Ill be featured durning a St Croix Art Tour this June. The tour will make stops with several artists and historic sights. Click the image for more details and click here for tour prices
St Croix Art & History Tour
March 27: Join Me During HGA’s Fiber-A-Thon
The HGA Fiber-A-Thon will be a day filled with inspiring stories, uplifting creativity, and an opportunity to make a difference. This event will be broadcast live on Zoom for 12 hours on Thursday, March 27th, starting at 12 noon Eastern Time, and promises to be an incredible showcase of talent, compassion, and community spirit.
I signed up for 2:10pm for a Studio Tour! After eight months of construction, I’ve finally moved into my new studio in St. Croix, USVI! I can’t wait to take you on a tour and share updates on the eco-artist retreat I’m building at Sky Garden STX.
Registration and more details HERE.
The Language of Materials: Art as Witness and Dialogue
The purpose of art is to lay bare the questions that have been concealed by the answers.
— James Baldwin
My art confronts the unseen, the unspoken, and the deeply felt. I transform everyday materials—often discarded, often overlooked—into intricate works that challenge perceptions, provoke introspection, and bear witness to personal and collective experiences. Through my practice, I engage in conversations about race, gender, identity, and trauma, embedding within my pieces the stories and struggles that are often concealed beneath the surface of social discourse.
Materiality is at the heart of my work. I use found objects, textiles, marine debris, rope, beads, zip ties, and unconventional fibers to weave narratives of resilience and protection. These materials hold memory, energy, and history—I am drawn to the weight of objects that have passed through many hands, the textures that whisper of labor, care, and survival. By repurposing and recontextualizing them, I give voice to experiences that might otherwise be ignored. James Baldwin once said that the purpose of art is to lay bare the questions concealed by the answers, and that is exactly what I strive to do. My I Am My Hair series challenges microaggressions and the politics of Black hair, exposing the ways in which society polices personal expression. My Lost and Found series, created from fragments of the past—discarded netting, frayed fabric, twisted cordage—becomes a meditation on what is carried, lost, and recovered over time.
Through participatory projects like Free Your Mind, I invite the audience to become part of the dialogue, using art as a tool for healing, reflection, and community engagement. I encourage people to share their personal encounters with bias and discrimination, creating spaces where concealed experiences are laid bare, fostering empathy and understanding.
In an era when dominant narratives often seek to erase or rewrite history, my art insists on remembrance, on presence, on truth. It is both shield and mirror—offering protection and clarity in a world that often seeks to obscure. My work does not provide easy answers, but rather compels us to sit with the questions, to acknowledge the weight of silence, and to recognize the power of being seen.
Decolonize The Body
with human hair…
Breathe
the breath
of the ocean
connect
with cycles
of life
death
In her name
we find
creation’s embrace
infinite tides
Each wave a breath
Each breath a life
By Theda Sandiford
Studio Visit: Ritual Practice Evolution
Spring into Summer: Studio Time, Travel, and Art Adventures Ahead
It’s shaping up to be a beautiful, art-filled stretch of spring and summer, and I wanted to share what’s coming up in my world—especially for those of you in the NYC/NJ/PA area who’ve been asking when we can connect.
First stop: Jersey City! I’ll be in town April 6–15, working on an installation project and staying at my studio at 15 Wilkinson Avenue, #3B2. I’m carving out time to get deep into the work, but I’m also hoping to squeeze in some good conversation, studio visits, and inspiration—so if you’re nearby, let’s connect.
After that, it’s back home to St. Croix to prepare for our Jubilee Pilgrimage to Rome (April 19–May 1). I’ve been brushing up on my Italian since November, and I’m beyond excited to explore the art, food, architecture, and rhythm of Italy—Pompeii, the Colosseum, the Trevi Fountain, and so many little moments in between. Can’t wait to share glimpses of it all with you.
On our return, we’re headed to Nyack, NY, to spend a quiet week with my mom (May 2–7)—always one of the sweetest resets.
Then, things pick back up again quickly. On May 7, I’ll be installing work for the 1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair, which runs May 8–11 in downtown NYC. If you’re planning to attend, please let me know—I’d love to see some familiar faces!
