The city of Gainesville Cultural Affairs Division will temporarily remove and restore a public art mural created by the late Florida Highwaymen artist Al Black to preserve the artwork for future generations.
According to a city of Gainesville press release, the landscape mural was commissioned by the city in 2022 and is located at the corner of Main Street and NE Sixth Avenue. The final day for the public to view the artwork at its current location will be Sunday, July 12.
After nearly four years of continuous exposure to the elements, the mural has experienced deterioration and will be carefully removed for professional restoration. The restoration process will focus on preserving the artist’s original vision while ensuring the artwork’s long-term preservation.
“We are committed to preserving the city’s public art collection for future generations,” Cultural Affairs Manager Carol Velasques Richardson said in the press release. “This restoration reflects our ongoing stewardship of the community’s cultural assets and our dedication to honoring the legacy of one of Florida’s most celebrated artists.”
The city’s public art team will identify a new permanent location that offers greater protection from weather exposure while maintaining public accessibility following the mural’s restoration. Officials said relocating the mural to a more suitable environment will help safeguard the artwork and allow residents and visitors to continue enjoying an important piece of Florida’s artistic heritage.
According to its website, The Florida Highwaymen were a group of 26 African American artists who “used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape” during the early 1950s through the 1980s. The artists would then sell their paintings to offices, businesses, hotels and individuals.