Off the bat speaking with Romanelli and discussing the projects he's put forth thus far and plans on producing in the near and far future, I notice his humility — an impressive quality for anyone to hold onto at his level of acclaim. He seems to love true collaboration, the idea of building and upholding community, his family both blood and creative, and eagerly dishing out credit to those both in his orbit and beyond. His home is further testiment to his level of support: the walls and surfaces are filled with a mix of rising and well known artists he has come aross, worked or traded with. Another thing I recognize immediately is that Romanelli loves Los Angeles. He tells me about his neighborhood, the surrounding area of Griffith Park, what it means to him and how it's influenced his work, driving him to bring and build projects in the area. With a level of excitement I wish I could better portray with my words alone, Romanelli regaled me with the story of his next foray into curation, which involved a few of the things, or rather the people, he'd been working with and inspired by as of late.
Firstly, came the medium closest to home: ceramics, which his wife Candice Romanelli has been masterfully creating in their own kiln. Next, he wanted to focus on flowers and floral arrangements, which he had been drawn to since happening upon the traditional Japanese florist Toyo down the block. Finally, he hoped to weave the art of sushi making into the mix, an endeavor Romanelli has been involved in on both small and large scales for a few years. And with all of the eccentric brilliance he is deservingly known for, Romanelli brilliantly staged a very special night in Los Angeles last week that seamlessly and respectfully connected these three art forms with nothing but grace.