[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 158 (2012), Part 5]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page 7013]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




         HONORING THE ORIGINAL FLORIDA HALL OF FAME HIGHWAYMEN

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. FREDERICA S. WILSON

                               of florida

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, May 16, 2012

  Ms. WILSON of Florida. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to recognize and 
honor the Original Florida Hall of Fame Highwaymen. They are a group of 
26 named and listed landscape artists who have been called ``The Last 
Great American Art Moment of the 20th century.'' These self-taught and 
self-mentoring African American Artists were able to define themselves 
against the many racial and cultural barriers of the time in which they 
painted, and created a body of work of over two hundred thousand 
paintings.
  The Original Florida Hall of Fame Highwaymen, from Fort Pierce, 
Florida, began painting in the early 1950s and created large numbers of 
relatively inexpensive landscape paintings, which were done using 
construction materials rather than art supplies. As no galleries would 
accept their works, they sold them in towns and cities and along 
roadsides throughout Florida, often still wet, out of the trunks of 
their cars.
  Following the death of one of their members in 1970, the remaining 
members created fewer works and productivity waned. However, after 
being re-discovered in the 1990s, they have become celebrated for their 
idyllic landscapes of natural settings in Florida.
  In 2004, the 26 Original Florida Hall of Fame Highwaymen were 
inducted into the Florida Artist Hall of Fame. In addition to becoming 
part of Florida's culture and history, they have also received 
international recognition.
  Eight of the original members are now deceased, but the remaining 
members, most now into their 70s and 80s, continue to paint, to this 
day. Despite racial barriers and obstacles, their success and longevity 
are remarkable.
  Please join me in honoring the Original Florida Hall of Fame 
Highwaymen, for their dedication to their craft and their contributions 
to art in the State of Florida and around the world.

                          ____________________