Art Gallery & Exhibitions

    A showcase of life, energy, and resilience, Spirited is an intimate collection of hand-selected photographs capturing the vibrant people and rich culture of Sri Lanka. Photographed by Trischa Splitter and curated by Sunitha Bosecker, this gallery invites viewers on a visual journey through five diverse locations: bustling cities, tea farms, mountains, and beach shores. 

These images, taken during a two-week exploration in March 2024, illustrate Sri Lanka's breathtaking landscapes and the strength of its people - particularly the women - who have endured challenges and change on national and local levels. Despite its complex history, present-day Sri Lanka is a place of warmth, hospitality, and a thriving culture.

The photos also highlight the country's incredible wildlife - from wild elephants to peacocks - and, most importantly, the warmth and determination of its people. This collection of images aims to inspire appreciation for the beauty, energy, and soul with each frame, leaving lasting impression on those who experience it.

Trischa Splitter is a photographer based in Columbia, Missouri. Driven by a deep appreciation for all things that bring joy to a complex and sometimes challenging world, her work celebrates the vibrancy of everyday life, the love of animals, and the appreciation for both the grand and the mundane moments that bring people happiness. 

Through her photography, Trischa seeks to capture the beauty and wonder of the human experience, fostering a deeper appreciation for the connections that make the world a smaller and more interconnected place.

Noppadol Paothong is a an award-winning nature/conservation photographer and an associate fellow with the International League of Conservation Photographers (iLCP). The iLCP is an elite group of world’s top wildlife, nature, and culture photographers  who have demonstrated a deep commitment to conservation efforts around the globe.

He is also a staff wildlife photographer with the Missouri Department of Conservation and contributes his images and stories to its high quality publication, Missouri Conservationist, Xplor, and many others. With a monthly circulation of over 500,000, the Missouri Conservationist is known as one of the largest and high quality state conservation magazines in the nation.

He has received numerous national and international honors for his work including "Best of the Best" Picture of the Year, and Missouri Photojournalist of the Year.

For over 20 years, he has been documenting rare and endangered species, primarily grassland grouse and their fragile habitat, and has published two large-format national award-winning books, Save the Last Dance (2012) and Sage Grouse, Icon of the West (2017). Both  are considered to be definitive books on the North American grouse and have been nationally recognized and praised by conservation experts, newspapers, and major publications. They have also won several national prizes including the National Outdoors Book Award and a Grand Prize from the Indie Book Awards in 2018.

His images appear regularly in many national publications, such as Audubon, Nature Conservancy, National Wildlife, Ranger Rick, and many more. 

In addition to publishing books, he has consistently shared his work and passion through programs and presentations across the country. He hopes that his programs and exhibits will help people connect with nature and the conservation issues that he deeply cares about. 

"Nature has a way to teach us. It also has the incredible power of putting things in perspective. We can't force someone to care for nature; they have to appreciate it for themselves, whether from the experience of watching the sun rise over an ocean, listening to the songs of birds, or witnessing the bizarre yet spectacular displays of the sage-grouse.

I hope that my images in this exhibit will remind people of the places these birds call home - places that are truly beautiful and unique to the American West. Perhaps these spring dancers will inspire us all to care for them, the icon of the west."

My work is an exploration of the rich and intricate world of traditional tattooing, crafted through a diverse array of mediums including watercolor, oil, and pen and ink. With fifteen years of experience as a tattoo artist, my artistic journey has taken me across various cultures and styles, deeply influencing my approach and vision.

Currently, my art is profoundly shaped by Japanese tattoos and folklore. The meticulous detail and symbolism inherent in this tradition inspire me to delve into its narratives and visual language. Each piece I create is a fusion of these ancient stories with contemporary artistic expression, aiming to preserve and share the cultural heritage of tattoo art.

Through my work, I strive to translate these stories into vibrant images that resonate with viewers, offering them a glimpse into the rich tapestry of tattoo history and mythology. My goal is not only to celebrate this art form but also to engage and educate others, making the timeless beauty and significance of traditional tattooing accessible and meaningful.

