With the closure of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting by Congressional Republicans pressed by the Trump Administration to erase government funding for PBS, some creative ways of coping with the funding loss have emerged. One involves the auctioning off — for thousands of dollars — of an artist made famous by Member stations in years past and has become a Generation Z icon.
That would be Bob Ross, and the second in a series of auctions of his paintings to benefit public television stations will take place on January 27, beginning at Noon Eastern.
International auction house Bonhams is teaming with American Public Television to offer up “Change of Seasons,” painted in 1990 by Ross, who died in 1995.
The work has an estimated value between $40,000 and $60,000.
But, that’s just one of 30 original paintings in the auction, which will be held at the Bonhams Skinner location in Marlborough, Mass., and will also be available to users live via the online auction site.
Ross’ “Joy of Painting” emerged as a cult classic among younger audiences drawn to his calm demeanor and kitschy presentation.
The paintings were generously donated by Bob Ross, Inc., specifically to benefit public television. All of the net sales proceeds from the auctions will be directed in support of public television stations nationwide.
