Sandy Thomas

Sandy Thomas is a third-generation poet, photographer, and San Francisco native. She is the author of These Stones (Two Trees Indie Press, 2009), The Matchbook Girl (Two Trees Indie Press, 2011), and The Gypsy Caravan in the Black Forest: a dual language edition (Vammon Press, 2013). Her poetry and photographs have appeared in print and on-line publications including Late Peaches: Poems by Sacramento Poets, Ophidian-One, Poetry Now, and Sable & Quill anthology.

Her artwork has been exhibited at Blue Line Arts, Elliott Fouts Gallery, Gallery 625, Marin Museum of Contemporary Art, Poets Gallery at R25, Roseville City Hall, Sacramento Fine Arts Center, and in several invitational shows.

Her photograph, “Indian Corn,” was included in the set design of Rio Linda/Elverta Community Theater’s 2017 production of Cornfield of Dreams. She regularly contributes to fundraisers like Crocker Art Museum’s annual BNSA, Blue Line Arts’ All in for the Arts, and MarinMOCA’s Altered book exhibit.

Her photographs have been published in N magazine, Natomas Buzz, Rancho Cordova Grapevine Independent, and Sacramento Press where she is recognized as one of the Top 10 photographers. Her work is held in several public and private collections including Beers Books in Sacramento and by Mary Austin, founder of the San Francisco Center for the Book.

She has designed posters for the Tough Old Broads reading, Crossroads presents 100K Poets for Change reading, and other poetry events. Additionally, she curated a railroad exhibit at Sacramento City College and most recently, the 2018 National Poetry month exhibit at South Natomas Library. She is the co-founder and host of the award-winning Crossroads Reading Series at Center for Contemporary Art, Sacramento.

She received her M.S. in Recreation Administration/Self-Defense from California State University, Sacramento, where she studied under Sensei Midge Marino. After working with several community organizations, she began Thomas Mobile Self-Defense to educate women in personal safety.