Category: Events

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Summer 2025: Weaving New Futures

This summer, my work travels across states and seas, gathering threads of memory, identity, and community in a series of exhibitions that speak to love, resilience, and the emotional labor we carry.

The Future Belongs to the Loving
Now through – July 31, 2025
MAPSpace | 6 N Pearl St, 4th Floor, Port Chester, NY
mapspace.art

Love, in this exhibition, is not a soft whisper but a radical act. The Future Belongs to the Loving gathers voices from artists committed to compassion as resistance. Tender Crown is a sculptural meditation on the intimate rituals of Black hair care—where tenderness and tension coexist. The work evokes the memory of tight braids and firm hands, each parting and twist pulling not just at the scalp, but at identity itself. Beauty here is not effortless; it’s labor, discipline, love, and pain intertwined. This crown remembers the sting, the throb, the scalp still tingling with memory.

FIBER 2025
May 10 – June 19, 2025
Silvermine Galleries | 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT
Opening Reception: May 17

Fiber is language—resilient, tactile, expressive. At FIBER 2025, I join fellow artists in celebrating the breadth of contemporary fiber practices. My work here, Blackity Black Blanket ladder provides a visceral portrayal of navigating the relentless barrage of microaggressions, highlighting the absence of comfort. The ladders adorned with zip tie blankets symbolize my endeavor to ascend beyond microaggressions, yet the weight of these interactions impedes upward progress.

Theda Sandiford Studio Tour / Ecopark Walk
June 19, 2025 | 11am – 2:00pm
Sky Garden Gallery Retreat | Kingshill, St. Croix, USVI

For those on island or visiting, I invite you into my studio at Sky Garden—an oasis where art, ecology, and ancestral memory intersect. Walk the grounds, see where I gather and process materials, and join me in conversation about land-based creativity and healing. RSVP recommended for this intimate, immersive experience.

Fiberart International 2025
June 20 – August 30, 2025
Brew House Arts | 711 S 21st St #210, Pittsburgh, PA
Opening Night: June 20 | 4:30 – 8:00pm
Artist Gallery Tour: June 21 | 11am – 12pm

An international survey of fiber’s future, this juried exhibition is a touchstone for textile artists worldwide. I’m honored to exhibit among a visionary group that is pushing the medium’s boundaries. My work here, Polyurethane Paradise: Rainforest Rhapsody reflects on the environment and sustainability and is inspired by the lush vegetation found on my rainforest property in St Croix USVI. I wove single-use bottle caps into vines and flowers to replicating the vibrant colors and intricate patterns of vines, orchids, Heliconias, and Birds of Paradise that surround me.

MidAtlantic Fiber Association Conference – Emotional Baggage Cart Parade
June 26 – 29, 2025
Millersville University | Millersville, PA
View Exhibit Info →

We all carry invisible weight. The Emotional Baggage Cart Parade transforms that weight into visual metaphors through shopping carts wrapped in stories. This interactive exhibit invites reflection, empathy, and communal healing. Come see how individual struggles become collective strength—one cart at a time. MAFA has day passes available, come through so we can connect. Register here.

Wherever you are this summer—Port Chester, New Canaan, Pittsburgh, Millersville, or St. Croix—I hope our paths cross. Please let me know if we can meet up this month.

—Theda

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Spring Into Summer: Upcoming Exhibitions & Events

As the days grow longer and the light shifts, so too does my work—stretching itself into new spaces, new conversations, and new communities. I’m thrilled to share a series of upcoming exhibitions and events where my artwork will be on view. From the streets of New York City to the hills of St. Croix, from intimate gallery walks to fiber-filled parades—there’s something powerful on the horizon.

The Future Belongs to the Loving

May 3 – July 31, 2025
MAPSpace | 6 N Pearl St, 4th Floor, Port Chester, NY
Collaborative Events + Opening Reception: May 3
🔗 https://mapspace.art

This exhibition is an invitation to imagine futures rooted in radical love and shared care. Join me for collaborative programming and a reception on May 3.

1-54 Contemporary African Art Fair

May 8–11, 2025
Halo, 28 Liberty Street, New York, NY

I’m honored to present work at 1-54, the leading international art fair dedicated to contemporary African art. Nestled in the heart of the city, this gathering is a celebration of global Black creativity. Come find me at Halo.

