Author: Theda Sandiford

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May & Beyond Blog

OPENING THIS MONTH

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair with KATES-FERRI PROJECTS

Dates: May 1-4

Location: 1:54NY 601 W. 26th St. NY 10001 Booth #7

Free Your Mind @ Touchstone

Dates: May 17 – September 20

Location: Touchstone Center for Crafts; 1049 Sr2003, Farmington, PA 

Uncontained: Reimagining Basketry

Exhibition Dates: May 19, 2024 – September 2, 2024

Location: Hunterdon Art Museum, 7 Lower Center St, Clinton, NJ

ARTIST RESIDENCY

Touchstone Artist Residency

Dates: May 10-24

Location: Touchstone Center for Crafts; 1049 Sr2003, Farmington, PA 

ONGOING

Ponytails and Door Knocker Earring Installation

Dates: January 17-  July 17

Location: Time Equities Lobby 55 5th Avenue, New York NY

NEXT 

Free Your Mind @ 2024 Summer Discovery

Exhibition Dates: June 7 – August 30

Opening Reception: June 7, 5:00-9:00 pm

Location: Delaware Contemporary; 200 S Madison St, Wilmington, DE

American Tapestry Association’s Beyond: Tapestry Expanded

Exhibition Dates: August 1- December 15

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

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Theda’s Stateside Art Tour Schedule This Month


Im touching down in New Jersey on Sunday, April 28th and swiftly immerse myself in the installation process, with Kates-Ferri’s for the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair on April 29th. The fair, a vibrant celebration of African artistry, runs from May 1st to 5th. Look for me at booth #7.

My eyes are set on attending Amref’s Art Ball on Saturday, May 4th, 2024, at 7:30 pm in Brooklyn—an event I hope to score tickets for. Following this, I anticipate delving into the creative haven of Touchstone Center For Crafts, where I’ll undergo a two-week Artist Residency from May 10th to 24th, eagerly anticipating the chance to meet fellow textile artists. Im also giving an artist talk on “Free Your Mind” on May 22 at Touchstone.

On May 19th, I’ll make a 5 hour drive to the Hunterdon Art Museum for the unveiling of “Uncontained: Reimagining Basketry,” featuring my work The Great Resignation Emotional Baggage Cart. Please join me at the Opening Reception from 2-4pm in Clinton NJ.

With free days between engagements from May 25th to June 4th, I’m keen to connect over drinks, gallery shows, or even studio visits. Please let me know, if you want to meet up in NYC, NJ, PA or DE while I’m stateside.

My tour culminates with the installation of “Free Your Mind” at the Delaware Contemporary on June 5th, followed by their season opening on June 7th from 5-9pm.

I’ll bid farewell to the States and return home to St. Croix on June 9th.

Bottle Cap Pearls
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Amref ArtBall Benefit Auction | Hosted by Sotheby’s

I’m thrilled to announce my participation in Amref Health Africa’s 2024 ArtBall, featuring a Contemporary African and Black art auction hosted by Sotheby’s. A heartfelt thank you to Natalie Kates for inviting me to be a part of this event for a second year.

This year, Amref will pay tribute to the esteemed Artist Kehinde Wiley with The Rees Visionary Award. Named after Amref’s founder, Dr. Thomas Rees, the Rees Visionary Award recognizes individuals who have significantly impacted the conversation surrounding African and Black art.

Amref’s ArtBall, a hallmark event centered around a premier contemporary African, Pan-African, and Black art auction, aims to support Amref’s vital work. Set to take place in Brooklyn on May 4th, 2024, the online auction is now open and closes on May 6th, 2024, at 12 pm EST. You can access the auction link now at Sothebys.com/artball.

The lineup of donating artists for 2024 is nothing short of extraordinary! It includes Adama Delphine Fawundu, Lewinale Havette, Megan Gabrielle Harris, Maya Beverly, Nicolas Lambert Coleman, Hank Willis Thomas, Roscoè B. Thické III, Jamel Robinson, Rudy Shepherd, Theda Sandiford, Samuel Nnorom, Turiya Magadlela, Pamela Sneed, Dana Robinson, Dapo Davinci, Cavier Coleman, Ferguson Amo, Troy Jones, Damien Davis, Kevin Claiborne, Katarra Peterson, Kenrick McFarlane, Larissa De Jesus Negron, Haleigh Nickerson, Myles Loftin, Genevieve Gaignard, Adrienne Elise Tarver, Ronald Robinson, Jacob Mason-Macklin, Crystal Yayra Anthony, Layo Bright, Diana Eusebio, Ousmane Ba, Jazmine Hayes, Audrey Lyall, Naïla Opiangah, Devin B. Johnson, Satchel Lee, Anthony Akinbola, Alex Anderson, Auudi Dorsey, and Kalif Tahir Thompson.

