Transmutations with Mixed Media – Alchemy of Four Artists

Gualala Arts is proud to present Transmutations with Mixed Media – Alchemy of Four Artists, an evocative exhibition celebrating the transformative power of mixed media art. Featuring Sharon Nickodem, Robyn Cota Cann, Leslie Moody Cresswell, and Donnalynn Chase, the show opens with a public reception on Wednesday, September 11, from 4 to 6 p.m. in the Burnett Gallery, and will remain on view through October 18, 2025.

Mixed media, a dynamic and expressive art form, blends materials such as paint, ink, fabric, paper, found objects, and digital elements to create layered, multidimensional works. Like modern-day alchemists, these four artists harness diverse techniques to transmute everyday materials into compelling visual narratives.

Sharon Nickodem begins her collages with hand-cut elements sourced from magazines, vintage postcards, and personal photographs. Her process bridges analog and digital realms, culminating in richly layered compositions printed on archival paper. “The assembled image may recall a past event, a dream, or a fantasy,” she shares, inviting viewers into her introspective world.

Robyn Cota Cann is an artist who has either been creating or instructing others in how to create most her life. “In mixed media art, I enjoy abstract imagery, which takes two forms for me. The first is an exercise, purely, in color, value and composition.  I also practice abstract realism, meaning that I intend to paint about an image but not to replicate it” says Robyn. Robyn paints her own collage papers which makes for a more genuine expression. She is currently working on a series about the places in our local surroundings which gives her joy and a sense of awe.

Leslie Moody Cresswell creates art in many different mediums and includes many of them into her art pieces. As a very young child, Leslie had an aunt and uncle who encouraged her to “follow her art”. She shares, “I thought my art would be printmaking but I was seduced by the mystery of blown glass, which became my medium for over 40 years. Now I am back to printmaking, watercolor, collage, and mixed medias of all kinds.” Leslie is still following her art as she combines many mediums and mark making with collage and printmaking.

Collecting things has always been one of Donnalynn Chase’s passions. Things like old Beetle trading cards, photographs, vintage postcards and sewing ephemera, antique books, stamps, lace, and more. The collection of this stuff leads to another passion of hers, which is creating collages and assemblages with her collected things. Typically Donnalynn is known for working exclusively with original antique images in her collages. Yet the lure of different medias, especially any involving color, are appearing more often in her work.

This exhibition is a celebration of creative transformation—where materials are reimagined, memories are layered, and meaning is forged through artistic experimentation. Visitors will encounter a rich tapestry of styles and stories, each offering a unique interpretation of mixed media’s alchemical potential