Inspired by the Queen Latifah lyric from “Come into my House”, MoCADA seeks to unravel how far society has come in its understanding, recognion, and celebration of the femme form –mind, body, and soul– to deliver anew vision for the future.
Curated by Amy Andrieux and Sophia Rose Opening party: March 8, 2019 @ 7pm-9pm (w/ performance artists) On View: March 8 – April 16, 2019 Location: MoCADA, Central Exterior Gallery @ 80 Hanson Place Brooklyn NY
On Saturday (3/2), I will be participating in a conversation about gender, woman, femme, and feminism today at the Brooklyn Museum.. Please join me.
Social norms have long dictated gender, from their public facing meanings to their private impact. Mother. Shorty. Wifey. Bitch. Woman. Trans. Feminist — and other various descriptors for the female sex gradient, also come diabolically attached to a long antiquated idea of femininity, whose trappings and boundaries suffocate rather than uplift. This is especially true for women of color, whether cis or non-binary, who most often face the corrosive extremes of these imposed values at either end of the spectrum. Through MoCADA’s next exhibit, Give Me Body! Femme Re-divined, MoCADA seeks to unravel how far society has come in our understanding, recognition, and celebration of the femme form –mind, body, and soul– as a spiritual rite. Our greatest wish is to further unpack and expand this necessary conversation to deliver a new vision for the future.
Date: Saturday, March 2, 2019
Time: 6:00-7:30pm
Location:Â Brooklyn Museum: 200 Eastern Pkwy, Brooklyn, NY 11238
Mixed Media Artist Celebrates Wearable Art Collaboration with Space Cowboy’s Signature Western Apparel Brand
FOR
IMMEDIATE RELEASE
New York, New York — February 25, 2019 —The Theda Sandiford Art Show kicks off a historic partnership for the Planet
Cowboy brand.Theda Sandiford in collaboration
with
Soho-based
Space
Cowboy
Boots
marks
the
release
of
the
Theda
Sandiford Artist Collection on Thursday, February 28, from 6 to 9pm, on site at
the well-known store front on Mulberry Street. Sandiford reimagines her
painting Future Past using leather as canvas to create the shaft of the boot.
The footwear is available for purchase
beginning at $429.
“We all wear masks. Masks
to pretend, to hide or just to put our best face forward in a selfie,†says
Sandiford, a self-taught artist and music industry digital marketing veteran.
“I construct masks to protect myself from my fears. What may start as an ugly
statement about myself in the end becomes something beautiful.†The
“boot-spiration†came, too, as an opportunity for the artist to repurpose a
message of empowerment: “The original art was made in response to my being
asked to dim my light so that less dynamic people would not be threatened by
me. Reimagined as a boot, this work of art is now a potent reminder to always
be you, no matter what.â€
Often grappling with
themes of grace, power, and healing in her art, this trailblazing inaugural
union for the artist and Planet Cowboy takes places as Black History Month ends
and Women’s History Month begins and nods to ways that groups, as well as,
individuals can reclaim their power.“Fashion
is
powerful,â€
says
President
and
Space
Cowboy
co-owner
Jaylin
Ramer.
“This
wearable art collaboration with Theda is cutting edge and charts new territory
for Planet Cowboy.†Since 2011, Space Cowboy has been a purveyor of Country
Western apparel. “The boots are unisex, handcrafted in Mexico, and embroidered
from heel to toe,†shares Ramer. “Fashion is about the individual and is
completely unique. This is a pioneering opportunity to put art with a message
on our signature boots.â€
The Theda Sandiford Art Show will also stage selections from various collections by the People’s Choice Award-winning artist at the in-store event. Brooklyn-based Duke’s Liquor Box will offer whiskey pours for the evening alongside a salsa tasting by Salsa Pistolero.
About Theda
Theda Sandiford, is a
self-taught mixed media artist based in Jersey City, NJ. Though art is
engrained in her psyche, Theda’s first creative endeavors were in the music
business as a digital marketing executive. After years of ground breaking
digital branding work for musicians, she began exploring her own artistry by
transforming found and meticulously collected materials into mixed media works,
photographing her process and then digitally manipulating these images to
extend the narrative as part of her personal mythology. Fragmented identity
juxtaposed with the existence of infinite possibilities is a recurring theme in
her work. Her work Selfie-Joy was licensed to BET’s Being Mary Jane in 2017.
