Voices of Black History Month

Arts & Culture

In honor of Black History Month, Westcoast Black Theatre Troupe will be continuing its Voices program this year with two community events exploring African American artists. The first, this coming Monday, celebrates the painters who became known as the Florida Highwaymen, and the Feb. 14 event offers an in-depth look at Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright August Wilson.

Active from the 1950s to the ‘80s, the Florida Highwaymen were a group of 26 African American artists who painted the then-undeveloped Florida landscape, but were forced to sell their work door-to-door when prejudiced galleries refused to show their work. They were forced to be artists and entrepreneurs, noted longtime collector Larry Helmuth, and the group was inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004. Attendees will have a chance to meet the artists, as well as Helmuth, and even view a painting demonstration by Highwayman Al Black. The artists and Helmuth will then join local artist and night’s moderator Eleanor Merritt for a panel discussion.

An exploration of both art and society through a local topic with national relevance, there are “strong parallels” between what the Highwaymen experienced then and what African American artists experienced as recently as WBTT’s founding, said WBTT founder and artistic director Nate Jacobs. Said Merritt, “It is important for the community to have an understanding of an art movement which was a very significant part of artistic expression in the state of Florida. Also, it is essential to have a discussion and recognition of the work of artists who have been marginalized in the art world.”

The Feb. 14 Voices event celebrating Wilson includes a discussion with Dr. Chris Rawson, theater critic for the Pittsburgh Post Gazette and co-author of August Wilson: Pittsburgh Places in His Life and Plays, and Chuck Smith, director of WBTT’s production of Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom, which he previously worked on with Wilson in Chicago. Both will share personal experiences and impressions from the artist who passed in 2005.

Voices events are free and open to the public but fill to capacity quickly. RSVP recommended.

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