It feels like the things of urban legends. A 19th century book compiled by a group of adventurers looking for “the picturesque” in America resurfaced among an art-lover, a photojournalist and cultural anthropologist and a women-owned production company, prompting a much-anticipated show — complete with a cast of vivid Charleston personalities — now airing on PBS.
The show, “America: The Land We Live In,” co-hosted by Sophia Michelen, the photojournalist and cultural anthropologist of the throng, is a show that aims to rediscover America’s national wonders on a modern-day quest to unveil mysteries, age-old legends and rich history. This is all shown against the bigger goal of reigniting exploration and conservation in the U.S. and the story is told through the lens of what became America’s first travel guide, a treasure itself, the historic book now known as “Picturesque America.” Though shot and centered around the Charleston-area, this journey began at a serendipitous meeting during a retreat in the Catskill Mountains. It was there that the producers introduced a man they’d stumbled upon with a strange book in hand at an Asheville, North Carolina art festival to a woman whose passion is discovery. Michelen said, “I was told about this painter (Scott “Doc” Varn, would-be co-host of the show) who used an antique book to find the exact vantage point of where a painter stood 150 years ago and being a lover of art and history, I thought it was a very intriguing way to see my old stomping ground (in upstate New York where I grew up). When I was shown where we’d be heading on the trail, I had seen that vantage point before, but it wasn’t until I stood in the exact location with the image pulled out that I saw something that I had seen dozens of times before — since childhood — in a new light. I still get chills telling the story and since that moment, I was hooked. It’s changed the way I travel and bridge history and art.” It was this moment that fate was sealed. Michelen had to be involved with what creators and executive producers, Alicia Albee and Devon Chivvis of World Life Production were cooking up, as a host alongside Varn.
Parts of the new show were shot in Hot Springs, North Carolina, but with a bulk of it centering on the Charleston area. The Lowcountry beat out hosts of locations highlighted in the original manuscript, showing itself as the perfect part of the 1800s quest to highlight on screen. To that, Michelen offered, “Since the book, ‘Picturesque America’ has nearly 1,000 locations in the U.S., they (Albee and Chivvis of World Life Production) developed the story that encapsulated the book — beautiful nature and historic cities. Charleston offers beautiful nature, a historic port city and a wonderfully represented aspect of the book.” This means that Charleston stepped up to the plate to represent everything the antique book aimed to accomplish for all of America. It is a tall order, but everyone in Charleston knows that if any city can do it, it’s the Holy City.
In tow with Charleston’s setting comes an intriguing cast of characters including, known crabber and clean-water proponent Tia Clark, Gullah Geechee chef Amethyst Ganaway, aerial photographer and artist Mary Edna Fraser, Gullah Geechee artist Jonathan Green and fifth-generation famed sweetgrass basket weaver Lynette Youson. Youson’s work has even been featured in The Smithsonian Museum in Washington, D.C. Producer Alicia Albee commented, “We were fortunate to film many inspiring women in Charleston who share their craft and local traditions in the show — as well as their passion for preservation and conservation. Each of these women are leaders in protecting the culture, history, natural resources and beauty of the area.”
Every character serves the show in a different way, but each of them help bring the culture of Charleston — from yesterday and today — to the forefront of the program, while functioning as guides for the hosts. Ganaway, known lovingly as Chef Amethyst locally, said, “On the show, I acted as part chef, part friend, part local guide to Sophia and Doc, alongside Tia Clark and Mary Edna Fraser. We got to cook and eat crabs, oysters, local shrimp and vegetables and talk about the cultures and communities that make the Lowcountry special.”
The show first aired in March but has more to come on both PBS and other platforms this spring. Search “America: The Land We Live In” for more information on broadcast times. And when you see one of these amazing cast members on the street, give them a pat on the back for a job well done — them and the amazing duo of women who made all this possible from the tiniest seed.
By Lorna Hollifield
