Page 45 - AARF 2019-2020

transcendence, which feeds their a robber of travelers. Mary Ann
paintings, provided the perfect Carroll best expresses the other
storm for Jim to make his case. complaint when she says, “nobody
The financial worth of artworks asked me.” These are valid points
has skyrocketed, along with other to which I always nod in agreement
luxury items, since the millennium but hastily add that the cohort of
(think Van Gogh, Jackson Pollack, artists could not have paid Madison
Jeff Koons). Artwork is seen as an Avenue enough money to come up
investment as well as an indication with a more effective name.
of one’s social standing, if not his By the way, their moniker is
sophistication. not, nor ever was, “The Florida
Everything comes at a cost, Highwaymen”, or “The Legendary
and some of the Highwaymen Highwaymen.” The name to many
have expressed their unhappiness conjures the notion of these artists
about the name. I have heard setting up the paintings at the side
two complaints. One centers of roads, but this was not the case.
on the sentiments expressed in They weren’t peddling chenille
Alfred Noyes’ poem set in the bedspreads or paintings on velvet
18th century about love, loss and at corner gas stations.
revenge around a Highwayman, Continued on Page 47

These days Jim spends a lot
of his time in his workshop.
(shown below) Jim explains,
”When my wife of 64 years
passed away I had to do
something to keep what sanity
I had left, and developed the
Highwayman Line Of Cypress
& Pine, home decor and art.
Like a Highwayman painting,
It’s All about Florida.”

”Don’t look
prosperous
when buying
art.”
—Jim Fitch

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