Preservation Through Art
An exhibition of art and history
Imagine being an artist, asked to wander around America and paint any scene you found to be inspiring and picturesque; to create tales of adventure along with beautiful visuals to share with a nation recovering from the Civil War. This scenario became a reality in the late 1800s when Appleton Press employed prominent artists and writers to venture across the country in search of amazing natural and historic landmarks. Their stories and artwork resulted in the creation of a comprehensive travelogue publication known as Picturesque America. The artists and writers were captivated by the bountiful beauty they discovered and inadvertently became part of a new movement - one sparking the idea that we should protect these landmarks.
Over 150 years later, Preserving A Picturesque America (PAPA) endeavors to continue their mission to enlighten and protect these special places through the power of the arts. PAPA collaborates with local artists and historians, environmental and cultural groups in areas across the country to raise awareness of natural and historic landmarks in need of protection. For Preservation Through Art: Charleston, artists have retraced the footsteps and brushstrokes of celebrated Picturesque America artist Harry Fenn, who visited Charleston in 1870. After years of research, PAPA has found the exact places in Charleston originally painted by artist Harry Fenn. Many of these locations were featured in America, The Land We Live In, a PBS documentary hosted by Scott “Doc” Varn and Sophia Michelin. Local artists participated in PAPA-sponsored paint-out events to create works of these locations as they appear today, emphasizing the importance of protecting and preserving these special places for generations to come. For the "Preservation Through Art: Charleston” Exhibition and Sale, over forty artists have contributed exciting new artworks in a variety of mediums, depicting scenes from Picturesque America in and around Charleston. By revealing how these natural and cultural landscapes appear today, these artists want to motivate viewers to protect these iconic treasures.
The “Preservation Through Art - Charleston” Art Exhibition will take place July 19th through September 8th at the City Gallery, 34 Prioleau Street, Charleston, SC 29401. This is a unique “then and now” exhibition to raise awareness for local preservation. Non-profit organization Preserving A Picturesque America (PAPA) will conduct a sale of art pieces in the exhibition to benefit community partners and their preservation efforts in the Charleston area.
Proceeds from the sale of artwork will benefit these organizations: the Preservation Society of Charleston, Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor, Drayton Hall Preservation Trust, American College of the Building Arts, Charleston Waterkeeper, Magnolia Plantation Foundation and Lowcountry Land Trust, St James Church, St Michaels bell tower, Magnolia Cemetery Trust and Charleston Parks Conservancy.
For more information go to: www.preservationthroughart.org
I am so pleased to report that I am one of the artists included in the Charleston group. I went to my first paint out at St. James Church in Goose Creek.
Update: September 14 The show has concluded but the online sales are still open. It was an a wonderful show.
Lofty Heights
A few weeks ago I joined another painting group PAPA Preserving A Picturesque America. I mentioned it in my post More about S’s, and shared are trip to St. James Church in historic Goose Creek, SC. I was really struck by the regal-ness of the building and how much care had been put into building it and restoring it. My favorite part was how God’s wo…
That gave me the historian adventurer bug and I just had to keep going. Next, I went to the American College of the Building Arts. That was such an inspiration! I was so intrigued by the craftsmen there learning old school building techniques. I took so many pictures, I couldn’t quite decide what to paint. I kept coming back to the stone room and this painting is what I eventually made.
I submitted my silhouette of the Ashley River.
I also made two other paintings that are rather unlike me that I will share with you here:
Smoking
All my life I have been grossed out by cigarettes. At birth, my lungs rejected the choking smoke in the air until I grew out of the asthma or my little lungs grew acclimated to their environment. My youth was surrounded by the disgusting vice of ashtrays and surrounded by the stench that permeated everything. My sister and I remember countless sick…
I submitted my silhouette of the Ashley River.
These paintings will be in the PAPA show in Charleston, SC Event: “Preservation Through Art - Charleston” Art Exhibition July 19th through September 8th at the City Gallery, 34 Prioleau Street, Charleston, SC 29401. The opening reception will be July 19 from 5 to 7. If you are near Charleston, please check it out.