Book your ticket

FIBER 2025

May 10 – June 19, 2025
Opening Reception: May 17, 2025
Silvermine Galleries, 1037 Silvermine Rd, New Canaan, CT

Fiber art holds stories in every strand. I’m thrilled to exhibit Blackity Black Blanket Library Ladders Drape in FIBER 2025, among artists who manipulate thread, texture, and tension to powerful ends. Let’s schedule a meet during the show run and feel the warp and weft of connection.

Theda Sandiford Sky Garden STX Studio Tour / Ecopark Walk

June 19, 2025 | 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Sky Garden Gallery Retreat, Kingshill, St. Croix, VI

On Juneteenth, I invite you into my island sanctuary. Walk with me through Sky Garden STX Studio and Ecopark, tour where magic is made, and witness how marine debris and ancestral memory converge. This is art as ritual, land as teacher.

Fiberart International 2025

June 20 – August 30, 2025
Public Opening: June 20 | 4:30 – 8:00 PM
Brew House Arts, 711 S 21st St #210, Pittsburgh, PA
June 21: Juror’s Talk (TBD) + Artist-led Tour 11 AM – 12 PM

Pittsburgh will be the beating heart of the fiber art world this summer, and I’m proud to be part of this dynamic exhibition. Mark your calendars for the opening and weekend programming—fiber is having its moment, and I’m bringing Rainforest Rhapsody with me.

MidAtlantic Fiber Association Conference: Emotional Baggage Cart Parade

June 26–29, 2025
Millersville University, Millersville, PA
Learn More Here

Come witness the Emotional Baggage Cart Parade—an interactive, mobile installation inviting participants to unpack what they carry and reflect on collective healing. Join us at MAFA and walk with intention.

From ziptie blankets on ladders to carts packed with memory and resistance, these works are not just objects—they’re vessels of story, tools of transformation, and mirrors reflecting the world we live in.

See you soon—somewhere on the map.

—Theda

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Passport Ready: Italy, Here I Come!

This April, I’m heading to Italy with our parish for Jubilee 2025, and I am beyond excited. This trip feels like the perfect blend of culture, history, language, and adventure—right up my alley.

The itinerary is packed with iconic stops—Pompeii, the Colosseum, Trevi Fountain—you know, the kind of places you’ve seen in books and movies your whole life. To finally stand in those spaces and take it all in? I can’t wait.

What I’m really looking forward to is soaking up everything. The rhythm of Italian life, the art tucked inside ancient churches, the texture of the frescoes, the sound of fountains in little piazzas, the golden light on old stone buildings—it’s a full-body experience I’m hungry for.

Speaking of hungry… let’s talk about the food. I plan to eat and drink my way through this trip with pure joy: fresh pasta, flaky pastries, pizza, espresso, local vino, and anything else delicious that crosses my path. I want to sit at tiny tables, take a sip, and just be.

Since November, I’ve been studying Italian, slowly but surely. It’s been so rewarding to learn the language, even just the basics. I can’t wait to try it out my Duolingo Italian—ordering food, asking for directions, saying hello and thank you. Even fumbling through it is part of the fun.

This trip is a chance to reconnect with my inner explorer—to wander, to notice, to be curious. I’m going with open eyes, a notebook, a big appetite, and a heart ready for whatever magic Italy decides to offer.

So yes—I’m counting the days. Jubilee 2025, Roman ruins, ancient art, and new adventures? Yes, please.

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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.

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Emotional Baggage Cart: Unburden, Weave, Connect, Heal


Join me this weekend at the Miami Children’s Museum for in a dynamic, hands-on public art experience centered around my Emotional Baggage Cart series. Through an open dialogue, I will share the inspiration behind the project and explore the emotional weight we all carry.
Community members of all ages, are invited to weave directly onto a kid size shopping carts using a variety of provided materials—or bring personal objects to incorporate, making the piece uniquely meaningful. This collaborative process encourages reflection, healing, and connection, allowing participants to contribute to a collective artwork that symbolizes the shared journey of managing emotional burdens.
Together, we will transform individual stories into a powerful public sculpture, fostering community, empathy, and artistic expression.

Where: The Children’s Museum of Miami

Address: 980 MacArthur Cswy, Miami, FL 33132

When: 10:00am-6:00pm

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Sign Up for Textile Alchemy Workshop

Marine line and more

Discover the magic of materiality in my Textile Alchemy workshop! Learn to transform found and upcycled materials into stunning textile creations.

Embrace zero-waste creativity and innovation while seeing material in a new way. Finally use the art material you have been holding on to—sign up now and craft something extraordinary!

