SAN FRANCISCO, CA.- A Weed By Any Other Name, an exhibition of collaborative work by Liz Hernández and Ryan Whelan, is now on view at ICA San Francisco through June 25, 2023.

Weeds, generally described as “unwanted” amongst foliage, can be unusually persistent in the most neglected spaces. In this exhibition, Hernández and Whelan consider the humble blackberry, ubiquitous in the Bay Area, a symbol of resilience - a weed by any other name. These modest, yet staunch, plants hold power not just in the fruits they bear, or the thorns they wield, but in their presence beneath the soil. A blackberry bush can be cut down, but with every fracture its intricate root system generates more growth. The Bay Area possesses a similar defiance in its commitment to support networks between communities, allowing many people to thrive regardless of adverse conditions. Hernández and Whelan feel that when growth gets chopped down this clandestine root system will prevail - protected and preserved by the soil for future generations to utilize.

Through this exhibition, Hernández and Whelan seek to “[Address] the historical, ongoing instability and uncertainties in the Bay Area arts community. Our intent is not to provide an answer, but to generate questions and hopefully engage in dialogue with our community. The exhibition is not necessarily a celebration of our resilience, but more of an awareness of this trait as a response to the new normal...as a progressive institution, ICA SF is responsible for addressing, engaging, and supporting the community it aims to represent. Considering this, we could not think of a more appropriate place to facilitate this conversation. The San Francisco Bay Area is long overdue for an institution interested in engaging with the public in this way.” —Liz Hernández and Ryan Whelan

Liz Hernández and Ryan Whelan live and work in Oakland, CA. Their lives and artistic practices are intertwined, and although they have exhibited together, this commission is their first time showing works made collaboratively. As an inaugural exhibition at the ICA SF, it is fitting that this project reflects an experience felt by many in the Bay Area, particularly artists. The ICA SF is committed to continued support of our shared arts ecosystem by engaging local artists and creating partnerships to deepen the possibility for artists and arts workers to thrive in the Bay Area.

Liz Hernández is a Mexican artist based in Oakland, California. Her art practice – painting, drawing, sculpture, and writing – is deeply influenced by her memories and surroundings of Mexico City. The subjects she addresses are constantly in flux, but an element always present in her work is the search for something that breaks the normalcy of everyday life. Hernández addresses this desire in multiple ways, from finding greater meaning in domestic objects and scenes to using supernatural elements and symbolism to address themes of modern life.