Later this summer, I’m thrilled to have work included in Fiberart International 2025, opening at Brew Arts in Pittsburgh on June 19. I’ll be at the artist walk-through on June 21, then swinging through Jersey City again for a few days (June 22–26) before heading to Millersville, PA for the MAFA Conference, where I’ll be installing an interactive Emotional Baggage Cart experience.
If you’re in NY, NJ, or PA, let’s find a moment to catch up—whether it’s a studio hang, a shared meal, or an art adventure. Drop me a line and let me know what dates might work. I can’t wait to hear what you’ve been up to.
March: Celebrating Small Wins
This month, I’m focused on noticing and celebrating the small wins that often get overlooked. In a world that sometimes measures success by big, public milestones, I’m finding joy in the quieter victories that keep me moving forward.
Completing an unfinished piece of art, mentoring a student through their first creative breakthrough, or building raised beds the prepare for the next growing season—these moments might seem small on their own, but they build toward something much larger. Acknowledging them helps me stay motivated and connected to my goals.
One particularly meaningful experience these past months is seeing how our first residency artists at Sky Garden have settled into the space. Watching someone else find inspiration here, has affirmed my belief in the power of this creative community. And the resulting feedback has been helpful in refining Sky Garden programming and the compound itself
As I work toward the longer-term project, launching the paid residency programming, I’m learning to embrace patience and trust in the process. There’s something grounding about celebrating what’s already been accomplished rather than focusing solely on what’s ahead.
These reflections remind me to pause and appreciate the journey. Progress isn’t always dramatic; often, it’s the steady accumulation of small, meaningful steps.
Liminal Staff
Liminal Staff
Theda Sandiford
32x12x4”
Recovered marine line, sea tumbled, woven and knotted with alpaca wool, fabric, acrylic yarn, beads, shells, washers, vintage watch and deconstructed line
2024
Liminal Staff is an emblem of authority and sovereignty. It stands as a sacred artifact, a conduit between worlds, bearing witness to the unseen threads that bind the past, present, and future. Crafted from recovered marine line, sea-tumbled and imbued with layers of memory, it is woven and knotted with alpaca wool, fabric, acrylic yarn, beads, shells, washers, vintage watch parts, and deconstructed line. Each element tells a story, a fragment of life reclaimed from the chaos of hurricanes, transformed into a vessel of spiritual protection and ancestral reverence.
This work emerges from the tension of being both tethered and adrift. It honors the countless lives lost to the Atlantic, the water graves of the enslaved, and the resilience of those who survived. The Liminal Staff bridges realms—living and dead, land and sea—echoing the pull of tides and the cyclical rhythm of existence. Conjure bags, locs of hair, and marine debris lend their essence to this creation, layering it with magic, memory, and the energy of reclamation.
We are water’s kin, caught in its perpetual embrace. This piece reminds us of our origins and the call of the ocean’s depths, where our spirits forever reside. Like the rivers that flow unerringly toward the sea, the Liminal Staff symbolizes our eternal connection to nature’s grace, the harmony between destruction and renewal, and the enduring strength of the human spirit to find its way home
February: Building Structure into Creative Practice
This month, I’ve been focusing on the rhythms of my days, creating a structure that supports both productivity and joy. Balancing time between the studio, Sky Garden Gallery projects, and my commitments to Hidden Beach requires intentionality, but it’s rewarding to see everything coming together.
One thing I’ve found helpful is setting clear boundaries around my creative time. Mornings are now sacred for studio work. Whether I’m stitching, dyeing, or sketching, this uninterrupted time allows me to immerse myself in the process. Afternoons often shift to collaboration—mentoring residency artists or planning upcoming events, like our new Art Salon Dinner series.
Adapting to this structure hasn’t been without challenges. Some days flow effortlessly; others feel scattered. I’ve learned to be flexible and forgiving, recognizing that creativity isn’t always linear. Taking short breaks to walk Sky Garden STX or sit quietly under the canopy of the Saman tree often helps me reset.
This balance of structure and spontaneity has deepened my connection to my practice. I’m reminded that nurturing creativity is as much about showing up consistently as it is about staying open to inspiration when it comes.
As February ends, I feel grateful for the steady foundation I’m building. It’s a reminder that success doesn’t come from rushing toward goals but from weaving intention into the fabric of each day.