'Spiritual Doll' by Audra McCoy
September 2–25, 2026 @ Tipton Gallery
The East Tennessee State University Department of Art & Design and Slocumb Galleries in partnership with the Reece Museum,Black American Studies, Women’s Gender & Sexuality Studies, Robertson Center and ETSU Student Activities Allocations Committee present "Through the Eye of the Needle"by craft master artist Aundra McCoy from Sept. 2 to 25. The public is invited to meet the artist during the joint opening reception with "Gee’s Bend No" Sept. 4, from 6 to 8 p.m., at the Tipton-Ashe Galleries with guests of honor Mayor, Commissioner & Mrs. Greg Cox, Bravissima! Women Sponsoring the Arts and ETSU Vice President Arch. and Mrs. Jeremy Ross.
Master Craft Artist McCoy is based in Memphis, Tennessee, her family originally from Orange Mound, ahistorical Black community. McCoy is a self-taught artist who grew up from a lineage of seamstresses and quilters, yet, she also received her Master of Fines Arts from the Memphis College of Art. The exhibition features her Ancestral Wall Hanging series from her MFA experience. McCoy describesthesignificance of quilts to the Black communities as they explore“themes of time and collective
memory of joy and hardships, deeply rooted in storytelling, survival and our cultural preservation.”
Artist and Gee’s Bend curator Aundra McCoy conducts an "Ancestral Mini Quilt Workshop"Sept. 9, from 2 to 4 p.m. at the Reece Museum funded by the Arts Build Communities, open to the public free of charge but require pre-registration. The exhibition and public engagement activities are supported by theTennessee Arts Commission, Bravissima! Women Sponsoring the Arts and Arts Fund from East Tennessee Foundation. All events are open to the public, free of charge; workshop require pre-registration due to limited number of seating, RSVP to Reece Museum’s Education Curator Ashley Gregg via emailgreggad@etsu.eduto reserve a spot.
The Tipton-Ashe Gallery is located at 401 Ashe St, former courthouse on the Walnut side, downtown Johson City. Fall semester viewing hours are Wednesdays and Saturdays from 11am to 3 pm, Fridays 3 to 7pm, with extended hours during receptions and by appointment. For more information, or to schedule a visit, email Slocumb Galleries’ Director Karlota Contreras-Koterbay viacontrera@etsu.eduor text 423-483-3179.
Category: Exhibits