Page 38 - 0217

Page 38 The Antique Shoppe February, 2017
Vintage Highwaymen Art Exhibit and Sale

The Backus Gallery and Museum is pleased to announce the
SECOND ANNUAL FLORIDA HIGHWAYMEN EXHIBIT AND SALE
at 500 N Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce. Free to the Public, the sale begins on
Friday, February 17, with doors opening at 3pm. A Friday Evening Reception &
Lecture is slated for 6pm.
The event continues on Saturday, February 18, 9am-5pm and Sunday, February
19, 9am-3pm.
The first annual exhibit and sale enjoyed a huge attendance and unprecedented
sales. This year an even larger turnout is expected. For further information call Bob
LeBlanc at 727-809-1691 or the Backus Gallery and Museum at 772-465-0630.
HIGHWAYMEN UPDATE

Bob LeBlanc
Despite the fact that Florida Highwaymen paintings have been produced since the mid
1950's, the current vibrant collectible market for these artists' work was jump started by
Antiques and Art Around Florida with the publication of Jim Fitch's article in 1995, a full
two decades ago.
Currently well established after the publication of several books and a plethora of
magazine and newspaper articles, both local and national, this market continues to
thrive. As I write this in January 2017, we know that the group is limited to the twenty-six
(ten deceased) who were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame along with such
luminaries as Martin Johnson Heade, A.E. Backus, Ray Charles, Addison Mizner, Marjorie
Kinnon Rawlings and Marjory Stoneman Douglas.
However, at this point in time the Highwaymen market needs some clarification. Perhaps
the best way to do so is to break it down into two groups: VINTAGE and NEW.
I will arbitrarily date vintage work as pre-1995, the classic era being in the 60's and 70's.
Most of this work, pre-1980, is painted on Upson board and various types of canvas board,
occasionally on stretched canvas or masonite. It is a proven fact, that Harold Newton
would paint on whatever he might find in thrift stores, including framed prints and other
paintings. There exists at least one painted directly onto the glass.
The artists currently working, producing and marketing their own new work, either
independently or with the help of brokers and dealers, have been extremely successful
due to their "newfound" fame and their efforts toward self promotion. We most certainly
Alfred Hair; Hibiscus applaud their talent, perseverance and the availability of their work.
Highwaymen Art Timeline 2002 George Buckner dies
2003 Appleton Museum, Ocala features Highwaymen exhibit, premieres first Highwayman documentary
2003 Alfonso Moran dies
1953 Harold Newton meets A.E. Backus and begins to paint landscapes
1954 Zenobia Jefferson introduces her student, Alfred Hair to Backus. His lessons begin 2003 James Gibson featured in People Magazine
1955 Newton begins door to door sales technique 2003 Hambrick's video airs nationally on PBS, marketed as DVD or VHS
1955-1970 Hair organizes friends and relatives to paint quickly and sell door to door 2003 First Harold Newton book published by University Press of Florida
1970 Alfred Hair murdered, causes some disbanding of the group 2003 First Highwaymen calendar published for 2004
1970-1995 Scattered sales by the artists, many paintings end up in thrift stores and flea markets 2004 Second calendar published for 2005
1990 Backus dies. Ft. Pierce mourns. 2004 Second H. Newton book self published by sister Rosetta Newton Humphries
1991 Ellis Buckner dies 2004 Buckner Brothers book published by Ellis Buckner Jr.
1994 Harold Newton dies 2004 Livingston Roberts dies
1995 Fitch names the group "The Highwaymen", article published in Antiques and Art Around Florida 2004 Alfred Hair and the Highwaymen inducted Florida Artists Hall of Fame, group fixed at 26 artists
1995 Klinkenberg writes about them in the St. Petersburg Times, interest and research continues 2005 Many public and private five figure sales for rarities within the market
1996-2000 Many articles published in newspapers and magazines, mainly regional in Florida 2005 Record setting special H. Newton sells at public auction for $40,000,00 plus
1996-2000 Highwaymen and Florida Art web sites begin to appear, 2006 Publication of Beatty highwaymen book
1996-2000 Many of the group, enjoying newfound public demand for their work, begin painting again 2007 Hezekiah Baker dies
1996-2000 Specialty storefronts and auctions begin to feature Highwaymen art 2007 Sale of H. Newton self portrait for $35,000.00
2001 Publication of first Highwaymen book, defining group at 26 artists 2008 Election of an African American President
2001 H. Newton Jumbo 30x48 sailboat and buoy becomes first five figure Highwaymen painting 2008 Highwaymen obelisk in Ft. Pierce approved and funded
sells for $10,000.00 2009 Enns book published, second Highwaymen video airs on PBS. Marketed as DVD
2001 New York Times reviews first Highwaymen book, with full color images front page in a 2009 Ft. Lauderdale Museum major exhibit, "Newton and Hair"
featured art section and reports Newton and Hair values at one to ten thousand dollars 2010 $106 Million Picasso Sale Sets New World Record for Most Expensive Work of Art
2010 Sales shrink with the economy due to public spending habits and crashing real estate
www.highwaymen-buy-sell-trade.com 2010 BP Oil spill further weakens the Florida economy
2011 Prices continue their decline
2011 Todd Thompson's STARS NORTH Films begins the quest for funding for the motion picture
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/A-E-Backus-paintings 2011 M.A. Carroll honored by Michelle Obama at the First Lady’s Annual Luncheon
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/H-Newton-and-A-Hair-Paintings 2012 Sales pick up, stabilization of new levels in the market, values slowly rise
2013 Specialty pages on Facebook emerge and become popular
www.facebook.com/#!/pages/TheOther24HighwaymenArtists 2013 City of Miami Gardens decorates new City Hall with vintage Highwaymen art
www.highwaymenartappraisal.blogspot.com 2014 Robert Butler dies, Butler books published
2014 Recovery continues, demand increases, prices gradually rise
www.facebook.com/availableart 2014 Lemuel Newton dies, Mary Ann Carroll book published by UPF
2015 Major exhibition unveiled in Ottawa, and the Montreal Canada.
2015 As STARS NORTH "Highwaymen" motion picture stalls...... TOP CAT II begins production of a
• We have been specialists in Harold Newton and Alfred Hair paintings since 1995 major motion picture titled "The Unknowns". Issues A. Hair related calendar.
• We attend antique shows around Florida on a regular basis to be available for sales, purchases, and appraisals 2016 Mid-February major Highwaymen rarities exhibit and sale of vintage works at Backus Gallery.
• We accept consignments that we will sell for you at competitive rates 2016 Major exhibition at FAU of vintage Highwaymen art
• Our certificates of authenticity and appraisal are accepted by insurance companies 2016 Trailer produced for "The Unknowns" but not yet released for public viewing
• We have a 40 year reputation for professionalism and integrity 2016 Backus Gallery, Ft. Pierce renovation and expansion completed
2017 Movie production office and vintage Highwaymen art gallery opens in Ft. Lauderdale
Email: hwymnbnb@aol.com — Cell Phone: 727-809-1691 2017 Second Annual Mid-February Highwaymen exhibit and sale of vintage works at Backus Gallery