Meet Jeanne Gerrity | Curator, Editor, & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jeanne Gerrity and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jeanne, how has your perspective on work-life balance evolved over time?
I am a person who constantly fills their time with work and creative projects. I am not good at relaxing in general. However, once I had kids, I was forced to slow down a bit, and it’s been surprisingly positive for me. Instead of staying at work late or going out to openings and events every evening, I try to get home in time for dinner with my kids most nights. I also make a conscious effort to leave my weekends open to spend time with my family rather than taking on freelance assignments. I think something about the isolation of the pandemic also made me realize that my friendships are really important to me, and I make an effort to prioritize them over work goals. Sometimes it can be a lot trying to balance everything, but I try to always find the time to engage in the activities that invigorate me, like seeing art (whether at galleries and museums, or on studio visits) and getting fresh air and exercise (even if it’s just writing my bike to work). I’m also lucky that I really like my job, and I feel intellectually engaged on a daily basis.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
I have worked at the Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts in San Francisco since 2016. For the past year I’ve served as the interim director, but prior to that I had a hybrid role that encompassed curating public programs, editing art publications, and generally managing the organization. I have had many different experiences in the arts, from working as a curator at a museum to running residency and arts education programs. I think I learned pretty early on that I would rather work with artists than be an artist, and I can’t imagine working in any other field at this point. It’s a challenging field with low pay and a scarcity of jobs, but I really enjoy what I do 99% of the time.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
San Francisco has developed a terrible reputation recently based on sensationalist news articles. It does have major issues with homelessness and wealth inequality, but that’s unfortunately true of most major cities in late capitalism. We still have a thriving arts scene, and I would recommend a visitor stop by Minnesota Street Project to check out dozens of contemporary art galleries, and then head to the Wattis in Potrero Hill of course, and Southern Exposure, Et Al, Climate Control, and House of Seiko in the Mission. Right around the corner from House of Seiko is Buddy Bar, a natural wine bar with excellent food. Also in the Mission, Chome is a tiny, tasty izakaya joint, and Good Good Culture Club is a delicious restaurant with a rooftop. If you find yourself downtown, Museum of the African Diaspora is a gem right across from SFMOMA. For the best croissants, check out Arsicault in the Richmond, and if you’re up for some experimental music in the evening, the Lab is the place to be.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I want to dedicate my shoutout to Peter Simensky, who passed away in December 2023. He was a brilliant artist, as well as a colleague and friend.

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jeanne-gerrity-79782716/

Image Credits
“A Series of Open Questions,” 2019-ongoing; published by CCA Wattis Institute and Sternberg Press. Becca Albee, “prismataria,” 2016; installation view, Et al, San Francisco. Courtesy of the artist and Et al. Wattis Bar, 2023; CCA Wattis Institute, San Francisco. Photo: Nicholas Lea Bruno. Yuki Kimura, “Inhuman Transformation of New Year’s Decoration, Obsolete Conception or 2,” 2016; installation view, CCA Wattis Institute, San Francisco. Courtesy of the artist and Taka Ishii Gallery. Photo: Johnna Arnold.