didn’t set out to be an artist when she arrived at Austin College in 1972. A history major, classical pianist, and voracious reader, she completed her required courses quickly. Contemplating her future, she decided a career designing books would be exciting. When the career center suggested an art degree, Mars was sure they had misunderstood. She hadn’t made “art” since elementary school—and didn’t intend to start now, considering herself totally untalented in art and especially drawing. Still, they urged her to meet with the department chair. Sitting before Dr. Richard Neidhardt, chair of the AC art department and art professor from 1967 to 1986, Mars explained her predicament and her distaste for drawing. With a twinkle in his eye, he replied, “I exempt you from drawing classes.” That small, generous act changed everything. What followed wasn’t always pretty. Mars recalls struggling through studio art assignments while classmates flourished. Even her sculpture teacher—the later renowned Vernon Fisher—was left speechless before one of her early works: “And not in a good way,” she laughs. Still, she persisted, drawn most of all to painting. She built her own canvases, some giant enough to rival Jackson Pollock’s proclivity for huge work, and experimented, emulating Frankenthaler, Gene Davis, etc. She did an independent study in Germany, pouring over works of art in small museums scattered across the countryside. She never did become a book designer. After graduation, Mars launched a successful business designing and manufacturing high-end furniture. A few decades later, after running a small business and raising a family, she signed up for an artist studio in Houston without any idea of what was next. Her career in art was launched. Today, on the eve of her 50th college reunion, Mars credits Austin College not just with her education, but with opening a door she never would have walked through on her own. “It’s really because of Austin College that I'm an artist today,” she said, “And what a gift that was because creating art has brought me so much joy and fulfillment.” |