Big Waters Land Trust to host event at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey
Big Waters Land Trust, formerly the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast, will host a group of Florida Highwaymen and their heirs “for a special one-day-only exhibition of their legendary art,” the nonprofit has announced.
The event will take place on Saturday, Feb. 1, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Big Waters’ Bay Preserve headquarters, which is located at 400 Palmetto Ave. in Osprey, a news release says.
“We are truly delighted to welcome these extraordinary artists,” Christine P. Johnson, president of Big Waters, said in the release. “Beyond highlighting stunning natural landscapes like the places we protect, the Florida Highwaymen are an integral part of Florida’s cultural history,” she continued. “We are honored to have them back at Bay Preserve for this special event.”
From the early 1950s through the 1980s, 26 African-American artists —now known as the Florida Highwaymen — “used vivid and bright colors to paint scenes of beautiful, untouched Florida,” the release explains. “Excluded from showing their work in galleries or museums in Jim Crow era Florida, they piled their paintings into the trunks of their cars and sold them along US Highway 1, thus earning the name ‘Highwaymen,’ ” the release adds.” Today, their vibrant paintings are highly collectible and widely sought after.”
Three artists will be in attendance on Feb. 1, the release notes: “Curtis Arnett, Doretha Hair Truesdell, and Roderick Hair – along with Kandie Ingram, who is representing her late mother, Mary Ann Carroll,” the release says. “Artwork will be available for purchase,” the release points out, “with a portion of the proceeds benefitting Big Waters’ mission to protect the land and water of Southwest Florida for the benefit of people and nature.” Cash or checks will be preferred, the release notes, “as not all artists are able to accept credit cards.”
Parking for the event will be off-site, at First Baptist Church of Osprey and Victory Baptist Church, the release says. Limited handicapped parking will be4 available on-site. “Those attempting to enter the Bay Preserve parking lot will be re-routed” unless they have parking permits, the release points out. “A trolley will run on a loop to transport guests between the event space and parking areas,” it adds.
Learn more about the event and register at bigwaterslandtrust.org/highwaymen. This will be a free, drop-in event, the release notes, though Big Waters staff is asking that those planning to attend to please register online. “Additional details will be provided via email as the event approaches,” the release says.
“To learn more about the individual artists or the Highwaymen as a whole, visit floridahighwaymenpaintings.com,” the release notes.