Local news- Press Release
Sarasota Police Florida - Florida Highwaymen lectures and tours planned for Feb 13 02 February 2024 ( news )
Sarasota Police , state Florida ( By Press Release office)
Feb 02,2024
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Media Contact:
Eyrelin Laviolette , Communications Assistant |
eyrelin . laviolette@sarasotaFL . gov
Sarasota , FL: Lectures and tours of the Florida Highwaymen exhibit will be offered three times on Tuesday , Feb . 13 at 10 a . m . , 2 p . m . and 6 p . m . , in the Commission Chambers at City Hall , 1565 1st St .
Due to popular demand , a third lecture time , 2 p . m . , was added to the schedule on Feb . 13 . Each session will last approximately 60 minutes with lectures being led by Florida Highwaymen art collector Roger Lightle . There are no reservations , seating is first come , first served .
The Florida Highwaymen started as a group of 26 young Black painters ( 25 men and one woman ) who had to think outside of the box to overcome racial barriers . Named “The Highwaymen” in the 1990’s by Florida art expert Jim Fitch , these artists were well known for selling their vibrant landscapes from the trunks of their cars .
“The art is a product of their desire to survive , ” said Mary Davis Wallace , Public Art Manager . “These artists faced adversity from all sides and yet continued to persevere , while creating magnificent documentation of the early Florida landscape . Through this exhibit , we hope to provide the respect and notoriety that the Highwaymen painters deserve . ”
This third installment of the Cultural Heritage Exhibit focuses on the beautiful Florida landscapes with vibrant colors embedded in every painting . The exhibit is made up of 23 paintings by eight of the principal artists which are on loan from Roger Lightle . Lightle is the owner of
Highwaymen Art Specialists , Inc . and has amassed a collection of approximately 700 Highwaymen paintings .
The exhibit and lectures were planned to coincide with Black History Month .
The Florida Highwaymen exhibit will be displayed in the City Hall lobby for a total of six months . The Cultural Heritage exhibit , which is a joint venture between the City’s Public Art Program and the Historical Preservation team , endeavors to beautify the walls of City Hall and share Florida’s rich arts and cultural history . The previous exhibits have been relocated throughout City Hall and the SRQ Media Studio .
For more information visit
www . Sarasotafl . gov/Florida - Highwaymen
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About the exhibitor: Roger Lightle
is a
Highwaymen art collector , historian , lecturer , and an authority on the Highwaymen artist’s story and their artwork . Mr . Lightle is the owner of the Highwaymen Art Specialists , Inc . , which is a gallery and educational center offering a range of services from hosting specialty events to curating Highwaymen museum exhibitions . Lightle has accomplished much outreach , education surrounding the Highwaymen painters , including curating over a decade of local and regional exhibits . Lightle was instrumental in garnering acceptance of the Highwaymen into the Smithsonian Institute in Washington , D . C . Most recently , Lightle participated in the installation of three large - scale Highwaymen display panels in the $2 . 9 billion Concourse Terminal C at the Orlando International Airport now on display .
About the City of Sarasota:
Distinguished by U . S . News and World Report as the No . 5 Best Place to Live in the U . S . and the top place in Florida , the City of Sarasota is a diverse and inclusive community located on Florida’s Suncoast with 55 , 000 year - round residents , several internationally recognized cultural arts venues , stunning sunsets along Lido Beach , newly restored Donald Ross - designed municipal golf course , and Major League spring training baseball with the Baltimore Orioles . Learn more about us at
www . SarasotaFL . Gov
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