SALUDA, N.C. (828newsNOW) — Chimney Rock State Park, one of Western North Carolina’s most iconic landmarks, has reopened after months spent recovering from Hurricane Helene. However, the journey for the state park isn’t over yet.
Preserving a Picturesque America is an art gallery located in Saluda, N.C. dedicated to using the arts to advocate for the protection of the natural spaces catalogued in “Picturesque America or the Land We Live In,” a two-volume collection of engravings and essays from published in the 1870s. By seeking the original vantages of the artists who worked on the original tome, PAPA crafts awareness of national natural spaces through recreations of the work’s original awestruck engravings.
The latest event organized by PAPA is an art show benefit for Chimney Rock. The opening reception will be held from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, June 26 at the PAPA Gallery, 144 US Hwy 176, Saluda.
“Most of the artwork that we have is actually before the devastation, which is kind of great, but also sad, because you realize it doesn’t look like this anymore,” said PAPA founder Scott Varn. “A lot of the artwork has a particular island, because we’re trying to get exactly where the artist was, 150 years ago. I mean, the spot. We found the spot where he got off the stagecoach and did his sketches before it went into the publication.”
Unfortunately, after Helene, that spot was wiped off the map entirely.
“The place where we all painted is just scooped away,” Varn said.
In its wake, Varn will tell stories about the original Picturesque America artists at the reception. There will also be a performance by Acoustic Folklore, a band made up entirely of Chimney Rock park rangers, who have a few stories of their own to tell.
“The rangers will be telling stories about geology and how it was formed, as well as stories about the animals that live here,” Varn said.
For more information about Chimney Rock’s reopening, read our story here.
“Friday is going to be the official soft reopening,” Varn teased. “So, this is kind of a kick-off party for them.”
While the Picturesque America island might be gone, PAPA artwork is still available. The full array of PAPA pieces are available for purchase at www.preservationthroughart.org/chimney-rock-benefit, at the Saluda gallery, or during the reception. Proceeds from the show will go directly toward park restoration efforts.
For more information about Preserving a Picturesque America, visit www.preservationthroughart.org.