In the summer of 2015, Natalie travels across the country, with her daughter Maggie, on the California Zephyr for Alabama on Alabama, an exhibition at Heath Ceramics’ recently opened event space, the Boiler Room, located on Alabama Street in San Francisco. Alabama on Alabama is a month-long journey into the soul of the modern South. Natalie’s work spearheads the exhibit, which also includes works by Alabama-artists Butch Anthony, known for his “intertwangled” paintings and creations using threads and embroidery, and works on paper by artist (and longtime Butch Anthony collaborator) Mr. John Henry Toney. Alabama on Alabama also showcases the work of photographer, Rinne Allen.
The exhibition works include vintage, handcrafted indigo quilts, transformed through a reclamation processes into a modern heirloom. “Alabama on Alabama” also exhibits the latest Alabama Chanin Collection and Natalie’s one-of-a-kind Indigo designs. The event continues in the Heath Ceramics showroom with an Alabama Chanin Pop-up Store that features a collaboration with 6397 and Stella Ishii, organic cotton home accessories, Rinne Allen’s light drawings, and dinnerware pieces from the Alabama Chanin and Heath Ceramics collaboration.
Mr. John Henry Toney, friend and folk artist, passed away on October 24, 2019. His gentle spirit and celebrated works are remembered by all who knew him.
Learn more about Rinne Allen’s photography and follow along @rinneallen.
Learn more about Heath Ceramics and follow along @heathceramics.
Learn more about the Boiler Room here.
Shop the Alabama Chanin Life + Living Collection here.
Slide 1: Overview for the Alabama on Alabama exhibition with Heath Ceramics in the Boiler Room’s entryway, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen
Slide 2: Alabama Chanin hand-crafted indigo quilt, stitched from pieces of reclaimed vintage quilts, hanging in the Boiler Room's entryway during the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph courtesy of Heath Ceramics
Slide 3: “Alabama + S.F.” fabric swatch with embroidery and appliqué, found and captured during the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen
Slide 4: Alabama Chanin hand-crafted indigo quilt, stitched from pieces of reclaimed vintage quilts, hanging in the Boiler Room's entryway during the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph courtesy of Heath Ceramics
Slide 5: Alabama Chanin indigo quilts hanging alongside artwork by Butch Anthony for the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen
Slide 6: Alabama Chanin indigo quilts hanging alongside Rinne Allen’s photographs from The Organic Cotton Project for the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen; Read entries on The Organic Cotton Project and Rinne Allen
Slide 7: Artwork by folk artist John Henry Toney alongside garments from Alabama Chanin's Fall/Winter 2015 collection from the Alabama on Alabama exhibition with Heath Ceramics, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen
Slide 8: Garments from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2015 displayed at the Boiler Room for the Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph by Rinne Allen; Indigo-dyed fabric swatches in beaded Angie’s Fall and Stars, New Leaves fabric swatch in Earth with backstitch reverse appliqué and variegated embroidery floss, Alabama on Alabama exhibition, 2015, photograph courtesy of Heath Ceramics