Golden Serenity Tresses; African print fabrics, acrylic yarn, upcycled textiles, knotted and wrapped on 6 three ply cotton ropes
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Ponytails and Door Knocker Earrings Installation

Dates: January 17-  July 17

Location: Time Equities Lobby 55 5th Avenue, New York NY

Elaborate strands of rope, meticulously wrapped, woven, tied, and adorned with recycled beads, zip ties, ribbon, lace, tape, and bells beckon you towards a vibrant installation that serves as a visual representation of natural hair. These daring and playful sculptures delicately encourage viewers to engage in unconventional dialogues surrounding microaggressions, stereotypes, and implicit bias specifically faced by black women embracing their natural hair.

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1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair: Sneak Peek

Want a sneak peek of what I will be showing at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair with Kates -Ferri Projects?

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair with KATES-FERRI PROJECTS

Dates: May 1-4

Location: 1:54NY 601 W. 26th St. NY 10001 Booth #7

Meet Liquid Ice… Recovered marine rope, cowrie shells, macrame cord, acrylic yarns, metallic rayon fabric and yarn knotted and wrapped on three ply cotton rope.

“As the gray storm clouds rolled across the sea towards the shore, the air grew thick with anticipation. The waves, once calm and rhythmic, now transformed into restless giants, whipped into a frenzy by the impending tempest. Liquid ice, carried within the heart of the storm, seemed to chill the very atmosphere.

The wind, a herald of the approaching deluge, howled through the air, tousling the sea’s surface and creating a chaotic dance of spray. Seabirds scattered, seeking refuge from the turbulence, their usual graceful flight replaced by a hurried scramble for safety.

On the horizon, the merging of sea and sky became blurred, as if nature itself couldn’t contain the brewing forces. The distant rumble of thunder underscored the power of the approaching storm, a prelude to the symphony of rain and wind that would soon envelop the coast.

As the first raindrops fell, each liquid bead carried the essence of the storm, leaving a shimmering trail on the surface of the sea. The world seemed to hold its breath, poised between the calm before, and the tumultuous after, as the gray storm clouds continued their relentless march towards the awaiting shore.”

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Storm Clouds Over Cane Bay

The storm clouds, heavy with the weight of untold narratives, loomed ominously overhead, as if whispering secrets of far-off lands and ancient legends lost to time. Their tumultuous presence infused the atmosphere with an electric anticipation, evoking a sense of mystery and wonder that stirred the imagination and beckoned the soul to embark on a journey through the realms of imagination and memory.

Store Clouds Over Cane Bay; Chenille, acrylic yarns, metallic rayon fabric, metallic yarn knotted and wrapped on three ply cotton rope.
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I’m Counting Down to 6 Weeks Stateside

As the countdown begins, I’m gearing up for an exciting six weeks stateside, packed with artistic endeavors and meaningful engagements. Touching down in New Jersey on April 27th marks the start of a whirlwind of creativity.

My first stop? Installing my work at the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair on April 29th, setting the stage for a showcase of diverse perspectives and artistic voices. From May 1st to 5th, the fair will be abuzz with inspiration and dialogue, offering a platform for African art to shine.

Next I transition into the Touchstone Artist Residency from May 10th to 24th, where I’ll immerse myself into my microaggressions series and exploring new dimensions of expression and healing. This residency promises a fertile ground for experimentation and growth.

An exciting highlight awaits on May 22nd, as I share insights and reflections during a talk on “Free Your Mind” at the Touchstone Center for Crafts—a moment to ignite dialogue and foster understanding through art.

The momentum continues with the opening of “Uncontained: Reimagining Basketry” at the Hunterdon Art Museum on May 19th, an exploration of traditional craft intersecting with contemporary vision.

And marking a crescendo to my journey, I’ll unveil “Free Your Mind” at the Delaware Contemporary during their season opening on June 7th—a celebration of art, expression, and liberation.

When the curtains draw on this enriching chapter, I’ll carry home with me a tapestry of experiences and connections, further fueling my artistic journey on the vibrant shores of STX. Until then, let the adventure unfold.

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Find inspiration in the mundane

“Ideas may come from anywhere, anything, anytime, anyplace. For the most part, however, I believe that they spring from rather unromantic, sometimes unexpected, or even unsavory sources. The artist is a collector of things imaginary or real. He accumulates things with the same enthusiasm that a little boy stuffs his pockets. The scrap heap and the museum—embraced with equal curiosity. He takes snapshots, makes notes, records impressions on tablecloths or newspapers, on backs of envelopes or matchbooks. Why one thing and not another is part of the mystery, but he is omnivorous.”

Paul Rand: A Designer’s Art