Mooneyham Art Presents: Nature Framed and Authenticity Is the new Gimmick

Featuring New Works by Devin “Itchy” Gable and Wildlife Photographer Carol Bock. This dynamic dual-artist exhibition features the visceral, identity-driven paintings of Devin “Itchy” Gable alongside the internationally recognized wildlife photography of Carol Bock. Together, their work forms a powerful dialogue about truth, transformation, and the courage to see and be seen without disguise.

DEVIN “ITCHY” GABLE: UNMASKED

At 39, professional wrestler and visual artist Devin “Itchy” Gable stands at a rare crossroads: return to the ring as a character he never chose, or step back into the spotlight as his authentic self.

Once a rising performer on the Midwest independent wrestling circuit, Gable walked away from the industry under the weight of emotional exhaustion, homophobia, and a persona that erased him.

“I felt like I was disappearing,” he says. “I became a character I didn’t even like.” -Devin Gable

Assigned a hillbilly gimmick during the Duck Dynasty era, Gable found himself performing a version of masculinity that contradicted everything he was. Fans waved Confederate flags. Promoters pushed stereotypes. The cost was his identity.

A Breakdown Becomes a Breakthrough

After leaving wrestling, Gable spiraled into a period of emotional volatility that led him to Centerstone, where he received support, it became the beginning of understanding himself.

His early artwork raw, bloody, and unfiltered, then he emerged from this darkness.

“I wasn’t a monster. I was scared of being myself.”-Devin Gable

Surrounded by stacks of paintings, Gable had a revelation: What if wrestling and art were not separate identities, but one?

CAROL BOCK: SEEING THE WORLD AS IT IS

Balancing Gable’s raw emotional expression with Nature Framed is the breathtaking clarity of Carol Bock, an Alton-based wildlife and travel photographer whose work has been recognized by National Geographic, CNN Travel, and publications across the globe.

Where Gable’s work confronts the internal wilderness, Bock’s photography captures the external one, inviting viewers into intimate encounters with the natural world.

Her celebrated image “Nap Time,” featuring a grizzly bear resting on a log, was named Photo of the Day by National Geographic. Her work has appeared in:

• CNN’s 53 Spectacular Wildlife Photos

• CNN’s 25 Top Travel Photos

• Budget Travel magazine

• Numerous international online publications

Bock has traveled with her wife, Denise, to New Zealand, Australia, Iceland, South Africa, Mozambique, and across the Americas in search of the perfect moment of connection between animal and environment.

Her landscape photography is displayed prominently throughout St. Louis University Hospital, where she worked until her retirement in 2023.

While her primary focus is wildlife, Bock also explores macro photography—capturing insects and small creatures with an intimacy that transforms the overlooked into the extraordinary.

Through her lens, she hopes to inspire a deeper connection to the natural world and a renewed sense of stewardship.

About Mooneyham Art

Mooneyham Art LLC is a studio gallery and creative hub located in Historic Downtown Alton. Founded by artist and curator Charles Mooneyham, the gallery is dedicated to uplifting regional artists, fostering community connection, and ensuring that art remains accessible to all.

Through exhibitions, workshops, and public programming, Mooneyham Art serves as a cultural anchor for the Riverbend area, championing creativity as a force for wellness, identity, and shared experience.

Resident Artists:

In addition to the featured exhibition, quests will see works of art by a diverse group of regional, national and international artists, carefully curated by Charles Mooneyham and Stephen Scoridas, including:

Jeff Vaughn, Natalie Welborn, Rhonda Willman, Marty McKay, Craig Downs, Jon Ross-Mooneyham, Jay Thompson, David Bailey, Derek” DEEK” Diedricksen, Jamie Geragosian, Joe Bova Conti, Candice Fulton, Jill Haack, Melissa Lavitt, Natalie Emmons, Cathy Dudley, Christy Motsinger, Ryan Scordias, Mindy Nickel, Jen Rulo, Tonnetta Fredrickson, Mindy Cooke, Mike Williams, Tyler Clayberg, Mike Nickel, Kaylin Gauthier, Yoonis Skully and more.

WHAT TO EXPECT AT THE EXHIBITON?

Guests will enjoy complimentary gourmet desserts prepared by Dolci Bakery and Café. As you relish the delicacy of deserts, while being stimulated by visual art and fine jewelry, Psychedelic Symphony provides the soundtrack for the evening. Creating a backdrop that sets the tone of the event to the highest level of vibration.

This is more than an art opening, it’s a happening!

As always, events at Mooneyham Art will remain FREE to the public.