HarmonyAVL+media note: After 22 years of running Harmony, co-founders Scott and Sam Varn sold the business in March 2021. Since then, they have been focused on their wonderful nonprofit, Preserving a Picturesque America, and we continue to support their important work and mission.
Press Release:
Preserving a Picturesque America
June 16 Art Auction & Benefit Marks Culmination of
French Broad River Basin Picturesque America Segment
ASHEVILLE, NC – In May 2021, garbed in his trademark floppy hat and 1800s period attire, Fairview artist Scott (“Doc”) Varn, founder of Preserving a Picturesque America (PAPA), set out on a historic journey along the French Broad River basin. He and a group of dedicated local artists were determined to capture modern-day renditions of the region’s breathtakingly beautiful vistas that were first preserved by artist Harry Fenn in his landmark work, Picturesque America, published in 1873. Fenn’s work helped ignite the early conservation movement. PAPA is dedicated to fanning the flames to spur conservation across the country.
PAPA’s French Broad efforts culminate on June 16, 2022, when these exquisite works by celebrated local artists go up for auction to support local organizations and their conservation efforts.
Date: June 16, 2022
Location: Brunk Auctions, 117 Tunnel Road, Asheville
Time: 5:30 – 9:00 p.m.
IMPORTANT:
You don’t have to be an art collector to attend and support PAPA’s mission of raising awareness about the need to conserve America’s beautiful places and the use of art to get the message across.
- In addition to bidding on 15 juried masterpieces, attendees will be able to purchase the new travelog-style publication detailing Varn’s journey, along with reproductions of all 15 of the artworks being auctioned.
- PAPA is also offering a reprint of Fenn’s original publication, which shows these locations as they looked 150 years ago.
This benefit and auction supports local organizations and their conservation efforts along the French Broad River. Proceeds of each sale goes to local conservation organizations to protect these locations and to improve the health of the French Broad River.
Proceeds from this event will support PAPA and its ongoing mission, as well as these organizations — Appalachian Trail Conservancy, Asheville Greenworks, Carolina Mountain Club, Chimney Rock State Park, Friends of the Cherokee National Forest, MountainTrue, Pisgah Conservancy, and Riverlink — to support their efforts to protect places along the French Broad River and the health of the river itself. For each piece of artwork sold, 50% goes to the contributing artist, and 50% goes to a designated organization. So both the artist and the cause get supported!
Purchase tickets on PAPA’s website, https://
The event opens with an Art Preview, and Artist Reception from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m. Meet the artists and savor the works on offer while enjoying wine and beer from Wicked Weed, and Asheville Pizza & Brewing. Fantastic food from Posana and Strada, plus musical entertainment by Phil Ailey, acoustic guitarist. The live auction kicks off at 7:00 p.m.
This will be the only chance to get the art from the new publication.
Tickets to the event also include a drawing for over $1000 worth of prizes:
- Dinner for two and Chestnut Restaurant
- Dinner for two at Corner Kitchen Restaurant
- Fine reprint of the original 1873 French Broad serial
- The celebrated modern version including all 15 current art interpretations
- Original artwork of Lovers Leap by the founder of PAPA, Scott Varn
PAPA, a non-profit, was founded to find and re-create almost 1,000 original pieces from the 1870s series.
This series depicted natural and historic landmarks from across the country for the purposes of education, conservation, and preservation. For more information about PAPA, please visit https://
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