Tanya Synar is a guest artist at Davis Gallery & Framing for the Annual Summer Group Show of 2025.Tanya Synar is a sculptor and installation artist working with cast metal, video, audio, and diverse materials. Originally from Oklahoma, she holds a BFA from Colorado State University and an MFA from the University of Washington, Seattle. Since 2004, she has taught Sculpture and Drawing at Texas Woman’s University, where she is an Associate Professor. Her work often draws from scientific research, including collaborations with NOAA. She has received grants from the Illinois Arts Council, Puffin Foundation, and TWU. Her exhibitions include venues in Scotland, Japan, and Germany.Artist StatementMy art-making practice is informed by my interest in geology, natural phenomena, and science.Impact Crater I is a 3D-printed, iron-coated sculpture depicting an impact crater on Mars. The surface terrain was modeled using data captured by NASA's Opportunity rover. The crater serves as a visual record—linking a past cosmic event to the present moment. Though the meteorite’s collision is unseen, its aftermath is etched into the Martian surface, a frozen trace of both the impact and its reverberations.Data of the Victoria Crater, courtesy NASA.This project was made possible through generous assistance and expertise were provided by: Richard Ceraldi, Kurt Dyrhaug and Hans Molzsberger. The work was 3-D printed and iron coated at the Atelierhaus Hilmsen Artist Residency and exhibited in Germany.