Sign Up

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2025 ST. CROIX, US VIRGIN ISLANDS ART & HISTORY TOUR

YOU ARE INVITED!

Dates: Wednesday, June 18 – Wednesday, June 25, 2025
Group Size: Limited to 20 Participants
Book Now: Space is Limited!

Discover the Rich Art & History of St. Croix

Join us for an unforgettable week exploring the vibrant art, fascinating history, and breathtaking beauty of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This exclusive tour is packed with enriching activities and indulgent experiences, including:

  • Visits to historic landmarks showcasing the island’s storied past.
  • Intimate introductions to St. Croix’s vibrant visual arts scene.
  • Relaxing beachside lunches by the emerald green waters of Christiansted and Frederiksted.
  • Evening dining, music, and fun under the stars.

Your stay includes accommodations at the beautiful Caravelle Hotel, offering a perfect blend of comfort and Caribbean charm.

Special Highlights

As part of this immersive experience, you’ll also get to:

  • Tour my studio and property for an eco-focused walking experience.
  • Sip on refreshing, homemade bush tea during a relaxing afternoon.
  • Learn about the connections between art, nature, and culture in St. Croix.

Pre-Payment Deadlines

  • 1st Deposit: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
  • Hotel Room Deposit: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
  • Ground Transportation Payment: Tuesday, April 1, 2025
  • Hotel Room Full Payment: Monday, June 2, 2025

Self-Pay Items

  • Flights: Book your own travel and plan to arrive at St. Croix, USVI by Wednesday, June 18th at 3:00 PM.
  • Meals: Self-pay for all meals.

Explore More Details

This unique opportunity is limited to just 20 participants, so don’t wait! Contact Norma Krieger at normakrieger@aol.com to reserve your spot today.

Come immerse yourself in the beauty, culture, and creativity of St. Croix. We can’t wait to welcome you!

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Promo Code for Textile Alchemy Workshop

Textile Alchemy with Theda Sandiford
Saturday, March 8 + Saturday, March 15 with a midweek meetup

Take a virtual workshop with me. Learn new skills and techniques, get inspired, and find ways to apply what you learn to your current studio practice.

Receive 10% off when you register by December 15, 2024 with promo code EARLYBIRD

Interested in taking more than one workshop? Use code WORKSHOPS15 for 15% your total when you register for more than one workshop.

REGISTER NOW

Marine line and more

“Textile Alchemy” is an engaging and innovative workshop that combines the exploration of different environments—beaches, urban areas, and even our own closets—to source unique materials for textile art. Participants will learn how to source and creatively utilize found and upcycled materials from diverse environments to craft meaningful and sustainable textile pieces. The workshop emphasizes sustainability, resourcefulness, and innovation, encouraging participants to find artistic potential in the most unexpected places. By embracing a zero-waste philosophy, this workshop invites participants to turn what might be considered “waste” into “wonder.”

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Im Taking a Ghost Tour of Old Town Albuquerque

Ghostly image of a weeping woman with long dark hair by a river flowing through a cemetery

I’ve always been fascinated by the paranormal, ever since I was a kid. Ghost stories, strange encounters, and unexplained events have a way of capturing my imagination, and soon, I’ll be diving into that world again during the Ghost Tour of Old Town Albuquerque. As part of the American Folklore Society gathering, this tour feels like the perfect mix of history and the supernatural.

The tour will take place in Albuquerque’s Old Town, a place steeped in history. This area, with its adobe buildings and centuries-old streets, seems like the ideal setting for ghost stories. The fact that the city dates back to 1706 makes it feel even more like the kind of place where the past and present overlap, where you might just sense something from another time.

What excites me most is the opportunity to explore this part of the city through its haunted history. I’m eager to hear about the legendary La Llorona, and to learn about the spirits said to linger in the old buildings. There’s something captivating about the idea of walking through spaces that have witnessed so much life—and maybe even death. It feels like a way of connecting to the city on a deeper level, where history isn’t just something you read about, but something you might feel in the air.

I’m also really looking forward to experiencing Gabino Noriega’s storytelling. I’m sure his knowledge of local folklore will bring these tales to life in a way that lets us glimpse into Albuquerque’s ghostly past. It’s a chance to not just hear stories but to feel them, surrounded by the very streets and buildings where these legends were born.

For me, this isn’t just about ghost stories, though. It’s about how folklore gives us a way to engage with history, to connect with the past in a way that’s personal, even emotional. I can’t wait to see what Old Town has in store.