Aundra McCoy

• Active: Orange Mound, Memphis (Shelby County)
• Region: West
• Mediums: Dolls, Fiber/Textile, Quilts
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Aundra McCoy

Aundra McCoy grew up in a family of seamstresses and quilters, and her mixed media quilts reflect this lineage. Raised in the historic African American community of Orange Mound, Tennessee, McCoy carries on this legacy of textile arts. McCoy’s mother taught each of her children how to sew by hand and by machine. Her great-great aunt and grandmother all quilted in the home where Aundra lives to this day. She has memories of sitting under the quilting frame pushing needles back through the quilt and listening to them all tell old tales in the bedroom, which is now her sewing studio. McCoy learned to make dolls and doll clothing as a child. Today, her dolls incorporate both traditional techniques and innovative styles, reflecting her African and Indigenous heritage. Her artistry is sold nationally and McCoy was owner both of Harbortown Wearable Arts and Wonderful Things, gallery shops that were among the first to sell the work of Black artists in Washington, DC.

“I like to encourage my students to dig deep and express their inner memorabilia. Once they salvage these memories they become transformed to serve their family and community in understanding the art form. By doing this their personal works become rescued memories that serve as cultural symbols and personal records for future generations.“

Aundra McCoy was raised in the historic community of Orange Mound, a subdivision of Memphis, TN, founded in 1890 for African Americans. In 2021, McCoy was awarded the title of Master Artist by the Tennessee Arts Commission during an initiative to preserve traditions that are rare or endangered in Tennessee. Over the last forty years McCoy has taught topics including dollmaking, sewing, beading, mixed media quilting, floor installations, and wearable art. Aundra seeks to carry on the distinct legacy of quilting. Historically, quilts were created to provide warmth or celebrate a marriage or death in the family. Today, she says, “African American quilts are a reflection of the diversity of innovative techniques, medium, or improvisational thought.” Aundra’s dolls and quilts incorporate both traditional techniques and innovative styles, reflecting her African and Indigenous heritage. Her artistry is sold nationally and McCoy was owner both of Harbortown Wearable Arts and Wonderful Things, gallery shops that were among the first to sell the work of Black artists in Washington, DC.

Aundra McCoy grew up in a family of seamstresses and quilters, and her mixed media quilts reflect this lineage. Aundra’s mother taught all her children how to sew by hand and machine. Her great-great aunt and grandmother all quilted in the home where Aundra lives to this day. Aundra has memories of sitting under the quilting frame pushing needles back through the quilt and listening to old folk tales in the middle bedroom, which is now her sewing studio.

Raised in the historic African American community of Orange Mound, Aundra seeks to carry on this distinct legacy of quilting. Historically, quilts were created to provide warmth or celebrate a marriage or death in the family. Aundra considers herself a contemporary quilter who incorporates both traditional techniques and innovative styles. She explains, “I have a spiritual and moral obligation to pass down what I have mastered in the textile arts. African American quilt making is an American art and is as rich and diverse as we are as a people. By my efforts in sharing my knowledge in this field I am passing on the old songs of memories, promises, blues and faith.”

Aundra’s quilting form uses traditional techniques with a twist of contemporary artistic expression. Her quilts incorporate symbols and various fibers such as African cloths, American print fabrics, and hand[1]dyed fabrics. Aundra says, “My goal in this medium of layered, stuffed, and stitched fabric, hopefully gains a new perspective, a new appreciation and understanding of the nature of the art quilt as we approach the new millennium.”

Source: Excerpt from https://tnfolklife.org/programs/traditional-arts-apprenticeship-program/apprenticeship-teams/2022-2/ mccoy-and-glenn-mixed-media-quilting/

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