Ray McLendon feels art is in his blood.
As the son of Roy McLendon and a second-generation Highwaymen, McLendon has spent countless hours studying the artwork of his father and his father’s friends — a group of 26 artists known nationwide as the Florida Highwaymen, but known to him as family.
The group of artists, who began painting during a time when Black artists and their work was not allowed into galleries due to segregation, developed their own style of painting Florida’s landscape. Before reaching the nationally acclaim they have today, the artists were forced to sell their art on the side of the road at a much cheaper price than their contemporaries.
McLendon, who is in his 70s, said he learned a lot about art from his father and the other Highwaymen artists.
“They were really like family to me,” he said.
Continuing the legacy his father set, McLendon was joined by two other second-generation Highwaymen — Stephanie (Black) Denmark, daughter of Al Black, and Kelvin Hair, son of artist Alfred Hair, for the 35th biannual Mount Dora Florida Highwaymen Art Show and Sale. The event took place Aug. 9 and 10 at The Donnelly Park Building.
“Overall, it went really well,” McLendon said. “It was really crowded on Saturday and we had a really good time.”
After seeing a documentary about the artists being made while living in Fort Pierce and 13 years of hosting the Mount Dora Florida Highwaymen Art Show and Sale, Margie Salyer is practically an expert on the Florida Highwaymen, and she doesn’t mind sharing what she knows.
“There are people who are just learning about the Highwaymen, so it’s not unusual for someone who has heard about the show to call and ask for more information about the artists,” she said.
Salyer, the owner and innkeeper for the Heron Cay Bed & Breakfast, said the art show — which she began with her late partner Randy Burgener in 2008 — has not only given her a chance to collect artwork from the artists, but also have countless conversations with them over the course 13 years and 35 biannual shows.
“My bed and breakfast is full of memories from the past,” Salyer said. “There are hundreds of paintings hanging on the walls — some of which were started here.”
Eight original Highwaymen artists — James Gibson, Issac Knight, Robert Lewis, Roy McLendon, Al Black, Carnell Smith, Curtis Arnett and the only women Highwaymen, Mary Ann Carroll — participated in the first show, with the artists staying at the Mount Dora inn.
“They would get together and tell tales of old times and of when things were just getting started,” she said. “It’s nice to see their legacy continue and grow. The technique will continue for years to come.”
As the shows continued over the years, it became a tradition for the artists to work on a collaboration painting that would be raffled off during the show. Prints of the collaboration pieces have been made and are available for purchase.
“In my living room they would get together and do collaboration paintings,” Salyer said. “Some paintings were made out on the porch. One of the collaboration paintings signed by six or seven of the artists is of the Mount Dora Lighthouse. It was made from a photo that Randy took. It was just an interesting time. ”
“To be able to see all the art and experience moments with the original artists, it’s truly something,” she added. “They really aren’t receiving all the recognition they should, but at the same time, they didn’t know it would come to be this significant.”
The event brought crowds of hundreds to admire and purchase artwork.
During a portion of the two-day event, Gary Monroe, author of multiple Highwaymen books, discussed the artists and sold copies of his book.
“There were no rules, they were just like-minded 20 year olds looking to make an honest living,” Monroe said. “Their art signifies the American dream and shows the true beauty of what’s now a paved-over paradise. You can spot who painted what painting from across the room.”
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
