Theda Sandiford

Upcycled Wall Sculpture: 'Off Duty'

2022

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 sales & digital marketing executive. After years of ground breaking digital work for musicians, she began applying digital and analog art processes to develop her own artistic self-expression as a means of art therapy “Using racial conflict as a starting point, I juxtaposes various fibers with a variety of found materials using free form weaving, coiling, knotting, wrapping and jewelry making techniques. Meticulously collected materials, transformed by their collective memory become “social fabric” weaving together contemporary issues and personal narratives. 100-foot extensions of rope, twine, and yarn impeccably wrapped, woven, tied and embellished with recycled beads, ribbon, lace, tape and bottle cap bobbles lures you into my hue-imbued, enmeshed installations symbolizing natural hair. These bold albeit whimsically twisted and locked forms gingerly invite the audience into off the-wall conversations about micro aggressions against black women and their hair. Community art making is also key to my process. Multi-disciplinary experiences pairing people, food, wine, music and art, create a safe space to explore themes such as equity & inclusion, sustainability and personal wellbeing.” -Theda Sandiford