Shopping Cart Recovery

If you live downtown Jersey City and see a lonely shopping car lingering about, please snap and txt/DM a photo and cross streets to me.

Special Thank you Corrine. She recovered this shopping cart accumulating garbage, power-washed it in the rain and stored it in her garage for pick up.

One brisk walk through download JC and this cart has completed the first leg of it’s transformation journey…

How Has The Pandemic Affected My Work?

Ive been asked if the pandemic has affected me several times over the past year and a half…

The pandemic has forced me to rethink my social practice; how I create my work and source my materials are now done with social distancing in mind. Art supply swap meet ups became Glad bag recycled goodie drop offs with the doorman. In person work shops replaced by Zoom studio visits.

The pandemic alone time has given me space to be present to old emotional baggage and say good bye to many lingering conversations that have been inhabiting my head. Creating space for new and old ideas to co-mingle and inspire

Hello, It’s Me… Group Show in NYC

To all my NYC people, this show is in Manhattan so no excuse not to attend the opening. I’m just saying…

Plus I am showing some smaller rope works (read affordable) and an installation about the Double Pandemic of Covid and racial injustice.

Exhibit on View: July 20, 2021 – August 7, 2021

Opening Reception: Tuesday July 20th 6:00pm – 9:00pm

On Location: Ed. Varie 184 East 7th Street

I’m with MoCADA @ Governor’s Island

This summer, the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) presents Theda Sandiford: Hidden in Plain Sight, a dynamic presentation confronting the psychological and emotional impact of racial gaslighting in daily life.

On view now through August 23 in Nolan Park Building 7A, Governor’s Island, NYC.

More programming to come. Watch this space for dates and details

Bottle caps, neon yellow 550 paracord, 200′ neon yellow camo 850 paracord, hollow braided polyurethane rope, solar LED rope lights, recycled Fresh Direct bag and commercial fishing net, zip ties, gold spray paint on recovered shopping cart. Photo by April Tracey

Be The Light… Yes You!

Who is coming to see me and my hair installation this Saturday July 10th 3:00-7:00pm ?

Be The Light

Exhibit On View:  July 10, 2021 – August 22, 2021

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 10th 3:00 pm to 7:00 pm.

On Location: Bridge Art Gallery 199 Broadway, Bayonne NJ

Women of all ages often feel unseen.

Through an exceptional visual art display, we proclaim that you are not invisible…we see you…we see your light!

The “Be the Light” Art Exhibition features work by:

  • Maria Lupianez
  • Martryce Roach
  • Theda Sandiford
  • Danielle Scott
  • Heather Williams

This exhibition empowers viewers to heed the words of National Poet Amanda Gorman.

“There is always light,

If only we’re brave enough to see it,

If only we’re brave enough to be it.”

RSVP

July Exhibitions

The Baggage We Carry

Public Art Installation On View:  May 2021 – May 2022

On Location: Summit Village Green, 356 Broad Street Summit, NJ 

Three Emotional Baggage Carts are on display for the next year.  I want to draw people in and spark their curiosity. Not only to discover what materials are used to create these sculptures, but to look within and recognize the emotional baggage they are carrying. Each cart is affixed with a solar panel. When the sun sets, the carts light up and take on a new meaning and form, glowing from within.

Hiding In Plain Sight

Solo Exhibit on View: June 10–August 23, 2021

On Location: The Museum of Contemporary African Diaspora Arts (MoCADA)/ Nolan Park House 7A, Governors Island, NYC

Visit MoCADA’s Virtual Gallery here.

A dynamic presentation made up of a virtual exhibition and public art installation on Governors Island, Hidden in Plain Sight confronts the psychological impact of racial gaslighting as revealed in her everyday interactions.

The Social Fabric: Black Artistry in Fiber Arts, An Exhibition in Homage to Viki Craig

Exhibit On View: June 4, 2021 – October 24, 2021

On Location: Morris Museum,  6 Normandy Heights Rd, Morristown, NJ

Curated by Gwendolyn Barrington Jackson, Nette Forné Thomas, Onnie Strother, and Wannetta Phillips (Art in the Atrium, Inc.), with Ronald T. Labaco (Morris Museum).

Featuring 50 works by over 27 artists, including Aminah Robinson, Beverly McCutcheon, Bisa Washington, Carole Robinson, Clara Nartey, Denise Toney, Ellaree Pray, Faith Ringgold, Gladys Barker Grauer, Glendora Simonson, Janet O. Green, Jeanine Bowen, Katie Commodore, Kianga Jinaki, Michael Cummings, Minnie Melvin, Sharela May Bonfield, Sherry Shine, Shervone Neckles, Stephen Towns, Theda Sandiford, Tina Williams Brewer, Toni Thomas, Viki Craig, Wannetta Phillips, and Maureen Kelleher and The Social Justice Collaboration Quilts Project.

NJ Arts Annual: Revision & Respond

Exhibit On View: June 17–August 22, 2021

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

How did the pandemic, economic distress, and reckoning with racial injustice influence the artists? What emotions and perspectives do they express? How are they similar to or different from your personal experiences? We hope that these creative voices speak to you and offer a way to process the intense events of our current world.

Digital exhibition catalog here

Or make a reservation to see the show in person here

Be the Light 

Exhibit On View:  July 10, 2021 – August 22, 2021

Opening Reception: Saturday, July 10th 3:30 pm to 6:30 pm.

On Location: Bridge Art Gallery 199 Broadway, Bayonne NJ

Four structure, Vintage hat, shoes and bag, 3 ply cotton rope, pears, rhinestones, wrapped rope, yarn, trim, beading on steel structure

Fiber Arts X

On view: July 31 – September 12

Virtual Opening Reception or in person (To be confirmed): July 31, 1-3 pm 

On Location: SebArts 282 S. High St, Sebastopol, CA

Making Of: You Are So Articulate

My weaving, You Are So Articulate, is currently displayed at the 2021 New Jersey Arts Annual: ReVision and Respond at The Newark Museum of Art. 

Each piece of yarn used to in this weaving is representative of a particular conversation where I was acknowledged for being able to express my thoughts and ideas. As you can see this conversation comes up quite a bit.

You Are So Articulate comes in many forms, including…

you speak so well… you are well read… you speak white… and even “that went better than I was expecting”, comment after I nail the presentation.

Telling someone they are well-spoken is a back handed compliment. It carries the connotation that, it is unusual for someone Black to be intelligent. 

The completed weaving is displayed on a DYI loom, as if, it is a work in progress because some version of this conversation, continues still, till this very day.

Call For Materials

I believe in materiality and sustainability, resulting in an affinity for using recycled materials in my artwork.  My brain sees a re-use opportunity in everything. There are a few things I am currently amassing for ongoing repurposing projects.

I’m looking for abandoned shopping carts, plastic straws, old t-shirts and jeans, large colored bottle caps, pony beads, buttons, ribbon, yarn, bolts of fabric, paracord, fishing net, action figures, old toys and broken jewelry.

If you have access to any of these items, message me and let me know.

PS… yes Im still looking for shopping carts.