Subterranean Gallery

A small basement apartment gallery that existed in Midtown Kansas City. MO from 2010-2016

Subterranean Gallery was a place that existed between the strange and unexpected histories of a basement domestic space. Midwestern suburban basements are usually filled with walnut wood panelling, old shag carpet, light up signs for Old Style beer, and stacks of now unused teal green Tupperware jello molds. The experience of art in that space, in lieu of ones own father's collected sports memorabilia, allows for a different kind of conversation. One that is more intimate and familiar, even though it is a gallery for contemporary art. It's a space of collaboration but more importantly a space for conversation. The talk of art in Kansas City is the hearth of what makes a stark white painted basement apartment a wonderful space see and be with art.

The space was founded by Ayla Rexroth in 2010 and taken over by Mel Mitchell in 2013, which they ran until the gallery’s ending in 2016.

Rexroth's Transformation of Apartment B

Hot Tub Dialogues Lecture Series

The aim of the Hot Tub Dialogues was to create an open conversation between emerging and established members of Kansas City’s arts community by interacting in an informal setting. Co-curators of the series Clayton Skidmore and Ayla Rexroth launched an online Kickstarter fund raising campaign in November 2011 and received over $2,500 to produce the series. 

Early 2014 Exhibitions

In my first few months as Director of SUB I was able to show the lovely  figurative work of my friend Rachel Gregor and the experimental interior installations of R. Shrum. These shows really helped me solidify a programming-centric approach to exhibitions, curating weekend events that related to the artist's practice and interests. 

Digital Exhibition Series

The Digital Exhibition Series was an open national call for work that was in conversation with net art and other web based practices that reconsidered the context of virtual spaces in a domestic gallery. Digital art is often presented in traditional white-cube settings, yet the monitor, television, or other screen-based technology native to the home. The way we connect with computers is typically in a private space. Were interested in exploring how these exhibitions can walk that line of familiar interaction. 

The Last Shows

The last two shows at Subterranean Gallery were such a lovely bookend to the early 2014 exhibitions. Somebody's Home, the November exhibition, featured work by Juliana Noelle Jumper and Erin Dodson both artists work situated the awkward fragmentation of coming of age and girlhood the suburbs. Dodson's photographs created the setting for Jumper's interior cut paper works and animations. The Glory Days Will Not Last Forever was the final show at SUB, featuring a huge party decor installation by Amy Kligman (with much help from our gallery interns Rebecca Pech Moguel and Patricia Bordallo!) The exhibition opening featured a performance by Blanket Undercover, a video work by Melissa Lenos, and a witch house dj set of one-hit-wonders by Kevin Heckart.

OUR INTERNS!