Martin grew up in Columbia, Missouri. He started writing and producing plays when he was seventeen. His senior year in high school he directed his first play, "Life on the 6:55" at the University of Missouri. He studied theatre at Truman State University, where he also learned to play guitar and was the songwriter and lead singer for several local rock n’ roll bands.

After college, Martin spent ten years in Hollywood, where he acted in many plays and low budget movies. He played the ghost of the week on episode six of the UPN TV series "Haunted" and wrote for season two of Cartoon Network's "Class of 3000." While writing and directing plays for the Long Beach Shakespeare Company, Martin was approached by Dashiell Hammett's family and contracted to write and direct the first theatrical adaptation of "The Maltese Falcon" ever produced.

After returning to Missouri, Martin wrote and drew the webcomic "Vorto the Pirate." He began experimenting with nonobjective painting just after the covid lockdown.

MARILYNNE BRADLEY is an artist, teacher, and highly sought-after workshop instructor both nationally and internationally. She is a signature artist member in multiple Southern Watercolor Societies, and Artists' Guilds, and is a past president of the Southern Watercolor Society. Her work is recognized in museum exhibitions, accepted in major national juried competitions and included in many major corporate collections in the United States, France, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Korea, Australia, Tahiti and China.  She has had over 200 one person exhibits and received over 75 awards. Her paintings have been included in: The Best of Watercolor”, ARTFOLIO 2020/2022,”Watercolor Mag,” “Northlight”. She has written and illustrated three watercolor books and created a number of instructional videos.

 Kelsey Hammond has a graduate degree in Fine Art Photography from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco, CA. and an undergraduate degree in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles. Kelsey co-owns the Yellow Dog Bookshop and is the Executive Director of The Columbia Art League in Columbia, MO. 

Linda Helmick is an Assistant Professor of Art Education at the University of Missouri in Columbia. She is an artist/researcher/teacher who grounds her work in the belief that creative expression is a basic human right that should be accessible for all. She promotes creativity as a powerful force for change, healing, and transformation. Her areas of expertise include critical creative work with underserved populations and building art education/art therapy wellness and self-care curricula to better serve those who have experienced trauma. Linda creates art to enhance her own human understanding and to find greater ways to contribute to the world as an artist/researcher/teacher through the life she lives and the marks she makes in creative partnership with others. Her goal is to create work that is honest and at times beautiful.

Tricia Dietrich is the creatrix of Sacred Source Studios, LLC., a space that utilizes ritual, creativity, and movement to help people connect to their intuition, discover the language of their soul, and live legendary lives. 

Tricia's art and offerings have helped hundreds of people worldwide to get out of their own way and embody their unique blueprint. 

When she is not “working”, you can find Tricia on her deck, drinking a glass of dry red wine with Shawn, her handsome hubby, and the hummingbirds.  At night, she can be found dancing in the woods under the moonlight with her siSTARS.

"I create art because I have to be a healthy, whole person. It's as essential to my life as having regular bowel movements. When I am not expressing myself or being creative I feel stopped up, bloated, and a little bitchy.."   ~Tricia Dietrich  

My vision is to use intention to create beauty that illuminates the soul's path.

My quest is to understand the stories that are living through me and create a life that is one of service and authenticity. I use a variety of tools to pave the road of my journey. Paintbrushes, paint, glitter, and outlandish costumes are my favorites.  

Each of my paintings begins with an energetic pull. This pull is often something I cannot ignore, yet may not fully understand. It usually coincides with a series of events happening in my life that generate inquiry or just feel like fun.

Form emerges. In this process, I feel free to do and be whomever I choose. In deepening the process, the energetic pull that brought me to the canvas begins to take form and inform me. I trust and paint until the form reaches completion. In this process, wisdom is gained. In this, I reclaim and acquaint myself with parts of me that may have been lost.