ARTFEED — Contemporary Art Intelligence

Sadie Barnette's Doorbell Camera Video Inspires Joslyn Art Museum Show

exhibition · 2026-07-31

Sadie Barnette's exhibition at the Joslyn Art Museum's Riley Contemporary Artists Project (CAP) Gallery, opening August 1, centers on a doorbell security camera recording. The black-and-white video captures her father removing helium balloons from a car trunk; a heart-shaped balloon floats away unnoticed, prompting a search. Barnette recognized the episode's layered narratives about affection and memory. The show spans drawing, sculpture, photography, and installation, exploring intersections of personal and collective histories.

Key facts

  • Exhibition opens August 1 at Joslyn Art Museum's Riley CAP Gallery
  • Centers on a doorbell security camera recording
  • Video shows artist's father with helium balloons from car trunk
  • A heart-shaped balloon floats away unnoticed
  • Barnette works across drawing, sculpture, photography, installation
  • Explores personal narratives and collective histories
  • Artist's father appears in the video
  • Balloons were a gift for the artist's mother

Entities

Artists

  • Sadie Barnette

Institutions

  • Joslyn Art Museum
  • Riley Contemporary Artists Project (CAP) Gallery

Locations

  • Omaha
  • United States

Sources