What Happened at Nomad and Tryst (Spoiler: Community)
- artandcakela
- Jul 11
- 3 min read
By Kristine Schomaker
I spent this afternoon at Nomad and Tryst at Del Amo Crossing and honestly? I needed that more than I knew.
Walking into that space—175+ Southern California artists showing alongside international artist-run spaces—felt like exhaling after holding my breath for weeks. The energy was this beautiful mix of defiance and joy. Like everyone had decided simultaneously: we're still here, we're still making work, and we're definitely not stopping.
There was art everywhere. Sculpture that made me stop mid-conversation. Paintings that grabbed you by the shirt. Installations that demanded you walk around them three times to figure out what they were doing to your brain. I'm looking at you Dellis Frank!
But more than the work (which was incredible), it was the people.
Artists from all over LA talking about their projects with this comfortable, warm generosity that reminded me why I love this community. Yes, there were political conversations—how could there not be?—but underneath everything was this steady current of "we got this."
We got this. We are here. We aren't going anywhere.
That's what spaces like this do. They remind you that you're not making art alone in a vacuum while the world falls apart. You're part of something bigger. A network of people who believe that making things matters, who show up for each other's openings, who understand why you need to keep creating even when (especially when) everything feels impossible.
I met artists I'd only known from Instagram. Had real conversations about technique and inspiration and the logistics of getting work to galleries. Watched people discover each other's work for the first time—that moment when someone's face changes because they're seeing something that speaks to them.
The third edition of Tryst (love that name—"a rendezvous by lovers") brought international artist-run spaces into conversation with LA collectives. There's something powerful about seeing how artists organize themselves around the world. Different approaches, same fundamental need: community, support, space to experiment.
Nomad IV called itself "a giant artistic get together" and that's exactly what it felt like. Not precious or exclusive or trying to be anything other than what it was—artists showing what they've been making recently to each other and anyone else who wanted to look.
Free admission. Open doors. Come as you are.
Walking through those spaces, I kept thinking about how necessary this is right now. Not just the art (though goddess, we need the art), but the gathering. The physical presence in the same space. The casual conversations that turn into collaborations. The reminder that there are this many of us, making this much work, refusing to let crisis shut us down.
Art fairs can feel transactional sometimes. This felt like family reunion.
The Torrance Art Museum and the City of Torrance created something special here—a space for grassroots artist organizations to connect, for international exchange, for the kind of networking that happens naturally when you put passionate people in a room together.
If you missed it this time, keep an eye out for the next one. Your work needs to be seen. You need to see other people's work. We all need these spaces where creating feels less like shouting into the void and more like joining a conversation that's been going on for centuries.
The revolution includes art fairs in vacant office buildings on summer weekends. It includes international artist-run spaces setting up next to LA collectives. It includes free admission and open doors and the radical act of showing up for each other's work.
We got this. We really do.
Nomad and Tryst run through July 13th 12-6pm at Del Amo Crossing. Admission is free. For more information: https://www.torranceartmuseum.com/ Go see what 175+ artists have been up to.
(I apologize for not captioning these. I wanted to get the article posted tonight in order to get people to see the work in person this weekend.)
