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Cotton-themed exhibition will open to public on Sept. 4

Beginning Sept. 4, the Cotton Street Gallery will host “Seed to Fashion: Then and Now,” an exhibition exploring the chronology of cotton, the role it has played in the South, and its special relevance to Covington County.

Cotton is one of the largest crops grown in South Alabama, and Covington County’s rich history reflects its influence. The county has been home to major textile companies that employed many local people, such as Opp Cotton Mill, Micolas Cotton Mill, Alatex, and Andala.

The cotton exhibition is the brainchild of Rhett Johnson, director emeritus of the Auburn University School of Forestry and Wildlife Sciences’ Solon Dixon Forestry Education Center. Johnson, retired judge and historian Frank “Trippy” McGuire, Covington County’s county extension director Charles “Chuck” Simon, Henderson Sewing Machine Co. CEO Frank Henderson, Red Land Cotton founder Mark Yeager, and Covington County farmer Tommy Thompson are among the experts who will help bring to life the story of cotton and its role in textile manufacturing in the South through narrated vignettes.

“‘Seed to Fashion’ will tell the story of the South’s most important fiber,” said Sue Wiggins, the Cotton Street Gallery’s founder and director. “We will display cotton-themed murals from an earlier time and objects and tools used in the cultivation, harvesting, and processing of cotton.”

Henderson and Yeager will speak about the current state of the cotton industry and its future, including the new technology and different types of fibers being used in textile manufacturing. North Carolina State University’s Wilson College of Textiles is sharing a collection of fibers that goes beyond cotton and silk, including hemp, bamboo, and coconut leaves.

With the help of Chuck Simon and 4H students, the gallery will plant nine to 10 different cotton varieties in pots outside of the gallery. The cotton plants will feature unique colors, such as yellow and pink, which have become rare due to the popularity and versatility of white cotton.

“Seed to Fashion: Then and Now” opens Thursday, September 4, and will run through the end of the year. The gallery is open to the public Thursday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Cotton Street Gallery, located at 104 N. Cotton St. in Andalusia, celebrates Southern textile art and artists and offers textile-related classes and demonstrations for adults and children throughout the year, as well as special cultural exhibits. Proceeds from the gallery benefit AIR Artists, Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization.

To learn more about Cotton Street Gallery, visit https://cottonstreetgallery.com/. To learn more AIR Artists, Inc, visit https://airartists.org/.