Capital City Arts Initiative

Exhibition Dates: October 15, 2021 – March 3, 2021
Artist’s Reception: Tuesday, October 19, 5 – 6:30pm; artist introduction 5:30pm
Exhibition Venue: Community Center’s Crowell Board Room, 
851 E William St, Carson City, Nevada

Through the Lens
Exhibition in the Crowell Board Room

The Capital City Arts Initiative presents Through the Lens by Paul Mudgett at the Community Center’s Crowell Board Room from October 15, 2021 — March 3, 2022. The Community Center is located at 851 E William Street, Carson City and is open during all public meetings and on request. CCAI will host a reception for the artist in the Crowell Board Room, Tuesday, October 19, 5 – 6:30pm with the artist introduction at 5:30pm. To watch the exhibition tour and Paul’s interview, click here: https://youtu.be/bQuIk2XPK10

Through the Lens presents color photographs from Paul Mudgett’s travels around the West. He said, “Landscape and wildlife photography offer challenges and opportunities to create images that reflect a moment or experience. There is a certain excitement that comes with unpredictable things, whether that’s the color and reflection of light at sunrise or how wildlife will move through the lens. Finding the right composition for landscapes is really finding a view that appeals to me visually and waiting patiently for the right light rather than being a stickler for the ‘rules of composition’. My journey into photography started as a distraction from work. Being outdoors allows the perfect environment to disconnect and step away for a little while.”

He is mostly a self-taught photographer practicing new techniques. “My wife refers to me as the accidental artist,” said Mudgett. “I bought my first DSLR because it seemed like a hobby that would be a great distraction from work, but then I got hooked on learning all I could about the technical details of the camera, good light, composition, and anything else I could absorb.” With a career that requires constant, technical learning, Mudgett has taken that same hands-on, disciplined approach to learning photography.  

Mudgett grew up in southern California but moved under the shadow of the Sierra Nevada in 1992 to finish school at the University of Nevada. While digital photography has grown to be a passionate hobby, his career is in the cybersecurity field, working for one of the world’s leading cybersecurity firms. In his spare time, Mudgett also enjoys paddle boarding at Lake Tahoe, golfing, writing, travel, and playing guitar.

CCAI is an artist-centered not-for-profit organization committed to community engagement in contemporary visual arts through exhibitions, illustrated talks, arts education programs, artist residencies, and online activities.

The Initiative is funded by the John and Grace Nauman Foundation, Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts, Nevada Humanities and the National Endowment for the Humanities, Carson City Cultural Commission, Kaplan Family Charitable Fund, U.S. Bank Foundation, Southwest Gas Corporation Foundation, Steele & Associates LLC, and CCAI sponsors and members.

The Governor’s Office of Economic Development provided additional support through its Nevada Pandemic Emergency Technical Support Grant for 2021.

top image, right: Paul Mudgett; Bridge to Sunrise, 20″x30″, 2020
2nd image, left: Paul Mudgett; Stare Down, 20″x30″, 2021
bottom image: Through the Lens exhibition flier