Theda has shown extensively in Jersey City, Brooklyn and Los Angeles.
About Planet Cowboy
Planet Cowboy is Space
Cowboy Boots own brand. President and co-owner Jaylin has been designing
cutting edge styles in Soho for a number of years. She combines fashion-forward, remarkable
boots that look as timeless as they last. Space Cowboy Boots tailors the brand
to fit the Urban cowboy look, but keep the integrity of fit, comfort, style and
durability. Planet Cowboy boots can be seen walking the street of NYC, in the
‘burbs, by the oceans, and at ranches around the globe.
Im celebrating my birthday by opening my studio March 1st as part of JCFridays. Come take a tour of Garden Level Gallery. See new works in progress and maybe try your hand at wrapping some rope. All are welcome.
DATE: Friday, March 1st
TIME: 6:00pm -9:00pm
LOCATION: Garden Level Gallery; 315 3rd Street, Jersey City NJ. Between Cole and Monmouth Streets. From Manhattan take the PATH train to Grove Street. It is a short walk from there up Newark Avenue.
RSVP:Please let me know if you are going to make it so I get a headcount and can make sure there is enough food and drink for all….
Sandiford launches a Wearable Art collaboration with Planet Cowboy based on her painting Future Past. The piece is reimagined as boots—handcrafted in Mexico, embroidered heel to toe.
Witness selections from various collections by the People’s Choice Award-winning mixed media artist who charts new territory with her self-reflective works.
February 28th 7:00-9:00pm @ Space Cowboy Boots
LOCATION: 234 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Pours by Brooklyn’s  Dukes Liquor Box Â
#cowboots #wearableart #wherewillyourbootstakeyou
The Theda Sandiford Artist Boot in collaboration with Planet Cowboy Boots.
-13″ tall boot
-J toe
-1 1/2″ stacked leather heel
-full leather sole
-Canvas on Leather top replicating Theda Sandifords are Piece
-Embroidery on foot on heel to compliment image.
-handcrafted in Mexico by Planet Cowboy
*Limited size run available
The Theda Sandiford Artist Boot in collaboration with Planet Cowboy Boots.
-13″ tall boot
-J toe
-1 1/2″ stacked leather heel
-full leather sole
-Canvas on Leather top replicating Theda Sandifords are Piece
-Embroidery on foot on heel to compliment image.
-handcrafted in Mexico by Planet Cowboy
*Limited size run available
The Theda Sandiford Artist Boot in collaboration with Planet Cowboy Boots.
-13″ tall boot
-J toe
-1 1/2″ stacked leather heel
-full leather sole
-Canvas on Leather top replicating Theda Sandifords are Piece
-Embroidery on foot on heel to compliment image.
-handcrafted in Mexico by Planet Cowboy
*Limited size run available
Expressive Creative Soul: on display now through mid March
LOCATION: Bridge Art Gallery; 199 Broadway, Bayonne, NJ 07002, USA
Seven works from my Woman of Wonder collage series. A pure celebration of expression, music, femininity, and belief in oneself. A confirmation of life repeated as a cannon of ‘I am who I am.’ We often travel to the corners of the planet looking for safe places to BE. When what is actually necessary is a declaration: “We are our own selves!†There is a place for all of our being; the sexy, the demure, the loud and the reticent. On our own terms of being in our own skin when and how we need to be: Ella, Eartha, Grace, Diahann, Billie, and Nina (YES! Nina) taught us and made way for the Cardi’s, Beyonce’s and even Nikki’s of this world. We all fit and there is plenty of room for us. When we make room for ourselves.–
I’m launching a Wearable Art collaboration with Planet Cowboy based on my painting Future Past. The piece is reimagined as boots—handcrafted in Mexico, embroidered heel to toe.
