Bitten 2f

We Didn’t Get The Memo

Group exhibition curated by Cheryl Derricotte, 2024

Presented by Dreaming in Public with Nato Thompson


“It is no secret that San Francisco took a beating from many major news outlets over the past year. Instead of marveling at the city’s resilience, every week there seemed to be a new story – many from the other coast  – about San Francisco’s so-called ‘doom loop.’ In the eyes of some journalists, this perfect storm of empty commercial space, high housing prices, and crime overshadowed anything good happening in the city. “Lions and tigers and bears, oh my!” to quote one of my favorite childhood movies.  

 Meanwhile those of us who live and make art in the city, didn’t get the memo. Are there challenges after 4 years of COVID-19? Sure there are. But when we heard the 2023 ‘doom loop’ noise on repeat, we kept doing what we are good at—contributing to the fabric of daily life.  

 The artists in this show are a window into the richly varied art practices in San Francisco and creative civic engagement. On the surface, you get nine diverse artists – gender, age, race, ethnicity, and sexuality. Look again and you will see work on the wall and the pedestal in a wide spectrum of media – bronze, ceramic, painting, photo, and textiles. Dig a little deeper and you will find that there are two co-founders of art spaces; an author; two co-founders of a Black artist group; four parents; two art professors; and multiple makers of public art. 

 I hope you enjoy this group show of San Francisco artists and that it inspires you to learn more about the wonderful city that we call home.” – Cheryl Derricotte, Visual Artist & Guest Curator

 Exhibiting Artists: 

Jud Bergeron
Windy Chien
Aaron De La Cruz
Cheryl Derricotte
Stephen Galloway
Phillip Hua
Summer Lee
Ramekon O’Arwisters
Ron Moultrie Saunders 

Image credits: Ramekon O’ Arwisters , Bitten #2F, 2022, Ceramic shards, fiber, zip ties, beads, 25 x 14 x 14 in.
Inquiries to Patricia Sweetow Gallery, Los Angeles, [email protected]