Paintings

Bob Ross’ Paintings to Be Auctioned to Support Public TV After Federal Budget Cuts


NEED TO KNOW

  • Thirty of Bob Ross’ scenic paintings will be auctioned off to support public television following federal cuts

  • The global auction house, Bonhams, will begin the auction in Los Angeles with two of the TV host’s works of art

  • Earlier this year, Congress cut $1.1 billion in funding reserved for public broadcasting

Bob Ross’ iconic paintings, which he often created on air, will now be sold to support public television after federal funding was slashed earlier this year.

Bonhams, an international auction house, is set to auction off 30 of the TV host’s paintings, starting with two of Ross’ works that will be auctioned in Los Angeles on Nov. 11, the American Public Television organization promised that all of the net proceeds will go to its public television stations across the United States.

“Bob Ross dedicated his life to making art accessible to everyone through public television,” said Joan Kowalski, president of Bob Ross Inc., in a statement shared with PEOPLE.

“This auction ensures his legacy continues to support the very medium that brought his joy and creativity into American homes for decades,” Kowalski, who originated the plan, continued. “I can’t think of a more meaningful way to share his works of art than by supporting public television’s mission to educate and inspire.”

The plan is to help offset individual station licensing fees, ensuring viewers can continue to watch classic educational programming like America’s Test Kitchen, Julia Child’s French Chef Classics and Ross’ The Best of the Joy of Painting.

Courtesy Bonhams 'Home in the Valley' will be auctioned on Nov. 11.

Courtesy Bonhams

‘Home in the Valley’ will be auctioned on Nov. 11.

The auction comes months after Congress cut $1.1 billion in funding reserved for public broadcasting, the Associated Press reported. This left hundreds of PBS and NPR stations without critical funding, prompting local stations to start fundraising campaigns and some to let go of employees, according to the outlet.

Now, supporters of public television hope that Ross’ scenic paintings and egalitarian approach to art will bring life-giving funds to local programming.

Though Ross died of cancer thirty years ago, his legacy lives on through the more than 400 episodes he filmed of The Joy of Painting. Recognized for his bushy hair and sweet temperament, Ross became a well-known figure, filling a specific space in American culture. His goal: to spread joy.

Courtesy Bonhams 'Winter's Peace' will also be auctioned in November.

Courtesy Bonhams

‘Winter’s Peace’ will also be auctioned in November.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

In a 1988 episode of The Joy of Painting, Ross recalled a fan letter he received: “I got a letter from somebody here a while back, and they said, ‘Bob, everything in your world seems to be happy.’ That’s for sure. That’s why I paint. It’s because I can create the kind of world that I want, and I can make this world as happy as I want it.”

Read the original article on People



Source link

Shares:

Related Posts

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *