Events

Upcoming Events:

Robert L. Lewis, one of' the original "Highwayman Artists", will be the featured artist for February at the Manatee County Cultural Alliance Gallery. A reception and print signing will take place Friday, Feb. 3, 6-9 pm, during the Village of the Arts Artwalk. In addition, Mr. Lewis will be celebrating his 71st birthday that evening, with a public-invited birthday party. The Gallery is located at 926 12th St, W., in the Village of The Arts.

The Highwaymen are a small group of African-American men (and one woman) who mass-produced 100,000 or more colorful, dramatic paintings of Florida landscapes in the 1960's and 1970's, selling many of them out of the trunks of their cars. Today, their paintings are collector's items. While other Highwaymen sell their paintings for thousands of dollars, Lewis offers them in a variety of sizes, media (oil, acrylic, prints, and calendars) for a variety of budgets.

Armed with a college degree in art education, Lewis worked'-as an illustrator for the Boeing Corporation, then taught art in the public school system for many years, retiring in 2002. He is an active member of the-Florida Alliance for Art Education, and has been inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame. He has a home and gallery in Cocoa.

Regular hours at the Manatee Cultural Alliance Gallery are 10 a.m. 4 p.m., Monday-Saturday. For more information, call Carl Keeler, Gallery Director, at 746-2223.

Island Gallery West
Monthly Featured Artists
Island Gallery West has planned its season of public receptions for their monthly Featured Artists.

FEATURED ARTIST

• December 2011 - Terry Denson's watercolors (with reception on Dec. 2 from 5:30-7:30 PM)
• January 2012 - Nancy Faris' fiber art (with reception on Jan. 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM)
• February 2012 - Mariarosa & Roger Rockefeller's mixed media art (with reception on Feb. 10 from 5:30-7:30 PM)
• March 2012 - Patricia Sorg's oils (with reception on March 2 from 5:30-7:30 PM)
• April 2012 - Phil Jensen's photography (with reception on April 13 from 5:30-7:30 PM)
• May 2012 - Barbara Hines' watercolors (with reception on May 11 from 5:30-7:30 PM)