Skip to main content Skip to main content

RSW Living Magazine

"The Highwaymen: Florida's African-American Landscape Painters" by Gary Monroe

The public is invited to the FREE Speaker Series, "The Highwaymen: Florida's African-American Landscape Painters" by Gary Monroe, at 6 p.m. on Saturday, February 17, at the Williams Academy Black History Museum at 1936 Henderson Avenue in Clemente Park. Presented by the Southwest Florida Historical Society and the Lee County Black History Society, this lively talk will relate the story of the Florida Highwaymen, a group of 26 self-taught African-American landscape artists who painted idyllic scenes of Florida and sold their works door-to-door from the mid-1950s through the 1980s. Although considered outsiders to the art world during their productive years, paintings by the now-acclaimed artists are now celebrated and widely-collected as prime examples of indigenous Florida art. As one of a multi-part Florida Humanities Speaker Series, a 5:30 p.m. reception will precede the talk. This program is sponsored by the Florida Humanities Council with funds from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Cultural Affairs and the Florida Council on Arts and Culture. The Speaker Series is also sponsored locally by the Southwest Florida Historical Society, the Lee County Black History Society, the City of Fort Myers, Fort Myers Community Redevelopment Agency, Lee Trust for Historic Preservation, and True Tours Historical Walking Tours. For more information, please contact the Lee County Black History Society at (239) 332-8778 or [email protected]. About Gary Monroe When Speaker Gary Monroe isn't traveling the world to photograph, he spends his time looking at life in Florida through his photography and his writings. His imagery and literary works have been recognized by grants from the National Endowments for the Arts, Florida Department of State's Division of Cultural Affairs, and the Fullbright Foundation.

Date & Time

February 17, 2018

6:00PM

Location

Williams Academy Black History Museum - 1936 Henderson Avenue, Fort Myers, FL, 33916 1936 Henderson Avenue Fort Myers 33916 FL US

Get Directions