Heirloom Museum: Open Hours

February 27th- March 13th, 2025

Heirloom Museum is the amalgamation of cumulative research that represents Yetunde Sapp’s journey in discovering the work of two unsung figures in her family: Rose Marie McCoy (her maternal great-grandaunt) and Debby Moore (her paternal great-grandmother), both singers and songwriters in the mid-twentieth century. Yetunde discovered that Rose and Debby knew each other- despite being from different sides of her family- and connected in New York City at multiple points throughout their careers. This exhibition chronicles their individual and connected histories. Now more than ever, carrying on oral, visual, and written histories of the Black family is imperative. Sapp’s move from D.C. to New York City felt untethered to any significance beyond her own desire to pursue art, but her discovery of her family’s adventures in the city allowed for unique reflections on Black history, Black creativity, and Black existence. The multidisciplinary artist’s curiosity stemmed from a conversation between herself and her mother on the subject of her given name. The name “Yetunde,” which means “spirit of the mother returned,” holds the legacy of the women before her, so she delved deeper into her family tree. Through this investigation, she probes research materials to discover more about the parallels of her own life to both Rose and Debby—as all of them moved to New York City to pursue their artistic endeavors. For Sapp, this research serves as proper recognition and appreciation of both McCoy and Moore’s discographies. Heirloom Museum captures Yetunde’s archival exploration, which ultimately provides insight into the experiences of Black women in the music industry in the 1950s, 60s, 70s, and beyond. Rose and Debby’s individual journeys reflect a larger socio-historical, and cultural story. Their successes emphasize the importance of preserving Black history. Sapp initiated this project to understand how her experiences echo both Rose and Debby’s creative paths. The artist presents her research through documentary footage, interactive music, and featured artworks. With this collection of objects, she carves out space for acknowledgement of the two women, as remembrance of their work has never been exhibited by a family member.

“I AM BECAUSE THEY ARE.” - Yetunde Sapp Words by Kerane Marcellus Edited by Leah Amel Hornsby

Host or Publisher SLAC