Mission
From 2000-2009, Pond was a San Francisco-based nonprofit gallery dedicated to fostering art and activism.
History
Founded in the wake of San Francisco's dot-com
bust and the shuttering of alternative art and activist
spaces, artists Steve Shada and Marisa Jahn built Pond from the ground-up and opened its doors in 2001. From 2001 to 2005, Pond functioned as a gallery and event
space
that
showcased
the work of over 200 international artists and produced over 100 exhibitions, events, public art projects,
education workshops, one pancake party, and one haircut
part. Starting in 2003, Pond began working with artist Natalie Jeremijenko on OneTrees, a ongoing public art project that involved the planting of pairs of genetically identical trees in 16 different microclimates throughout the San Francisco Bay Area. Over time, the trees variance in growth evidences the role of environmental influence over genetic determinism. 2004 witnessed the launch of Invisible 5, an ecojustice audio tour of California's interstate 5 produced by lead artist Amy Balkin in collaboration with photographer Kim Stringfellow, Green Action environmentalist Bradley Angel, audio engineer Tim Halbur, and Pond.
Other artists, writers, and curators whose work Pond supported include Mike Arcega, Gregory Sholette, Amy Franceschini, Future Farmers, Michael Swaine, Harrell Fletcher, Candice Hopkins, Berin Golonu, Joseph Grima, Sofia Chong Cuy Hernandes, Sutekh, Gold Chains, Sue Costabile, Rigo, Joshua Kit Clayton, Marisa Olson, Otto von Busch, Judi Werthein, Lize Mogel, Noam Toran, Robby Herbst, and more.
In 2005, Shada and Jahn continued to operate Pond from the East Coast with a focus on public art. In 2009, Pond changed its name to REV- and honed its mission to focus on socially-engaged art, design, and pedagogy. Based in New York, REV-is co-directed by Jahn in partnership with Stephanie Rothenberg and Rachel McIntire. Shada and Jahn continue to each make artwork separately and as collaborators.
Awards
Pond's role in producing provocative and rigorous exhibitions was recognized by the Bay Area arts community and abroad. Pond received awards and grants such as CEC
Artslink Award in 2005 to travel to Estonia, a CEC Artslink
Award in 2009 to travel to Tajikistan,
the 2009 inaugural curatorial fellowship at the Elizabeth
Foundation (NYC), the Headlands Center for the Arts,
a 2007 Award from the Serbian Embassy, and a 2007-9 artist/curator in residence at the MIT's Media Lab.
Support
Contributing Curators: Blair Randall, Mai Le, and David Forster Rudolph
Volunteers: Brian Eby, Anna Steiner, Chris Bassett, Matthew
Erickson, Michael Smit, Paul Chasan, Amy Berk, Colleen
Bazdarich, Shady Lanes, Andrea Lambert
Eric Zassenhaus, Marijke Jorritsma, Chris Baum, Steve Shada, Marisa Jahn, and many more.
Foundations & Grantmakers: American Center Foundation, Creative Work Fund, San Francisco Foundation, Trust for Mutual Understanding, Yale University, CEC Artslink, Seed Fund, San Francisco Art Institute
Individual Donors: Michael Schoolnik, Rene di Rosa, Ken Prokuski, Barbara Wiltsek, Rachel McIntire, Luke Lozier (Bibliopolis), Jeannene Pryzblyski, Amy Berk, Amy Franceschini, Alice Hope, and hundreds more.
Supporting Organzations: Intersection for the Arts, Southern Exposure, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, and more.
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Critical Acclaim
Below are selected reviews and mentions of Pond's work.
 Feature: Shopdropping by Kenneth Baker, San Francisco Chronicle, 2005
Critic's Choice: Feature of Grand Opening by Megan Wilson, SF Bay Guardian, 1/2001
Feature of Grand Opening: "Industrial Strength Art" by David Bonetti, San Francisco Chronicle, 2001
Feature: of Grand Opening by Harry Roche, San Francisco Weekly, 2001
Feature Pic: OneTrees, Highlight by Xeni Jardin, BoingBoing, 2005
Feature: Shopdropping, Folha Sao Paolo, 2005
Feature: Pond by Eric Zassenhaus, Punk Planet, 2001
Feature: Unfurled in Estonia, Posttimes, 2005
Feature: A La Carteby Terri Cohn, Artweek, 2005
Feature: A La Carte by Lindsey Westbrook, SF Weekly, 2005
Review: A La Carte by Joyce Slayton, SF Weekly, 2004
Feature Review: Shopdropping by Joseph del Pesco, Calgary Fast Forward, 2005
Review of Shopdropping: “Artists Drop While they Shop.” Andrea Cantrell, CNNMoney.com, 7/20/05
Review of Shopdropping: “Drop While You Shop” by Sarah Han, San Francisco Bay Guardian: Night & Day. 3/10/2005
Review: This Way Please, by Joyce Slayton, San Francisco Weekly, 2004
Review: Air Portugal 2 by David Bonetti, SF Chronicle, 2001
Feature: Air Portugal 2 by Eric Zassenhaus, Clamor, 2002
Feature of Free Mattress: "Correspondence School" by Johnny Ray Huston, San Francisco Bay Guardian, 2003
Feature: Little Miss Rock Starz by Eric Zassenhaus, Juxtapoz, 2001
Feature of LadyFest exhibition: “Doin It For Themselves: Feminist Arts and Activism Infuse Bay Area Ladyfest” by Neva Chronin, The San Francisco Chronicle, 7/23/02.
Review of Unfurled Exhibition by Terri Cohn, ArtWeek. 2004.
Review of Public Art Project in Estonia by Maarin Ektermann, Sirp Daily News, 2/9/2005
Review: OneTrees by Leah Garchik, San Francisco Chronicle: Datebook. 3/11/2003
Review of Air Portugal 2 by Julien Meyer, Frieze, 2/2001
Review of Air Portugal 2 by Kanya Nijima, Shift JP. 2/2002
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