Preservation Through Art – Charleston

“Preservation Through Art – Charleston” Exhibition July 19th – September 8th

Preserving A Picturesque America is excited to bring its “Preservation Through Art” experience to Charleston and is delighted to feature the Charleston Waterkeeper as a community partner to support their amazing work protecting the Ashley River and other waterways in the Charleston area.

The Event:

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.

The story of inspiration:

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.

Taking action:

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 work of these locations as they appear today to emphasize 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.

Who Benefits:

Proceeds from the sale of artwork will benefit the Charleston Waterkeeper, along with other community partners in the Charleston area whose focus is preserving the natural, cultural, and historic landscape of Charleston.

*For more information about the exhibition and sale go to:
Preserving a Picturesque America at www.preservationthroughart.org or call 828-628-0006 Ext 701