Conceptual Materials Social Practice Artist
One hundred feet of rope, impeccably wrapped, woven, tied and embellished with beaded garland, ribbon, and silk flower bobbles lure you into a hue-imbued, installation symbolizing natural hair. This bold whimsical sculpture gingerly invites the audience into off the-wall conversations about implicit bias and black women’s hair..
“Free Your Mind” is a cascade of story ribbons tied to fishing nets draped upon the wall like a blanket. Visitors are invited to share written statements about experienced microaggression on a “story” ribbon which I will weave into the “Free Your Mind” blanket. Infusing the essence and yarn of each participant into the social fabric of a protective blanket.
Exhibition Dates: On view for the public Thursday through Sunday from 12:00 to 5:00PM until the end of August
Location: ArtCrawl Harlem @ Governors Island, 406b Colonels Row
Theda In Residence: June 25, July 2, July 16, from 11a – 3pm.
The exhibition casts a wide net and captures an impressive variety of interpretations on the ever-present artistic motif, offering the audience a rare treasure trove of old and new takes on the creative confessional that is the self-portrait.
Curated by Juno Zago
Exhibition Dates: June 25th – August 5th, 2022
Opening Reception – June 25th, 6-9pm
Location: Gallery Aferro Main Gallery, 73 Market St, Newark, NJ
JC Friday June 3, 6:00-9:00pm
Location: Art 150, window of studio #231. 150 Bay Street.
Enter at Provost and First Street and ride the elevator to the 2nd floor. Studio # 231
Exhibition Dates: through August 2022
Live Art: June 11, June 25, July 2, July 16 from 11a – 2pm.
Location: Governors Island, Art Crawl Harlem 406b Colonels Row
Exhibition Preview Reception: Thursday, June 23, 2022 from 6:30 to 8:30 pm
Exhibition On View: June 18, 2022 – April 30, 2023
Museum Hours: Tuesday – Sunday, 9am to 4:45pm; Closed Mondays & all State Holidays
Location: New Jersey State Museum; 205 West State Street Trenton NJ
Opening Reception: Saturday, June 25, 2022 from 6:00-9:00pm
Exhibition Dates: June 25, 2022 – August 5, 2022
Location: Gallery Aferro, 73 Market St, Newark, NJ
Public Hours: Wednesday – Saturday, 12:00-6:00pm
Exhibition Dates: Now through May 21, 2023
Location: 411 N. Sherman Parkway, Springfield MO
Theda Sandiford’s: Joyful Resistance closes June 4, 2022 atThe Center for Contemporary Art; 2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster, NJ.
Future Perfect/Imperfect: The Next Century closes June 9 at Silvermine Gallery: 1037 Silvermine Road, New Canaan, CT. Gallery Hours: Tuesday- Saturday 10:00am-4:00pm
Thank you Tris McCall for the incredible review of my show at Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster until June 4th.
Theda Sandiford’s ’emotional baggage carts’ are highlights of her ‘Joyful Resistance’ show
I’m hosting two workshops at the Center at 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. on May 21. Contact the Center to buy tickets to the workshops.
To all my California people, the last chance to see my works “Thunderdome” and ” in Roseville CA is coming up.
The Closing Reception is May 21, 4:00 – 8:00pm
Exhibition Dates: April 1 – May 28, 2022
Location: Blue Lines Arts: 405 Vernon Street Suite 100, Roseville, CA
Craft Nouveau is Blue Line Arts‘ biennial juried fine craft competition, open to artists internationally. The exhibition seeks to spark dialogue on traditional delineations between fine craft and art, and highlight mediums and processes typically associated with craft.
