On Saturday, January 10th, the popular Highwaymen artists will display and sell their art work from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. inside the Donnelly Building in Donnelly Park, in the center of Mount Dora. Visitors can enjoy the scenic renderings of Florida'ss landscape expressed in the Highwaymen art style. Participating in this event will be original Highwaymen Mary Ann Carroll, the only female in the group, Johnny Daniels, James Gibson, Isaac Knight, Robert Lewis and Roy McLendon. Admission is free.
On January 9th, the evening prior to the Saturday event, the Highwaymen will participate in Mount Dora'ss popular Art Stroll between 6 and 8 p.m. The artists will be in and around the
Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce Historic Train Station where Geoff Cook'ss vintage Highwaymen paintings will be on exhibit and sale. Cook is a well-known Highwaymen art collector who has
more than 300 works that represent 50 years of Florida landscapes captured in oil.
That evening, following the Art Stroll, posters and books will be available for signing at a reception and semi-private dinner for the artists at the Gables Restaurant, directly across
from the Chamber'ss Train Station. Seating is limited. RSVP by calling (352) 383-8993.
On January 11th, the weekend will conclude with a showing and sale at the AAA Four Diamond Heron Cay Lakeview Bed and Breakfast. A Semi-Private Sunday Brunch with the Artists will be
served from 10 a.m. to Noon. Reservations required. RSVP by calling (352) 383-4050.
From Noon to 3 p.m., the showing and sale at Heron Cay will be open to the public. For Information please call (352) 383-4050. The Heron Cay Lakeview Bed and Breakfast is located at 495
West Old U.S. Highway 441, west of North Donnelly Street. Margie Salyer and Randy Burgener are proprietors.
In the 1950s, the Highwaymen artists were a group of young black men from the Fort Pierce area. The late Alfred Hair and the late Harold Newton were considered the leaders of the group,
studying under Backus and bringing their new-found talent back to the group. The art work, painted on an inexpensive construction material known as upson board, displayed traditional
Florida scenes of palm trees, royal poinciana trees, and river vistas. From there, the artists would travel with their paintings along U.S. 1 and other Florida roadways, selling them from
the trunks of their cars. It wasn'st until the 1990s that the group was labeled The Highwaymen.
Sponsors for the Winter Art Event include: The Mount Dora Chamber of Commerce, Lake County Tourism, the City of Mount Dora, the Mount Dora Village Merchants Association, Junior
Achievement of Lake and Sumter Counties, the Gables Restaurant, 5th Avenue Caf's233;, Crispers of Eustis, Publix of Mount Dora. Margie Salyer, Randy Burgener and Geoff and Patti Cook are
coordinating this Winter Highwaymen art event.
For information on the Highwaymen exhibit, please contact randy by calling (352) 383-4050 or Toll Free at 1-888-437-6622. For more information on the Highwaymen, visit the website
http://www.floridahighwaymen.com and http://www.mountdoraart.com. For Lodging information visit
Heron Cay Lakeview Bed and Breakfast website at http://www.heroncay.com.
A portion of the proceeds from the sale of Highwaymen art will be donated to the Junior Achievement of Lake and Sumter counties.