There’s something deeply inspiring about connecting with people and brands who value preservation, craftsmanship, and community as much as we do. That’s exactly what drew us to Alabama Chanin and “Project Threadways” founder Natalie Chanin.
From the beginning, Alabama Chanin has been committed to sustainable design, preserving craft traditions, and producing locally and ethically - values that closely mirror the heart behind our work at Belinda Stewart Architects.
Whether through textiles or historic buildings, there is beauty in honoring the past while creating something lasting for the future. We’re grateful for creatives and makers who remind us that, “There Is Always A Way.” @projectthreadways@alabamachanin
NEXT WEEKEND: NEW ORLEANS ARTIST POP-IN
Join us as we welcome Marwan Pleasant of Marlence Fashion alongside jeweler Gogo Borgerding for a weekend centered on the artistry and craftsmanship of New Orleans.
Shop and explore Gogo’s stunning jewelry collection and Marwan’s couture designs up close, including his 2026 Mardi Gras Indian suit recently featured on 60 Minutes.
We’re especially honored to host a conversation between Marwan Pleasant and Natalie Chanin of Project Threadways, exploring craftsmanship, preservation, identity, and the traditions woven throughout Black Masking culture.
SATURDAY, MAY 16
4–8 PM • Gallery Open | Enjoy a New Orleans craft cocktail and boiled crawfish
6 PM • Conversation with Natalie Chanin + Marwan Pleasant
SUNDAY, MAY 17
1–4 PM • Gallery Open
Shop with Marwan Pleasant + Gogo Borgerding
#artgallery #artcollector #alabama
I wanted to do a little recap on the month of April as it was a series of moments where the vision for @centralstem felt fully realized— It was full of engaging with creative minds who lead with intention. Here are a few highlights:
A fun and bright photoshoot day with @saramargaretmay . We spent the afternoon testing her recipes and sharing a lunch that incorporated lovely textures and flavors (and laughs)!
I hosted a stop on @aliciadkennedy ’s book tour at @amarakitchenandtastingroom in collaboration with @iknauer . The night was packed with energy, new kinships, and the kind of delicious connections that only happen over a communal meal.
A trip south to Florence, Alabama, with @preservingthesouth for the @projectthreadways Symposium by @alabamachaninlife . We immersed ourselves in the history and future of textiles, as well as more material culture, alongside forces behind so much beauty and intention. It was deeply inspiring and restorative.
To close out the month, I celebrated my 48th birthday back home in Mississippi with the fam.
Very grateful for all of the above. 💚
Hi it’s me with my coconut cake! Back in New Orleans and rested from the important and always meaningful Project Threadways @alabamachanin - and my dear friend @angiemosier sent a few shots she took. Thanks Mo! And thank you, with a full heart and so much love, to @whitneyotawka@john.p.donovan@the_secret_life_of_snowflake and Alisa Martin for being the best team a girl could’ve asked for.
MVP status goes to that magic maker Whitney O. Can’t wait to cook with you again, my friend. 💟
1. Coconut cake joy
2. Pickled Mississippi carrots
3. Wild mushroom Chou Farci - with brilliant cabbage steaming tricks by W.O.
4. Leeks vinaigrette daydreams and moonbeams
(Also wore my new @rendallco work jacket the whole damn time! Thank you for sending @deirdrajones !)
over the last few months ~ i’ve been turning inward, thinking more critically about my practice and the processes that shape it.
this past weekend, I had the opportunity to share some of these reflections with a room of people collectively considering their own histories with cotton as part of the @projectthreadways symposium ♥️ thank you for this incredibly expansive time in florence, alabama!
considering spun yarn as language, fiber as a site of inscription, and making with integrity as a gesture toward the reclamation of dignity.
an absolutely transformative time hearing from speakers @isawstephen@_marlence@alabamachaninlife@ferrismcf@selvedgemagazine@libbyobryan@historybeforeus ♥️ blown away by your work and your resilience - you all make this work less lonely! i cant wait to build alongside you!
(a link to get a digital recording of these talks is available in my bio! these conversations were so nourishing for me and i can’t recommend listening to them more!!)
Join us today 🚨
History. Legacy. Healing.