February 28th 7:00-9:00pm @ Space Cowboy Boots
LOCATION: 234 Mulberry St, New York, NY 10012
Pours by Brooklyn’s Dukes Liquor Box
#cowboots #wearableart #wherewillyourbootstakeyou
Open Studio Party @ Garden Level Gallery on March 1st
Join me for a tour of Garden Level Gallery and celebrate my birthday too. Come see my new rope works in progress and maybe try your hand at wrapping some rope. I’lll be demoing rope wrapping at 7:00pm. All are welcome. Step down to #GardenLevelGallery
This is what we will be making
Pro Arts “Identity”… March 5- March 30th
LOCATION: Garden Level Gallery: 315 3rd Street Jersey City, NJ. Between Cole and Monmouth Streets. From Manhattan take the PATH to Groove Street and walk up Newark Avenue.
Wonder Woman Selfie is having herself a moment… She will be on display as part of Pro Arts “Identity” show in Rahway NJ, March 5- 30th. Join me for the Opening Reception on March 10th.
OPENING RECEPTION: Saturday, March 10, 1-4pm
LOCATION: The Gallery Space; 1670 Irving St.Rahway, NJ
48″x36″x2″
Mixed Media
2017
I LOVE Wonder Woman. I grew up watching the Linda Carter’s Wonder Woman and wanted to be a bad ass too. After seeing Patty Jenkins’s Wonder Woman in Theaters, I knew I had to pattern my next Super Selfie after Wonder Woman
Devine Femme @ MoCADA…….March 8 – April 12
It is amazing what can happen when, I get out of my own way and share my art work. I shared an art post on LinkedIn and invited to participate in Divine Femme at MoCADA museum in Brooklyn, NYC. Jut like that. Social graph = Serendipity…
Over the last 20 years The Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Arts (MoCADA) has used the visual and performing arts as a point of departure for exploring new artistic production across a variety of disciplines. Through exhibitions and programming, MoCADA incites dialogue on pressing social and political issues facing the African Diaspora and fosters a dynamic space for the creation and continuous evolution of culture. Some notables who have been featured at MoCADA include Terence Nance (Random Acts of Flyness), Wangechi Mutu, Jamel Shabazz, Ava DuVernay, Saul Williams and now me.
Neon Autotune, below was chosen as the main promotional image for the show that is representative of how far (or NOT) society has come in our understanding, recognition, and celebration of the femme form –mind, body, and soul– as a spiritual rite.
Wonder Women’s stay at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey in Summit has come to a close but you can still see her in all her glory this month at Jersey City’s City Hall for the month of February.
LOCATION: Rotunda Gallery; 280 Grove St, Jersey City, NJ 07302
Catch Big Mouth on View at Paradigm Talent Agency NYC Office through the end of February
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
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
Yarn Wrapping: Sewing Circle
There is something cathartic about wrapping yarn and rope. The yarn in my hand. The dexterity of my fingers. My failing eyesight…
If you join one of my upcoming sewing circle sessions, we will wrap rope and embellish the rope with pony beads, garland and pink army men. No experience necessary.
Saturday Jan 12th 12-3pm RSVP here
Saturday Jan 26th 12-3pm RSVP Here
LOCATION: Garden Level Gallery 315 3rd Street, Jersey City, New Jersey 07302
Rope Work In Progress. Ready for the next layer of yarn.
Fall Exhibitions Last Look and Artist Talk
On Sunday, January 27, the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey will hold a “last look†reception and informal artist talk for the closing of their three fall exhibitions Kevin Blythe Sampson: Black and Blue, Messages from the Interior, and me Stair-gazing: Theda Sandiford. Sampson, Sandiford, and Fred Scruton will be in attendance and each will discuss their work, process, and answer questions from the audience. Join us from 3–5 PM.
January 27th, 3:00-5:00pm
RSVP Here
LOCATION: Visual Arts Center of New Jersey, 68 Elm St, Summit, New Jersey 07901
Later on
I’ll be showing at 14C Art Fair with Calabar Gallery.
March 15-17
Friday 4–9 (VIP only)
Saturday 12–8
Sunday 12–7
LOCATION: Hyatt Regency Hotel, 2 Exchange Place Jersey City, NJ 07302