Sage Ni'Ja Whitson: Revival_ _Revival in Santa Monica

On Sunday, November 8, 18th Street Arts Center presents Revival_ _Revival, a Black trans processional by artist Sage Ni’Ja Whitson (they/them). It is free and open to the public, and it is one of the more singular things to do in Los Angeles County this fall.

When: Sunday, November 8, 2026, 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM Where: 18th Street Arts Center, 1639 18th St, Santa Monica Price: Free

What the processional is

Rather than staying on a stage, the performance travels. It moves across sacred historic sites in what was once a predominantly Black community in Santa Monica, and it activates each stop through spiritual music, movement and ritual traditions led by Black queer and transgender communities.

The route passes the places where sacred buildings once stood before they were bulldozed by time and gentrification. A live sound score blends gospel, house music, hip hop and voice, and the aim is to turn memory, land and water into new imaginings. Whitson describes the result as "a shared holy," a way of honoring interwoven histories of gathering, resistance and celebration.

The processional ends at Ocean Bay Beach with a fellowship meal, so the afternoon closes with people eating together rather than simply filing out.

About the artist

Whitson is a queer and transgender artist whose anti-disciplinary work has drawn a DAAD Visual Arts Award, a Creative Capital Award, two Bessie Awards and a United States Artists Fellowship. They are also a ritual leader and a Full Professor of Black Study at UC Riverside. Their commissions have included the Smithsonian Museum of African Art and the California African American Museum.

Michael Ano, the center's Deputy Director of Artistic Programs, says the work traces hidden stories across Santa Monica and shows how Black queer and trans communities have always shaped the city.

Practical info

Audience members are encouraged to wear white clothing and white masks. The organizers say the processional route will be accessible, and that more details will follow closer to the date, so check the official event page before you go. Because the piece is a walk with several stops, comfortable shoes are a good idea.

The afternoon starts at 18th Street Arts Center, a residency organization founded in 1988 that supports artists from around the world. If you are building a list of upcoming events in Los Angeles that cost nothing, this one pairs well with a beach stroll afterward, since the route finishes by the water.

Browse more arts and culture events on the site, and see the official page at 18th Street Arts Center for updates.