Here's what I was thinking: Inaugural Exhibition

Sibyl Gallery exists within my home. My partner and I live above the gallery space with our little dog. Our house was built in 2007 by the sole owner and occupant before us, Danny Keiffer. An accomplished carpenter, Keiffer built the house out of concrete and steel, a bunker designed to withstand whatever should befall New Orleans in the years to come. The house does not impose itself on its surroundings–it was simply built to last. On the ground floor he built a workshop and filled it with wood and metalworking tools. I made very few changes, keeping the honey-colored plywood walls with notes scrawled in pencil, a testament to the space’s original purpose even as it becomes a place for art. 

I wanted to create a different kind of gallery from ones I had experienced in the past. This gallery should feel warm and accessible, without compromising the caliber of artworks being shown. In this space I prioritize accessibility, not by showing art that feels easy, but by opening myself and my home to allow for conversation and fresh discovery. The raw, unprecious nature of the space opens it up to endless possibilities: performance art, installation, community events, meditation classes, and the like.

There is no overarching narrative theme among these works, just the connections I continue to make as I pursue my passion for seeing and learning about art and working closely with artists. The artists shown are both old friends and new. Their works make me want to read and think and try to put into words how their work makes me feel. Many of these artists have agreed to future projects with the gallery, and as such, Here’s what I was thinking could be thought of as an introduction to the program. 

This is a space to spend time, ask questions, engage in the act of prolonged conscious observation that is so rare. In my years working in the art world, I have realized the importance of community. Since moving back to New Orleans from New York, my community has expanded, and the result is this gallery and this exhibition. Art is community. Microcosms of the global art world emerge and flourish because curious and creative people find each other. I have encountered such immense talent within this small city, and that talent finds its like in others. In the past, I tried to make my personal experience of the art world smaller and more exclusive. Now with my own space and program, I hope to expand it, to open my mind and see everything. I hope that Sibyl can play a role in the continued expansion of the arts network and community, both locally and beyond.  

Here’s what I was thinking contains works by Spencer Ainsley, Seth Becker, Kjelshus Collins, Paige DeVries, Emily DiPalo, Christian Dinh, Kendall Edell, Apple Cat Jam, Shabez Jamal, Jen Keltos, Marka Kiley, Shelby Little, Joi Murugavell, Sadie Sheldon, Leah Shirley, Maddie Stratton, Suyama Masaru, Jane Tardo, Ama Torres, and Erica Westenberger.  

-Katherine Lauricella Ainsley