Note Type
Antony Hayton, Exhibit DirectorNote
Samuel "Sam" Newton (1948 - )
Savanna Pines
Oil On Upson Board Circa early 70s
Image Size 24" X 36"
Much of the Highwaymen's success was simply serendipity; they just happened to be in the right place at the right time. World War II served as a lynchpin and springboard for a never-ending population explosion. Air conditioning, mosquito control, and superhighways fed this growing phenomenon. Increased tourism, agriculture, and other industries created jobs and opportunities, prompting businesses and corporations to relocate to the state. The space industry brought people, technology, research, and media attention. Florida became a symbol of fun, relaxation, and paradise. The Highwaymen coincided with this unprecedented growth, offering an intangible and almost irresistible product: affordable original art that captured the fantasy and optimism of "Florida as a dream paradise." It was kismet.
Inland from the coastal waterways and shoreline beaches lie vast everglades and savannas. While roads are sparse and the appeal of these areas may be minimal for both residents and tourists, they provide the Highwaymen with a popular scene of an undisturbed backcountry landscape filled with towering pines, endless skies, and lush wetlands teeming with flora and fauna. Throughout the exhibit, you will notice different interpretations of this theme. This early work by Sam Newton captures the beauty and simplicity of the landscape. The tall pine is perhaps a metaphor for the solitary struggle of Black individuals who persevere against adversity, remaining steadfast in the face of challenges. Newton grants us peace, serenity, and even transcendence.