“I was deeply moved to be the first invited speaker for the newly established annual lecture in honor of Connie Lewallen, organized by 500 Capp Street.
When asked what format I’d like to use, I did not hesitate to respond that I’d like to do a
joint presentation with my friend Mark Dean Johnson. Mark and I have been engaged in
extensive research about the history of the Bay Area art scene during the prime years of
our careers—which began in the mid-seventies and ran well into the first two decades of
this century. It seemed both an appropriate way to honor Connie’s legacy—she was a
long-term, dear friend of both of ours—and an opportune time to report back to our
community of peers, artists and curators, about the work we have been doing. It was an
unusually touching event, as much reunion and celebration as lecture. We hope that the
documentation is able to convey the excitement and hope that can be engendered in both senior, and younger members of a community when steps are taken to synthesize
separate strands of intellectual achievement with deep respect and affection for art
workers present and past.”

-Renny Pritikin