An exhibit that features 50 Florida Highwaymen paintings opens Friday, Jan. 18, at the Longboat Key Center for the Arts, a Division of Ringling College of Art and Design, 6860 Longboat Drive S.

The term “Highwaymen” was coined by Jim Fitch in 1995 in an article titled “The Highwaymen” for Antiques & Art Around Florida that told the story of 26 African-American artists who drove the highways selling their Florida landscape paintings from the mid-1950s to the early 1980s. Eighteen of the 26 Highwaymen artists are still living, and most continue to paint today.

The Arts Center exhibit features 50 paintings from the collection of Siesta Key resident Larry Helmuth.
Also opening Friday is an exhibit featuring a small collection of works by the late Syd Solomon. Solomon’s work was the first art by a contemporary artist to be collected by the Ringling Museum. He was one of the first visiting artists to hold painting demonstrations at the Arts Center.

Friday’s opening takes place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. RSVP is required; call 383-2345.

For more information, pick up a Jan. 17 copy of the Longboat Observer.

Contact Robin Hartill at rhartill@yourobserver.com.

 

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