Preservation Through Art: Charleston

The City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs presents Preservation Through Art: Charleston, an exhibition at City Gallery that presents new interpretations by Charleston area artists of 150-year-old etchings of local vistas July 19 through September 8, 2024. City Gallery will hold an opening reception on Friday, July 19 from 5-7pm, and an artist’s talk on Sunday, August 11 at 2pm. Both events are free and open to the public.

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), a non-profit organization, 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.

For this exhibit, the artists have created new works to portray the original sites as they appear today. This “then and now” demonstrates if we have been good stewards of these natural and historic treasures. Artists participating in the exhibition include Elizabeth Hasegawa Agresta, Yoshiko Agresta, Mahoganee Amiger, Chris Bell, Kay Bilisoly, Jennifer Black, Claudia Boyce, Louise Britton, Marcie Cavanagh, Morgan Conklin, James Daniel, Debbie Daniels, Fran Davies, Joyce Erb, Mary Edna Fraser, Jonathan Green, Hannah Hall, Mark Harmon, Giselle Harrington, Karyn Healey, Mary Hoffman, Rebecca Hoyle, Sha Huang, Cynthia Huston, Stephanie Marzella, Rich Nelson, Jacki Newell, Jeanne O’Neal, Richard Oversmith, Kathy Parker, Fallon Pepper, Linda Pepper, Rosie Phillips, Leslie Pratt-Thomas, Sheila Preston-Ford, Ann Reames, Connie Rigdon, Deborah Rosato, Patricia Sabre, Nicole Seitz, Olivia Seitz, Francis Sills, Amelia Spade, Sheryl Stalnaker, Mary Kyle Stuckey, Patricia Sweet, Susan Trott, Barbara Rawson, Scott Varn, and Barbara Yongue.