Alison Hiltner: My Darling Companions
Practice Gallery is pleased to present My Darling Companions, an exhibition of new work by Minnesota-based artist Alison Hiltner. Hiltner’s mesmerizing multi-media installation will inhabit Practice Gallery from October 3 through October 26, with a reception for the artist on First Friday, October 3 from 6:00-9:00 pm. Hiltner’s forms draw from the structures and systems of the natural world, creating an uncanny sci-fi resonance between the paths of earthworms and an abundant, glowing pollen towers.
Artist’s Statement:
Survival, in its essence, can be viewed through the lens of seduction—a compelling dance between humanity and the natural world, where each party plays a role in the intricate web of life. Hiltner’s exhibition, My Darling Companions, delves into this dynamic, illuminating how various elements of nature seduce one another in a symbiotic relationship.
The image of root systems intertwined with the pathways of earthworms captures a profound interconnectedness; they collaborate beneath our feet, contributing to the health of the ecosystem. Pollen collection, likened to the opulence of champagne towers, symbolizes abundance and the rewards of this partnership. This imagery presents how nature sprawls out an abundance that, while mesmerizing, is dependent on the finely-tuned cooperation of its players, including the crucial pollinators that facilitate the continuity of plant life. It's an intimate partnership where one cannot thrive without the other. Hiltner explores this codependency through multimedia experiences, coyly flirting with our means of survival.
Humanity, however, stands at a crossroads in this dance. Instead of only observing or manipulating nature, we must consider what role we actively choose to play. Are we mere spectators, seducing nature with our demands and consumption, or are we unwittingly contributing to its destruction? The latter threatens the very foundation of our existence, as ecological balance is crucial for our survival.
This brings forth a critical question: how can we reframe our relationship with the environment? To truly entice the natural world, we need to engage in actions that protect and nurture it. This includes creating environments that support pollinators, promoting biodiversity, and enriching the soil—actions that reflect our understanding of mutual benefit rather than exploitation.
By embracing this approach, we recognize that our survival is intricately linked to the well-being of the natural world. In this dance of life, we should aspire not only to participate but to lead in a manner that respects nature's complexities. As stewards of the Earth, our role is to cultivate harmony, knowing that by fostering a healthier ecosystem, we secure our own fate. In this balance lies the true essence of survival, where enticing nature becomes a shared journey rather than a one-sided pursuit.
Images courtesy the artist
Artist’s Bio
Alison Hiltner's visual arts practice examines how science fiction cinema shapes our current understanding of scientific research and how this perspective may influence future technological advancements. Her work often takes the form of multimedia installations and interactive displays. Hiltner has exhibited her art both nationally and internationally in solo and group exhibitions. Some notable venues include the Minneapolis Institute of Art, Telemark Art Center in Norway, Weisman Art Museum, 16 Tech in Indianapolis, Rochester Art Center, and the UCLA Art/Sci Center in Los Angeles. Throughout her career, she has received several prestigious awards, including multiple Minnesota State Arts Board Artist Initiative Grants, three MRAC/McKnight Foundation Next Step grants, a Jerome Foundation Fellowship, and an Artists on the Verge Northern Lights/Jerome Foundation Fellowship. Additionally, she has been honored with two McKnight Visual Artist Fellowships and participated in an artist-in-residence program at the University of Minnesota’s School of Medicine through an experimental initiative at the Weisman Art Museum. Most recently, Hiltner was awarded the 2024-26 McKnight Visual Artist Fellowship and the International Sculpture Center's Innovator of the Year award, with a feature pending in Sculpture Magazine.