Frederick Murphy is the founder of History Before Us, a project that aims to capture, preserve, and advocate for influential history. His film “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” follows his own research to trace his ancestry back to the Forks of Cypress, a storied North Alabama plantation, and the journey of both Black and white descendants as they reckon with their shared past to consider a healing path forward.
On April 24, as part of the 2026 Symposium, Project Threadways will partner with Florence Arts and Museums to stage a screening of “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence. After the film, Florence Arts & Museums Director Brian Murphy will lead a panel conversation with Frederick Murphy and three other descendants of the Forks of Cypress: Curtis Flowers, Tamisha Sales, and Karen Curry.
Friday, April 24, 2026
5 p.m. CT
Shoals Theatre
In 2026, as Project Threadways explores the theme of Regeneration, we are honored to amplify Frederick Murphy’s important work and facilitate discussions about the past that might build a better future for people and planet.
This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there. @projectthreadways
#DocumentaryFilmmaking #documentary #history #historybeforeus
Echoes of the Forks of Cypress
Frederick Murphy is the founder of History Before Us, a project that aims to capture, preserve, and advocate for influential history. His film Echoes of the Forks of Cypress follows his own research to trace his ancestry back to the Forks of Cypress, a storied North Alabama plantation, and the journey of both Black and white descendants as they reckon with their shared past to consider a healing path forward.
On April 24, 2026, Project Threadways will partner with Florence Arts and Museums to stage a screening of Echoes of the Forks of Cypress at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence. After the film, Florence Arts and Museums Director Brian Murphy will lead a panel conversation with Frederick Murphy and three other descendants of the Forks of Cypress: Curtis Flowers, Tamisha Sales, and Karen Curry.
In 2026, as Project Threadways explores the theme of Regeneration, we are honored to amplify Frederick Murphy’s important work and facilitate discussions about the past that might build a better future for people and planet.
🎥Echoes of the Forks of Cypress/Panel Discussion
📅Friday, April 24, 2026
📍Shoals Theatre 5PM
This event is free and open to the public.
We hope to see you there.
#shoalstheatre #florenceal
I never imagined I’d be sharing space with so many esteemed creatives and culture shapers, but here we are.
Join us ✅
History. Legacy. Healing.
Frederick Murphy is the founder of History Before Us, a project that aims to capture, preserve, and advocate for influential history. His film “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” follows his own research to trace his ancestry back to the Forks of Cypress, a storied North Alabama plantation, and the journey of both Black and white descendants as they reckon with their shared past to consider a healing path forward.
On April 24, as part of the 2026 Symposium, Project Threadways will partner with Florence Arts and Museums to stage a screening of “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence. After the film, Florence Arts & Museums Director Brian Murphy will lead a panel conversation with Frederick Murphy and three other descendants of the Forks of Cypress: Curtis Flowers, Tamisha Sales, and Karen Curry.
Friday, April 24, 2026
5 p.m. CT
Shoals Theatre
Florence, Alabama
In 2026, as Project Threadways explores the theme of Regeneration, we are honored to amplify Frederick Murphy’s important work and facilitate discussions about the past that might build a better future for people and planet.
This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there. @projectthreadways
Film partially funded by @alabamahumanities 🙏🏾
#DocumentaryFilmmaking #documentary #history #historybeforeus
History. Legacy. Healing.
Frederick Murphy is the founder of History Before Us, a project that aims to capture, preserve, and advocate for influential history. His film “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” follows his own research to trace his ancestry back to the Forks of Cypress, a storied North Alabama plantation, and the journey of both Black and white descendants as they reckon with their shared past to consider a healing path forward.
On April 24, as part of the 2026 Symposium, Project Threadways will partner with Florence Arts and Museums to stage a screening of “Echoes of the Forks of Cypress” at the Shoals Theatre in downtown Florence. After the film, Florence Arts & Museums Director Brian Murphy will lead a panel conversation with Frederick Murphy and three other descendants of the Forks of Cypress: Curtis Flowers, Tamisha Sales, and Karen Curry.
Friday, April 24, 2026
5 p.m. CT
Shoals Theatre
In 2026, as Project Threadways explores the theme of Regeneration, we are honored to amplify Frederick Murphy’s important work and facilitate discussions about the past that might build a better future for people and planet.
This event is free and open to the public. We hope to see you there. @projectthreadways
#DocumentaryFilmmaking #documentary #history #historybeforeus
