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Engage with Theda Sandiford’s Art at Touchstone Center for Crafts

A Journey Through Art and Emotion

I am excited to co-host the Free Your Mind Artist Talk fat Touchstone Center for Crafts. Set aside Tuesday, September 24 at 6 p.m. for an enriching session, available both in-person and on Zoom.

About the Project

Free Your Mind, is a compelling textile art project that aims to gather and liberate personal stories of microaggressions. Through this multi-sensory installation, I am transforming these narratives into a powerful public art piece that invites introspection and dialogue.

Why You Should Attend

  • Insightful Discussions: Hear me share the creative and emotional process behind Free Your Mind.
  • Community Engagement: Participate in discussions that highlight the significance of addressing microaggressions through art.
  • Convenient Access: Whether you’re attending in person or via Zoom, make sure to register in advance for the online session on September 24.

Reserve Your Spot

Don’t miss this unique opportunity to connect with art that speaks volumes. Register for the Zoom talk on September 24 and join us in celebrating the power of artistic expression.

[REGISTER FOR SEPTEMBER 24]

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Beyond: Tapestry Expanded 

Beyond: Tapestry Expanded is an ATA-sponsored and organized exhibition featuring work by artists who explore the expansive properties of tapestry weaving. Using the definition of tapestry as a nonfunctional, handwoven pictorial structure, artists included in the exhibition combined both hand and digital processes, using non-traditional materials, to create three-dimensional forms or multi-media components. Curated by Erica Warren and co-juried by Jade Yumang and Alexa Griffith Winton, the exhibition includes work from the following artists:

Abbey Muza, Anne Wilson, Bryana Bibbs, Christina Forrer, Christy Matson, Crystal Gregory, Danielle Andress, Diana Guerrero-Macia, Dianna Frid, Hope Wang, Janice Lessman-Moss, Jacqueline Surdell, Jovencio de la Paz, kg gnatowski, Kira Dominguez Hultgren, Lia Cook, Marianne Fairbanks, Melissa Leandro, Olivia Valentine, Olive Stefanski, Qualeasha Wood, Susie Taylor, Tanya Aguiñiga, Yasmin Spiro, C. Pazia Mannella, Constanza Camila Kramer Garfias, Jacobo Alonso, Jennifer Robertson, Kate Nartker, Linda Sok, Rose Dickson, Sarah Stefana Smith, Theda Sandiford, Wlodzimierz Cygan, and Xia Gao.

Please save the date for the curatorial talk on Tuesday, September 10 at 4:30 pm at the Richard E. Peeler Art Center. The talk is open to the public. ATA is developing additional virtual programming in October and November—more details to follow.

Exhibition Dates: August 1- December 15

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

Blackity Black Blanket, ladders and emotional baggage cart, ladders only
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Where is Malibu Kristie?

April 2023, Paracord, ribbon, cool LED lights and various vintage Barbies on gold spray painted recovered shopping cart. 36 x 40 x 24 in
Theda Sandiford “Where is Malibu Kristie?” April 2023, Paracord, ribbon, cool LED lights and various vintage Barbies on gold spray painted recovered shopping cart. 36 x 40 x 24 in

In the 1970s, finding a Black Barbie doll could be quite challenging due to limited availability and prevailing racial attitudes. During this time, the toy market was predominantly geared towards white consumers, and Barbie dolls were primarily produced with Caucasian features.

For Black children who wanted a doll that reflected their own appearance, options were scarce. Many toy stores carried a limited selection of Black dolls, and those that were available often faced issues like lower production quantities, less prominent shelf placement, and sometimes higher prices compared to their white counterparts.

Moreover, societal norms and prejudices influenced both the production and marketing of toys, including dolls. Some toy companies were hesitant to diversify their product lines due to concerns about profitability or fear of backlash from consumers who were not yet ready to embrace racial diversity in toys.

As a result, families seeking Black Barbie dolls in the 1970s had to search more extensively, to find a doll that represented their child’s racial or ethnic identity. This scarcity and the challenges of finding representation in toys underscored the broader social inequalities and cultural biases of the time.

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In Studio Playlist Vibes

Ihe anyi biara n’uwa wu ize mmiri, o mmiri tuo awuru onye no nga ya alaa:

We are in this world like water escapees residing on land that belongs to the waters, thus when the waters throw forth waves in our directions, whoever is caught up in the waves returns to the source.
Igbo Proverb
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AUGUST EXHIBITIONS & BEYOND

OPENING THIS MONTH

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  

CLOSING THIS MONTH

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

ONGOING

Free Your Mind @ Touchstone

Dates: May 17 – September 20

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

Uncontained: Reimagining Basketry

Opening Reception: May 19th 2:00-4:00pm

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

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

NEXT 

Touchstone Artist Residency

Dates: September 13-27

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

Artwalk NY 2024

Date: October 21

Location: Chelsea Factory 547 West 26th Street

9th Annual SDA Exhibition in Print

Dates: October

Location: In Print

American Folklore Society Annual Conference

Dates: November 6- 9

Location: Albuquerque NM

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

Dates: November 12-17

Location: Zoom

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Middle Passage Installation

The Atlantic Slave Trade laid the groundwork for modern capitalism, unfolding in three stages: arms, textiles, and wine from Europe to Africa; enslaved people from Africa to the Americas; and sugar and coffee from the Americas to Europe. The brutal Middle Passage marked the journey of enslaved Africans to the Americas.

As a Caribbean and African American woman, I am still emotionally unpacking my identity through this historical trauma. The metaphorical baggage carts, not fully covered in zip ties, symbolize my ongoing struggle with unresolved emotional baggage, reflecting a deep and personal connection to this painful history.

Middle Passage Installation