Soka University of America's Founders Gallery invites the community to the Artists' Opening Receptions of two new exhibits - Nellie Gail Moulton: Through the Eyes of a Pioneer Woman and Dylan Mortimer:  The Flames of Heaven on exhibit May 18 through September 8, 2023.

Nellie Gail Moulton: Through the Eyes of a Pioneer Woman tells the story of Nellie's arrival from Kansas to California at the turn of the 20th century. Nellie Gail Moulton (1878-1972) created art throughout her entire life and studied with renowned artists such as William Wendt, Frank Cuprien, Edgar Payne, and Anna Hills (who is featured in the gallery).

Nellie oversaw Moulton Ranch from 1938-1950 with her daughters, Charlotte and Louise. Nellie's collection of en plein air paintings and sketches are shown along with her granddaughter Jane Barnes' watercolors.

More Information: Nellie Gail Moulton’s work can be viewed on the Moulton Museum website.

Dylan Mortimer: The Flames of Heaven - The symbols that collide in Dylan Mortimer’s work fuse anatomical, biological, and medical imagery with spiritual and religious themes. It employs vibrant materials to evoke a transformation from a deadly disease he was diagnosed with at birth, providing a glimmer of hope in spite of a grim prognosis. “My whole life has been an attempt to spread glitter over a seemingly hopeless situation,” Mortimer says. “I aim to reference and navigate my own despair, transformation, and joy. It is my own leap of faith.”

A variety of materials are used, from glitter suspended in resin, to lights, to colored glass. The aim is to combine a variety of discoveries into a contemporary manifestation of the baroque, which acknowledges pain and challenge, as well as the strength to overcome it.

More Information: Dylan Mortimer’s work can be viewed on his website.