“THEDA SANDIFORD: JOYFUL RESISTANCE”: Works by award-winning, self-taught fiber and installation artist Sandiford are featured in a new exhibit at The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster. The Center will also host solo exhibits by Lily Colman, Jennifer Croson, and Debra Samdperil from April 22 through June 4.

The Center for Contemporary Art in Bedminster has announced the opening of four solo exhibitions beginning April 22 and remaining on view through June 4. The opening reception will be held on Friday, April 22 from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free and open to the public.

“Lily Colman: The Knots on the Underside of the Carpet” presents the work of Lily Madeleine Colman a film-based photographer from Philadelphia, where she currently lives and works. Colman was most recently featured in the 2021 International Juried Exhibition at The Center for Contemporary Art, where she was awarded First Prize and a Solo Exhibition. She also won Second Place for the 2021 Foto Forum Santa Fe Photography Award, and had a virtual solo exhibition featured on their website. She completed her master’s degree in photography from the Rhode Island School of Design in May 2020, as well as a Certificate in Collegiate Teaching in Art and Design. She earned her BA in fine art portrait photography and curatorial studies in May 2013 from Hampshire College in Amherst, Mass.

“Jennifer Croson: New Encounters, Resetting The Stage” exhibits the work of Jennifer Croson, a New York-based multimedia artist. A graduate of The State University at Geneseo, with a Master of Fine Arts degree from Queens College, Croson has exhibited in numerous one-, two-, and three-person shows, including Hall Walls, Portal: Governor’s Island, Denise Bibro Fine Arts, Gibson Contemporary, From the Drawer, The Attleboro Art Museum, Mizuma, Kips, and Wada Art. As a dedicated educator who is chair of the Visual Arts Department, she teaches courses in painting, sculpture, and design at Marymount School of New York.

“Debra Samdperil: Layered Conversations” presents the work of artist Debra Samdperil. Samdperil‘s painting explores current and past personal stories through engaged discovery, both unconscious and intentional —always questioning whether self-determination is possible. She works from her studio in South Boston where she now has the opportunity for time and to focus more exclusively on her practice. An artist from early on, she watched and learned from her mother as she painted.  Her mother also exposed her to numerous artists’ work taking her to many art museums long before she even understood what she was seeing. Her professional life has always focused on the visual arts. From years as a photographer and video producer to numerous positions in art education at colleges and community programs both in Boston and New York City, she always has been drawing in one form or another. Samdperil earned a BFA from School of the Museum of Fine Arts at Tufts University, and has exhibited work and participated in residencies ever since. 

“Theda Sandiford: Joyful Resistance” showcases the work of award-winning self-taught fiber and installation artist Theda Sandiford, based in Jersey City. Using racial trauma as a starting point, Sandiford juxtaposes various fibers with a variety of found materials using free-form weaving, coiling, knotting, crochet, and jewelry-making techniques. Meticulously collected materials and community donations, transformed by their collective memory become “social fabric,” weaving together contemporary issues and personal narratives. Community art making is key to her process. Sandiford curates’ multi-disciplinary experiences pairing people, sound, and artmaking to create a safe space to explore themes such as equity and inclusion, sustainability, and personal well-being. She has shown extensively nationwide. Sandiford received Excellence in Fibers VI from Fiber Art Now, the 2020 Jersey City Arts, Visual Artist Award, and the 2021 Fellowship in Craft from the New Jersey State Council on the Arts.

The Center for Contemporary Art is located at 2020 Burnt Mills Road in Bedminster. For more information, call (908) 234-2345 or visit ccabedminster.org.