Page 4 - Palm City Spotlight - May '23

Page 4, Palm City Spotlight

Art HAppenings

Highwaymen – From The

Street Corner To The
Smithsonian

Rare Collection Of Artwork Now Featured At
The Elliott Museum
In the 1950s during
the Jim Crow days,
several African-
American self-taught
artis ts from the
Treasure Coast began
painting Florida’s vivid Carrie and Marshall Adams
landscapes, looking for
a better way to earn a The exhibit also showcases an extensive
livelihood. Coined as “Canvas Board Wall” of the artists’ early
the “Highwaymen,” works, including Harold Newton, one Sponsors Henry and Rachelle “Rocky” Grady, Carole Hauke, Jade Billard and
they traveled the of the founding members, along with a Krystal Holley from the Law Offices of Travis Walker, P.A. Not available: Knight
highw ays , often Tribute Wall to Roy McLendon, who was and Ann Kiplinger and the Kiplinger Family Foundation
stopping to sell their inspired by Newton, his neighbor. During
art out of their car the opening weekend of March 10, McLendon and his son, Roy • The Highwaymen painted Florida landscapes scenes in an
trunks, which led to Schumetta McLendon and Lois McLendon, Jr., also a Highwaymen artist, engaged in live painting hour or less, often selling the oil paintings before they were dry.
their nickname. Today, Watson demonstrations. The Elliott also hosted a 91st birthday celebration • They made their own frames fashioned out of crown
Highwaymen paintings for the elder McLendon, who turned 91 on March 23. molding painted with house paint and highlighted with
have deservedly earned a place to hang in the Smithsonian, The exhibit is generously sponsored by The Kiplinger Family gold paint.
and all 26 of the Highwaymen artists are represented in the Foundation, Henry and Rachelle (Rocky) Grady, Bill and Carole • There were 26 original Highwaymen and only one
Florida Artists Hall of Fame. Hauke, The Law Offices of Travis R. Walker, P.A., and the female artist: Mary Ann Carroll.
Through July 14 the Elliott Museum is proudly displaying Florida Department of State Division of Cultural Affairs. • The Highwaymen sold paintings themselves or
“Highwaymen – From the Street Corner to the Smithsonian,” Highwaymen Fun Facts hired salesmen to sell them to banks, motels, doctors and
a rare collection of paintings that have never been exhibited • The Highwaymen’s unique tools consisted of oils, tree trunk lawyers’ offices, restaurants, businesses and the general
together. While many of their paintings focus on well-known easel, Upson board and their car trunks. public throughout Florida. They usually charged $25 to
Florida landscapes, some of them tell a story as they depict • Painting and selling landscape art was an escape from
people from the 1950s era, animals and intimate vistas. working laborious jobs in factories and field work. Art Happenings on page 5

Seated: Roy McLendon, one of just seven original
Pattama Lightle and Steve Carr in front of Backcountry Oak Highwaymen remaining, and his grandson (left) Mishuel Roy McLendon did a live painting demonstration during the
by W. Daniels McLendon and son, Roy McLendon, Jr. opening weekend.

Sarah Woods, Lori Hass and Debbie Duvall Edithy Marcellis and Deena Rahill Widget Webert, Sally Brodie and Trish Repass

Ido Stern, Esq. Offices in Stuart & Boca Raton

Attorney at Law

Wills 561-609-3556

Trusts
561-929-2111

Probate Litigation
1803 S Kanner Hwy.
Inheritance Disputes Stuart, Fl 34994

www.sternlawfl.com Stern@sternlawfl.com