The first thing you notice is the intricacy of the textiles and the depth of the color. I had been wanting to see the works of Patrisse Cullors for some time, but I was struck about how much I missed on a digital screen. The beauty of indigo is something quite striking in person, but its in Patrisse's storytelling that is so both so vital and stunning in Between the Warp and Weft: Weaving Shields of Strength and Spirituality, the artist’s first solo exhibition with Charlie James Gallery in LA that is open through July 20. Like the beautiful renderings of Wendy Red Star's showcase at Roberts Projects, Cullors work of heritage and spiritualism is one of the best shows of the summer. —Evan Pricco
From the gallery: A deep and resonant exploration of Yoruba culture and the Ifá religion of which Cullors is a practitioner, the exhibition is inspired by Oya, the fierce Orisha (or deity) of transformation and Cullors’ own spiritual guardian.
Fusing Malian mud cloth textiles, cowrie shells and metalwork to create what Cullors refers to as “a sanctuary of reflection and empowerment,” the core of the exhibition revolves around the sword of Oya, a spiritual emblem of power, protection and divine justice. Throughout Between the Warp and Weft, Oya's sword transcends its historical significance to address the pressing narrative of our times — the need for protection and reverence for Black women.
Cullors’ artistic practice, which is in part inspired by Los Angeles’ Black Arts Movement of the 1960s and 1970s, invites the use of artworks as spiritual guardians, creating a legacy of creative offerings that exist beyond the visual plane and become both urgent cultural commentary and spiritual armor. To this end, Cullors has dedicated each piece in Between the Warp and Weft to a different Black woman in her life to whom she wants to extend protection.
“A lot of the work that I’ve done has been around the trauma of being Black in America, and also our resilience,” she explains. “We don't have the cultural right to protect ourselves … but what if we create spiritual objects of protection?"
