This weekend I am taking over Fiber Art Now’s Instagram page… #artisttakingoverfan
Textures: The History and Art of Black Hair
I recently Zoomed Kent State University museum’s excellent research in history, fashion, art, and visual culture to reassess the “hair story” of peoples of African descent with KSU Museum with co-curators, Joseph L. Underwood, assistant professor of art history at KSU and Tameka Ellington, associate professor at the School of Fashion at KSU.
To say, I felt seen during the webinar would be a massive understatement.
The talk explored topics such as the preferential treatment of straight hair, the social hierarchies of skin, and the power and politics of display.
Black hair has long been an visual signifier that has been leveraged, disdained, celebrated, and scrutinized for centuries.
I have been studying exhibition photos on the website. The shape of the combs, product packaging, and masterworks from artists including Sonya Clark, Lorna Simpson, Mary Sibande and Lina Iris Viktor have left me truly inspired to dig out some unfinished rope hair pieces I stashed away at the beginning of the Pandemic.
Black Hair Flag, 2010
Things I Learned at Expo Chicago
While at Expo Chicago I met so many interesting people and organizations creating social practice art and making a difference in their community.
This is one of my favs…
Black Creativity
Let me find out that the Black Creativity program at Museum of Science & Industry has been celebrating African American achievement in science, technology, engineering, art and medicine for 50 years.
My Favorite Things
When I spend time rifling through my art supply storage bins, this song plays as the stroundtrack in my head.
My Work…
My narrative focuses on social justice and identity at the intersection of race and gender
My Work
My work exposes cultural tensions – racial trauma, identity politics and institutionalized prejudice.
Artist Spotlight: Using Shopping Carts to Explore Equity & Sustainability
My was recently featured by Artwork Archive on their blog. Have a look.
Theda in Studio
Theda posing with art 
Tying zip ties takes time 
and precision.
You Are So Articulate
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…
Use what you have
” . . . . Do what you can. Use what you have.” –Arthur Ashe
Ribbon and caution tape 
Adding the pearls