Detritus features the sculptural works of Jim Olarte + Cooper Root using materials found on the shores and tide pools of the majestic California coastline. The exhibit is on view from September 20th until November 2nd, 2025 at Indoek gallery in Ventura.

View the Catalog of Works here.

Jim Olarte has been beach combing and collecting for decades to achieve the right balance of colors and textures in his work. Inspired by their countless hours of beach combing, Jim and Cooper have “discovered” a new medium. The fiberglass sculptures are found and excavated from the rocky coastlines of Cameo Shores, Laguna Beach, Dana Point, and Point Loma. The materials are remnants of shipwrecked boats — shaped by the rocks, tides and sand. These fiberglass pieces and shards are then carefully composed into sculptures by the artists.

All the architectural macrame in this exhibit is composed of various types & widths of Manila rope, sisal rope, leather, vintage sisal, polished hemp, climbing ropes, yachting and polyproplene lobster trap rope. Using a variety of knots, each macrame sculpture is convertible and can be reconfigured to fit its environment. Taking a cue from underwater kelp forests, the colors resemble the different varieties of kelp and seaweeds.

“We take pride in the precision and scale of our knots. When we get certain lengths of vintage rope, we like to construct a sculpture that has no cuts in the rope. Using new and vintage ropes, we employ a variety of knots to create intricate and layered sculpture.”

– Jim Olarte + Cooper Root