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Introducing: Ramekon O’Arwisters

Ramekon O’Arwisters isn’t trying to fix broken objects. He is simply trying to accept them for how they are. After validating these objects, the multimedia artist known for his crafts and sculptural practice weaves, crochets, zip ties, or clamps them to other broken objects to highlight their beauty.

“If a vessel is beautiful when it’s complete, when it’s in parts are all those parts not beautiful?” he asked. “I disagree with the idea that as we grow older, or as we break, it’s not beautiful. It’s in a different form, but it is still beautiful.”

O’Arwisters’ latest exhibition at Craft Contemporary, “HOUSE OF,” looks back at the past nine years of his artistic career. Many of his works reflect on his lived experiences as a Black and queer man in the U.S. He explores the politics of objects to reflect on the theme of value. Often, he allows objects to speak to him, understanding their history and cultural weight, before bringing them together with wraps and ties. He allows them to help tell stories of his own, including his experience with spirituality and sexuality, original sin (“Bitten”) and memories of his grandmother (“Mending”). While the exhibition documents the changes in O’Arwisters’ life and artistic practice, one thing remains the same throughout the show: his connection to objects.

Looking back at the nine years of his work for the exhibition, he recognized how much his work has shifted. He is aware of the incongruence and his ability to persist in creating unique things out of objects.

“It’s revealing of my courage to stay creative, even though I don’t always know where that creativity comes from,” he said.

He relates objects to humans, viewing people as vessels. He empathizes with broken materials and how they may feel discarded, thrown away, marginalized or ignored — similar to humans struggling with self-worth, direction and discrimination.

“I want to use materials that are stand-ins for the human vessel, for our own feelings as a reference to the world around us,” he said.

For O’Arwisters, this mentality is as important today as it was years ago. In light of events like the SoCal fires and the COVID-19 pandemic, he wants his work to serve as a moment for people to reflect on themselves and the world. When disasters occur, it is easy to get caught up in the hustle of everyday life and refuse to check in with yourself.

“My job is to reveal what is emotionally and physically unseen,” he said. “I feel very grounded as a sculptor, as a creative person, as an artist, to be able to make something that can speak to the nuances of the human experience.”

When he works on a new piece, he is aware that some of the objects can be viewed as trash. There’s a negativity to their existence, but he wants to remind the objects that this is simply not the truth. How does he know? Because it is part of his own narrative. The louder the negativity gets — including the fear of making something unappealing to the general public — the greater his artistic vision is. He is doing something that hasn’t been done before. And that is a sign of authenticity and greatness.

“My creativity deserves respect,” he said.

This Week’s Top Spots

‘Weathering’ @ REDCAT

Faye Driscoll’s “Weathering” is making its West Coast premiere at REDCAT this weekend. Driscoll describes the work as “a multi-sensory flesh sculpture,” bringing together 10 performers to create an ever-evolving tableau of bodies, sounds, scents, liquids and objects. As they move and spill atop each other on a large revolving mattress, the senses merge. It becomes a symphony of bodies that allows sounds to reflect what is physically felt. To learn more about the performance, check out my latest interview with the choreographer for San Francisco Classical Voice.

LOCATION: 631 W 2nd St, Los Angeles, CA 90012
DATES: February 6 - 8
TIME: 8:30 pm
PRICE: $27
LINK: https://www.redcat.org/events/2025/faye-driscoll

Show9 @ Pink Box Studio

The Seattle dance scene is making its way to Los Angeles with Show9. The performance and party produced by CO (Emma Lawes and Maya Tacon) will get you on your feet to witness and participate in dance. In addition to Tacon and Lawes, the evening event will also feature Andersmith, Cayla Mae Simpson, David Rue and Tatiana Marie, Jen Lacy with Cacia LaCount, Jesse Smith, Jordan Saenz, Montay Romero, and music by Calico.

LOCATION: 966 E Pico Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90021
DATE: February 7
TIME: 8 pm
PRICE: $21 - $52
LINK: https://www.ticketleap.events/tickets/coseattle/show9

Lise Davidsen @ BroadStage

Lise Davidsen, a Norwegian-born soprano, has toured with some of the leading orchestras and conductors. Now, she is making her BroadStage return for a one-night-only engagement. Known as an opera superstar, she has received critical acclaim for her presence and performance. She takes part in this year’s iteration of BroadStage’s Celebrity Opera Series following her stage debut as Puccini’s Tosca at the Staatsoper Berlin for her 2024/2025 season.

LOCATION: 1310 11th St, Santa Monica, CA 90401
DATE: February 11
TIME: 7:30 pm
PRICE: $120 - $150
LINK: https://broadstage.org/tickets-shows/calendar/lise-davidsen/

XOXO, Alamo @ Alama Drafthouse

Still don’t know what to do for your cinephile significant other? Check out Alamo Drafthouse. The popular movie theater has a Valentine's series of romantic movies that is the perfect opportunity to plan a date night. Whether you’re looking to swoon with a wholesome rom-com or cry to a tragic love story, XOXO, Alamo has something for everyone.

LOCATION: 700 W 7th St Ste. U240, Los Angeles, CA 90017
DATES: Thru February 25
PRICE: Varies
LINK: https://drafthouse.com/los-angeles/movies/xoxo-alamo

‘Brian DeGraw: SP555’ @ James Fuentes Los Angeles

Brian DeGraw’s latest exhibition will soon come to a close. “SP555” pulls its name from Roland SP555 Sampler, a piece of equipment central to DeGraw’s musical practice. As a multimedia artist, he combines his art forms of expression. For the exhibition, he takes inspiration from the concepts of sampling, sequencing, processing and repeating sourced music as he does with the SP555. The result is a beautiful exercise in trusting spontaneity on the canvas.

LOCATION: 5015 Melrose Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90038
DATES: December 11, 2024 - February 8, 2025
TIME: On view 10 am - 6 pm Tues. thru Sat.
PRICE: Free
LINK: https://jamesfuentes.com/exhibitions/sp555

Things: Staples

Staple (adj.): main or important, especially in terms of consumption. Works of art and groups can be considered staples, especially those that stand the test of time. Here are a few opportunities to witness and consume stapes in SoCal this weekend that are definitely a must-see while they are around.

• ‘Noises Off’ @ Geffen Playhouse: The Geffen Playhouse stages a new production of the 1982 British farse that has doors slamming, sardines flying and trousers dropping. DATE: January 29 - March 2 / PRICE: $57 - $155 / LINK: https://www.geffenplayhouse.org/shows/noises-off/

• ‘Macbeth’ @ A Noise Within: This production of Shakespeare’s play takes place in New Orleans in the late 19^th century, recontextualizing its themes of ambition and fate for a new period. DATE: February 9 - March 9 / PRICE: $63.50 - $91.50 / LINK: https://www.anoisewithin.org/play/macbeth/

• Alonzo King LINES Ballet @ Segerstrom Center for the Arts: Alonzo King is known for choreographing ballets to an iconic musical figure. This time around, his company, LINES Ballet, honors Alice Coltrane through dance. DATE: February 7 @ 7:30 pm / PRICE: Starting at $44.07 / LINK: https://www.scfta.org/events/2025/alonzo-king-lines-ballet

Keep Reading

If you haven’t already, check out my latest stories here: 

• Choreographer Faye Driscoll Crafts a Visceral Sculpture in Weathering (San Francisco Classical Voice)

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