Warehouse Row will serve as the host of the returning event series dubbed Crafted by Southern Hands. This celebration of all things Southern will showcase fashion, art, décor and food.
“Chattanooga’s central location in the south makes it a natural influencer for regional art and style,” said George Krauth, vice president of Jamestown, the management company for Warehouse Row. “Crafted by Southern Hands provides us with an ideal platform for sharing the rich, varied works of the gifted Southern artisans that are inspired by the region and call it their home.”
With independent retailers that are nationally and internationally recognized for Southern décor and design, Warehouse Row is a natural fit for the event series’ venue, said officials. Kicking off with a combination Bradley Gordon artwork exhibition and Billy Reid pop-up, the first event will begin with an opening reception for Mississippi artist Bradley Gordon between 6-9 p.m. on Tuesday, June 25. While enjoying the art, hors d' oeuvres, cocktails and live music, attendees will also be able to shop Southern fashion designer Billy Reid’s pop-up store. The retail location on the lower level of Building North will display the latest pieces from Reid’s collection and will re-open the following morning, Wednesday, June 26, from 10 a.m.-6 p.m.
Mr. Gordon, a Mississippi-born painter, is known for his interpretations of Southern wildlife. After earning his Bachelor of Fine Arts from The University of Mississippi, Mr. Gordon was a resident artist at Scall Art Studios in Taichung City, Taiwan. Upon his return to the United States, Mr. Gordon settled in Oxford, Miss., where painting has become his full-time career pursuit. Mr. Gordon has received high acclaim, including a recent feature in Garden & Gun, for simple backgrounds featuring large, colorful portraits of iconic Southern animals.
Mr. Reid is an American fashion designer whose self-described “low-fi Southern-bred luxury” has earned him GQ and the Council of Fashion Designers of America’s “Best New Designer in America Award” and the “CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Award.” Mr. Reid is known for classic-style, high-quality clothing with unusual accents. Designing men’s, women’s and accessories collections, Mr. Reid works out of his flagship shop and studio in Florence, Ala. Additional Billy Reid shops include locations in New York; Atlanta; Nashville, Tenn.; Charleston, S.C.; and Washington, D.C.
The “Crafted by Southern Hands” event series will continue throughout the summer. Second in the series, from July 25-29, is an Alabama Chanin sewing workshop and exclusive exhibition of the one-of-a-kind, barbecue-smoked wedding dresses by designer Natalie Chanin. The third event will be a clothes hanger exhibition with Old Try, an old-fashion custom print shop, and the Chattanooga Print Cooperative, hosted on Aug. 30 and 31.
For more information about the “Crafted by Southern Hands” event series, visit
www.warehouserow.net.