You Are Invited to an Emotional Baggage Cart Parade

The Emotional Baggage Cart Parade is a public art project that transforms everyday shopping carts into mobile art installations, symbolizing the emotional burdens we carry. This initiative encourages participants to confront and release their psychological weight, fostering communal healing and empathy.

Volunteers are needed to push three carts and engage with the public. DM Theda @MissTheda to get involved!

The Emotional Baggage Cart Parade @ CARE Art in Odd Places Festival

Friday, October 18, from12:00-2:00pm roaming Avenue A to 3rd Avenue along 14th street

Saturday, October 19, from 12:00-2:00pm roaming University Place/Union Square West to 7th Avenue along 14th Street

Sunday, October 20, from 12:00-2:00pm roaming Seventh Avenue to Eleventh Avenue or the water along 14th Street

Power Puff with Black Racing Stripes

October Exhibitions & Beyond

THIS MONTH

Radical Reimagining at the Newark Arts Festival 2024

Dates: October 9 – December 1

Location: Newark Museum of Art; 49 Washington St, Newark, NJ

Emotional Baggage Cart Parade at Art in Odd Places 2024

Dates: October 18-20

Location: Along 14th street NYC

Artwalk NY 2024

Date: October 21

Location: Chelsea Factory 547 West 26th Street

9th Annual Surface Design Association Exhibition in Print

Dates: October

Location: In Print

ONGOING

American Tapestry Association’s Beyond: Tapestry Expanded

Exhibition Dates: August 26- December 15

Location: Peeler Art Center at DePauw University; 204 E. Seminary St., Greencastle IN  

NEXT 

Free Your Mind at American Folklore Society Annual Conference

Dates: November 6- 9

Location: Albuquerque NM. Register here.

2024 Textile Society of America Symposium:”Shifts and Strands: Rethinking the Possibilities and Potentials of Textiles”

Dates: November 12-17

Location: Zoom . Register here

Artist Talk Tonight: Last Chance to Register

Free Your Mind is a public textile art endeavor with the objective of gathering, showcasing, embedding, and liberating personal narratives surrounding microaggressions through a multi-sensory installation.

Join me on Zoom or in-person for a powerful and engaging artist talk about this project. This event is a unique opportunity to hear about the Free Your Mind art installation project at Touchstone. I will share the creative journey and insights related to the project.

Please Register in Advance for tonight’s 6:00pm ET Zoom Talk:

Register for SEPTEMBER 24

Please call Touchstone’s office at 724-329-1370 if you would like to attend the Artist Talk in person.

Spinning and Weaving Week

The crafts of spinning, weaving, dyeing, and basket weaving are as ancient as our history; they are the threads that bind us to our ancestors and to each other. Our crafts know no national boundary. They are a part of the heritage of the world. The Spinning and Weaving Week celebration reflects the truly international membership of the Handweavers Guild of America, Inc., and the international traditions of our crafts. Fiber artists from around the world are invited to join together in celebration of our common heritage.

Spinning and Weaving Week is celebrated every October during the first full week of the month (Monday-Sunday)

Identifying Our Biases

Identifying microaggressions and implicit biases can be challenging but asking oneself reflective questions can help uncover them.

Here are five questions people can ask themselves:

  1. What assumptions do I make about people based on their appearance (e.g., race, gender, clothing)?
  2. How do I react when I encounter someone who is different from me in terms of culture, language, or lifestyle?
  3. Are there certain groups of people I tend to avoid or feel uncomfortable around? Why might that be?
  4. How do I respond to media portrayals of different social, ethnic, and cultural groups? Do I notice patterns in these responses?
  5. When I make decisions about hiring, mentoring, or collaborating, am I consistently favoring certain groups over others? What reasons do I give for these preferences?

Reflecting on these questions can help individuals become more aware of their implicit biases and take steps toward addressing them.

In the Rain’s Embrace

Rain falls on high, where the hawk flies, Bathing its feathers under wide, open skies. In droplets pure, its wings find grace, Nature’s gentle touch in a quiet embrace.

The storm above, fierce and wild, Meets the hawk’s strength, unbeguiled. With every drop, a song of the free, A cleansing hymn for you and me.

For in the rain, the hawk stands tall, Finding solace in the sky’s gentle call. Through clouds and storms, it soars unchained, In the rain’s caress, its spirit sustained.

Poem by Theda Sandiford

Unveil the Power of Stories with Theda Sandiford at Touchstone Center for Crafts

An Invitation to Reflect and Engage

Touchstone Center for Crafts invites you to the Free Your Mind Artist Talk with me, Theda Sandiford. Join us on d Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m. for an enlightening experience, available both in-person and on Zoom.

Exploring Free Your Mind

Free Your Mind project is a public textile art installation that collects, showcases, and liberates personal narratives about microaggressions. This project not only highlights these experiences but also provides a platform for healing and awareness through art.

Event Features

  • Direct from the Artist: Hear Theda Sandiford discuss the creative journey and the impactful stories behind Free Your Mind.
  • Engage in Dialogue: Participate in a thought-provoking conversation about the role of art in addressing social issues.
  • Flexibility in Attendance: Join the talk from anywhere by registering in advance for the Zoom session on September 24.

Be Part of the Experience

Join us for this meaningful event that blends art with powerful storytelling. Register for the Zoom talk on September 24 and prepare to be inspired.

[REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER 24]