I’m Mixed… Of Course…
This resonated so hard with me
Hello There
Interrupt this blog for a Selfie Hello!
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Artist Spotlight: Using Shopping Carts to Explore Equity & Sustainability
My was recently featured by Artwork Archive on their blog. Have a look.
Big Mouth On View
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This body of work is a collection of one sided conversations. As a woman, I find it is often easier to make my way in the world by keeping my mouth shut. To simply grin and bare it when haters, well meaning friends or co-workers say or do something incorrect or insensitive.
As a child, my father would say to me, “Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubtâ€. So in keeping my mouth shut, I learned, to be seen, and selectively heard.
With ‘Big Mouth’, I am all of it. The sass, the crass, the erudite and more than that, aware. Aware of the language used to quiet me down. To remind me of what is and most importantly, what isn’t being said.
“Neon Auto Tune” Theda Sandiford Digital Collage on Metallic Photo Paper, AP 14″x11″m 20″x16″ framed “Of Thee I Sing” Theda Sandiford Digital Collage on Metallic Photo Paper, AP 14″x11″m 20″x16″ framed “B Rhapsody” Theda Sandiford Digital Collage on Metallic Photo Paper, AP 14″x11″m 20″x16″ framed “Alto” Theda Sandiford Digital Collage on Metallic Photo Paper, AP 14″x11″m 20″x16″ framed “Stay Woke” Theda Sandiford Golden High Flow acrylic, Golden Soft Gel Gloss acrylic skin, Tulip dimensional fabric paint, gesso, Montana Gold spray paint, recycled envelops, fabric squares from a quilt, tissue paper, felt from post consumer recycled fibers, glitter stars on canvas. 20″x20″x1″ “Me Too” Theda Sandiford Golden High Flow acrylic, Golden Soft Gel Gloss acrylic skin, Tulip dimensional fabric paint, gesso, Montana Gold spray paint, recycled envelops, fabric squares from a quilt, tissue paper, felt from post consumer recycled fibers, glitter stars on canvas. 20″x20″x1″ “Wakanda Forever” Theda Sandiford Golden High Flow acrylic, Golden Soft Gel Gloss acrylic skin, Tulip dimensional fabric paint, gesso, Montana Gold spray paint, recycled envelops, fabric squares from a quilt, tissue paper, felt from post consumer recycled fibers, glitter stars on canvas. 20″x20″x1″ “I Can’t Even” 24″ x 18″ x 1″ in Medium: Acrylic paint, acrylic skin, plastic mesh, self leveling gel, tissue paper, cardboard, vinyl, glitter, gold leaf, beads, rhinestones, marbles, plastic army men on canvas board. October 2017 “By the Seat of my Pants” 20″x20″x1 Mixed Media Canvas “Never Hide” 20″x20″x1 Mixed Media Canvas Acrylic skin, painted cardboard, tissue paper, recycled envelops, glitter, beads, bottle caps 2017 I define my own identity and relish the opportunity to occupy the position of both insider and outsider rather than insider or outsider. This is one of the many masks I wear. Wine -o -Clock Theda Sandiford 20″x20″x1 Mixed Media Canvas Made with Handmade paper, recycled paper, tissue paper, newspaper, magazine cut out, acrylic skins, acrylic paint, glitter and recycled memory jewel. 2017
Digital Big Mouths- New Metallic Photo Prints
My status as “other†does not always grant the luxury to say what is truly there for me, to correct a slight or present an alternative point of view. I have to be vigilantly self aware, and know the right time to speak up or how to frame my words so that they can be received in the best possible light. Sharing my uncensored opinion can quickly get me labeled as being “too big in a room†or worse an “Angry Black Womanâ€. When that happens, full stop. My opinion is dismissed outright. Somewhere along the way, I’ve even stopped correcting people who mispronounce my name. It’s Thee-duh if you are interested.
11″x14″ print in frame, 20″x16″ total size.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dn9-v0sgPIw&w=560&h=315]
An Experiment…
What if i let my mind wander and see where my hands lead me…
These abstract figurative self portraits where made over the course of 5 weekends using the fine print from my MS medication, Tysbari and other recycled paper scrapes Ive been hoarding all year.
Acrylic paint, Sharpie, colored pencils, pastels, Distress Stain, mica spray, Tysabri newsprint, hand printed deli paper, construction paper, recycled Tazo tea box, tulle, glitter stars, glitter glue and rhinestones on 12″x9″Canson paper.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=videoseries?list=PLk2jgVFOoq2h3bpqr0i8_RGq5v_WZWzw5&w=560&h=315]
New Mixed Media Big Mouths
As a woman of color, I find It is often easier to make my way in the world by keeping my mouth shut. To simply grin and bare it when haters, well meaning friends or co-workers say or do something incorrect or insensitive. As a child, my father would say to me, “Better to be thought a fool than open your mouth and remove all doubt†So I learned to keep my mouth shut, to be seen, and selectively heard.
My status as “other†does not always grant the luxury to say what is truly there for me, to correct a slight or present an alternative point of view. I have to be vigilantly self aware, and know the right time to speak up or how to frame my words so that they can be received in the best possible light. Sharing my uncensored opinion can quickly get me labeled as being “too big in a room†or worse an “angry black womanâ€. When that happens, full stop. My opinion is dismissed outright. Somewhere along the way, I’ve even stopped correcting people who mispronounce my name. It’s Thee-duh if you are interested.
It can be frustrating to constantly edit myself for the sake of others but thank goodness I have my art as a vehicle for my voice to be heard, long after I’m gone. This body of work is a collection of one sided conversations. The things I wish I said or could say, the things I say under my breath or the affirmations I use to remind myself that my voice is relevant even when no one is listening.
Thanks to Big Mouth… look who has the last word now.
Look How Nice Selfie Joy Looks
One of collectors, Michelle Stevens on did such a lovely job framing her Selfie Joy print. I had just had to share!
You can get your own print of Selfie Joy in my Shopify store.
Body Glitch
Please join me for Body Glitch: featuring the work of Sybil Archibald, Theda Sandiford (me), Katinka Neuhof, Maria Mineo, Monica Chulewicz, and Rosary Solimanto at the Window Gallery at Paul Robeson Galleries, in The Hahnes Building, Newark.
The opening reception is October 18 from 6:00-8:00pm.
The exhibition runs through March 16, 2019.
DATE: October 18th, 2018
TIME: 6:00pm-8:00pm
LOCATION: 54 Halsey Street, 3rd Floor | Newark, NJ 07102
Monday-Wednesday, 12pm-5pm
Thursday, 12pm-8pm
Saturday, 12pm-5pm