Charleston Reporter

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

In the late 1800s, Appleton Press employed prominent artists and writers to explore America and document its scenic beauty through a travelogue publication known as Picturesque America. Their work contributed to a movement advocating for the protection of natural and historic landmarks.

Today, Preserving A Picturesque America (PAPA), a non-profit organization, continues this mission by collaborating with local artists and historians to raise awareness about these landmarks. For "Preservation Through Art: Charleston," artists have retraced the steps of Harry Fenn, a Picturesque America artist who visited Charleston in 1870. The new works created for this exhibit portray original sites as they appear today.

Participating artists 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,Sonia Griffin Evans,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 Peper Linda Pepper Rosie Phillips Leslie Pratt-Thomas Sheila Preston-Ford Mary Ann Reames Connie Rigdon Deborah Rosato Shannon Runquist Patricia Sabre Nicole Seitz Olivia Seitz Francis Sills Amelia Spade Sheryl Stalnaker Kyle Stuckey Patricia Sweet Susan Trott Barbara Rawson Scott Varn Mike Wurman Barbara Yongue

PAPA aims to shift public perspective towards the importance of preserving natural landscapes through art experiences that reconnect people with nature while raising funds for preservation efforts. Founder and Executive Director Scott Varn discovered engravings from Picturesque America during an online estate auction and was inspired by their historical significance.

City Gallery is located at Joe Riley Waterfront Park in downtown Charleston. It operates under the City of Charleston Office of Cultural Affairs and showcases contemporary art from various artists with a focus on the Lowcountry region. The gallery is open from noon until 5 pm Wednesday through Sunday. Despite ongoing construction on Prioleau Street near the gallery entrance remains accessible via stairs or driveways around the building.

For more information about City Gallery including holiday closures visit www.charleston-sc.gov/citygallery or call 843-958-6484.