I have two Emotional Baggage Carts included in this Online Exhibition
Juried by Angelik Vizcarrondo-Laboy
About the Exhibition:
The artists whose works are assembled all take the mantle of exploring the potential of multiple mediums at once. The possibilities opened by this project multiply wonderfully, as seen by the diversity of works on view, all of which find an expression of vitality through their mediums. Perhaps these artists working with mixed media are finding a way to reaffirm our bodily connection. They have a way of bringing out the physicality of their materials in the medium’s interactions, in divergent forms. We find surprising juxtapositions or forms springing out of their prior uses. Though in different ways, the works presented allude to the body: the presence of the artist’s hand in placing objects just so; suggestive forms; organic and inorganic decay; human detritus, and more.
by Theda Sandiford
Free Your Mind is a textile public art installation aiming to collect, embed and release personal narratives about Microaggressions.
Microaggressions are subtle, intentional — and oftentimes unintentional — everyday interactions or behaviors that communicate hostile, derogatory or negative racial messages or assumptions toward historically marginalized groups.
The weight of these daily interactions underpins very real consequences… stress, anger, frustration, self-doubt and ultimately feelings of powerlessness and invisibility.
Free Your Mind intends to expose these interactions and provide a release for the participating individuals. Participants have the feeling of being seen and acknowledged while interacting with the installation.
The installation evolves with each new ribbon, keeping a public record of disempowering interactions, that can be exposed and addressed.
Last year, Free Your Mind toured, collecting story ribbons in Bayonne NJ, Jersey City NJ, and during Miami Art Week. This summer at Governors Island, Free Your mind is documenting your story.
In this weaving, each piece of yarn is representative of a conversation where I was acknowledged for being able to express my thoughts and ideas. Being told I’m well-spoken often comes off as a backhanded compliment. It carries problematic connotations that, it is unusual for someone of my race to be intelligent or eloquent.
The completed weaving is displayed on a DYI loom, as if the work is still in progress because some version of this conversation, continues still…
The assignment… collage one iPhone photo, to pass the time while riding NJ Transit 123 bus from Union City NJ to NYC the summer of 2015.
Have you ever had someone put their hands in your hair without asking first?
This was a regular occurrence for me while riding the bus or subway… before the Pandemic. This is not ok. Please don’t pet me like a dog because my hair fascinates you.
Today, I rarely use public transportation and work mostly from home. I wonder, has social distancing caused a shift in this behavior?
Protective zip tie blankets draped on two 8 foot antique library ladders.
I know you are tempted to touch…
Exhibition Dates: April 1 2022- May 28th, 2022
Opening Reception: April 16, 2022, 4:00 – 8:00pm
Closing Reception: May 21, 2022, 4:00 – 8:00pm
Location: Blue Lines Arts: 405 Vernon Street Suite 100, Roseville, CA 95678
The International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art
Exhibition Dates: April 7 2022 – April 10 2022
Location: Navy Pier Chicago, Booth #377
Exhibition Dates: April 22, 2022 –May 22, 2022
Location: Site:Brooklyn Gallery Online Gallery
Exhibition Dates: April 22 2022 – June 4, 2022
Location:The Center for Contemporary Art; 2020 Burnt Mills Rd, Bedminster, NJ 07921
Exhibition Dates: April 23,2022- May 21, 2023
Location: 411 N. Sherman Parkway, Springfield MO 65802.
Join Sky Garden Gallery for a fun interactive rooftop photoshoot with Theda Sandiford’s Emotional Baggage Carts. Come play and have your picture taken.
Saturday April, 30 2022 from 12:00- 3:00pm
Location: 150 Bay Street, PH9, Jersey City, 10th floor
RSVP Here
Exhibition Dates: February 4, 2022 – May 21, 2022
Location: The Biggs Museum of American Art, 406 Federal St Dover DE 19901
Exhibition Dates: March 22, 2022 – May 21, 2022
Location: Artworks, 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ 08611, USA
Exhibition Dates: May- September 2022
Location: Governors Island, 406b Colonels Row
Who’s come with me to the opening?
Opening Reception: March 26, 2022 / 6-8pm
Exhibition Dates March 22 – May 21, 2022
Location: Artworks Trenton; 19 Everett Alley, Trenton, NJ
