"Expressively designed quilts, wall hangings, dolls, apparel, tote bags and more..."
about
Andrena Stoddard Coleman is a native of Clinton, South Carolina and presently resides in Greensboro. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Economics from Benedict College and a Master of Public Health from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Andrena has worked in several areas including health services administration, higher education and museum management. She began sewing at an early age making doll clothes and eventually clothing for herself and her sisters. As a self-taught quilter, she creates her work with expressions of spirituality, purpose and empowerment. From bed coverings to wall hangings to apparel and reupholstered furniture, her style has been characterized as astonishing, amazing and rare.
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Her works have been exhibited at the African American Atelier and the Delta Arts Center and she was featured among 51 quilters in the international quilt exhibit, 'Conscience of the Human Spirit: The Life of Nelson Mandela'. She is the owner and designer of Drena's Dream Quintessential Quilts.
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Andrena has one daughter, Jocelyn, a son in law, Matthew Brown and two grandchildren, Gabrielle and Lennox.
“The purpose of art is washing the dust of daily life off our souls.”
For me, quilting is seeing the past, feeling the present and dreaming of the future. To quilt is to imagine the possibilities of what can be and will be. I awaken to these possibilities realizing fabric and designs can tell a story, chronicle history and most of all bring joy. The eclectic collection of fabric, primarily African prints, ignite a sense of excitement with brilliant colors and designs. The quilts I create are symbolic of life’s journey leading us from one place to another without a sure thought of how we got there, but glad we did. I envision each quilt as a reflection of my life’s journey – my dreams, family and friends, joys, disappointments, and what will come next. For the most part, each quilt is hand quilted resonating memories of my great grandmother’s quilts and allowing me the opportunity to reflect on the evolution of the piece.