About the exhibit

This exhibit primarily features bird photography, along with some selected fauna, from locations in North and Central America by photographer Gail Suberbielle.

Artist statement: Gail Suberbielle

My parents instilled in me a love and appreciation of nature from the time I was young, and their influence shapes every photograph I take. My philosophy is that there is so much beauty around us if we look for it (just "look up"!), and my hope is that by sharing these images, I can pass along a small part of their legacy and my own: an invitation to pause, look up, and notice the beauty that surrounds us.

In creating a photograph, I think of the camera as a tool, a means to capture an image, and my responsibility is to share that image with fidelity and care. I want to do the least unnatural thing to something natural, especially in this age of artificial intelligence, so I try not to do much in post, except cropping and maybe adjustment for light or noise. Instead, I'm invested in the things that make a shot interesting, like what a bird is doing, or the way the curve of a leaf follows the bird's head, or how the light looks on feathers, or the intersection of urbanity and nature.

I find birding very relaxing, meditative, almost spiritual. And there are some truly thrilling moments, too, when you catch a glimpse of a new bird, and your adrenaline spikes, and your heart starts to race, especially if you're trying to photograph it while it's camouflaged in leaves. There are some emotional times, too; seeing a "life bird" (on a birder's wish list, essentially) like a painted bunting made me cry, overcome by its beauty.

Ultimately, I hope these photographs offer viewers a moment of recognition or wonder... something that nudges them to look for the beauty in their own everyday landscapes.

‍About the artist

Gail Suberbielle is a south Louisiana photographer, community college English professor, and freelance writer and editor. She has taught composition and literature for nearly 30 years and has bachelor's and master's degrees in English and a doctorate in adult learning and development. Gail loves birds, nature, reading, gardening, running/strength training, dogs, food and family, including her husband Brian and "Fur kids" Sissy and Sam.