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Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Preserve | Present | Interpret

 

The museum presents the historic voice of this St. Petersburg, Florida community from the perspective of local, regional, and national history, culture, and community. It is another demonstration of the commitment to revitalize the Midtown St. Petersburg area.​

The museum joins Mercy Hospital at the Johnnie Ruth Clarke Health Center, the Royal Theater Boys and Girls Club, and the renovated Manhattan Casino as evidence of the renaissance of this area.

 

The Woodson's Annual Toy Drive

News

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Florida Highwaymen legacy continues with exhibit at St. Pete museum

Oct 23, 2023

AXIOS Tampa Bay

McLendon also enjoys collecting hot rod cars. Photo: Courtesy of Ray McLendon

Article by Kathryn Varn

Ray McLendon likes painting reflections best. He can play with them, blurring the lines and colors of a luminescent moon shining down on a bay, or a deep-orange sunset bleeding onto a lagoon.

Click here to read more. 

Current Exhibit

Florida Highwaymen: The Next Generation – The Legacy Continues

When

September 2023 - December 2023

Where

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Free

What

Ray McLendon spent much of his childhood in Florida. Ray’s father, Roy McLendon was one of the original Florida Highwaymen.

As a young boy, Ray spent many summer days cutting crown molding and painting them to make them look like frames for his father’s artwork. Ray enjoyed his father’s work and would always go on the road with his father selling his paintings on the highway.

After graduating from Kutztown University with a B.A. in Social Work and moving back to Florida, Ray started painting after his father encouraged him. He has been painting the traditional Florida Highwaymen style he grew up with for over 25 years. 

Although the Highwaymen were originally considered street artists, much of their work has been rediscovered and recognized for their talented Florida landscape scenes.

Ray McLendon, Orange Grove Trees

Black History Matter Mural

When

Currently on Display

Where

Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Open to the Public

What

Previously a BLACK LIVES MATTER mural, this updated mural expresses the importance of protecting Black History in the United States.

 

The Artists that contributed to the creation of this mural include Daniel “R5” Barojas, Miss Crit (Laura Spencer), Esh (Eric Hornsby), Cyrus Fire, Raheem Fitzgerald, John Gascot,

James E Hartzell, Vera Herrera, Plum Howlet, Jade Jackson, Reid Jenkins, Jujmo (Cheryl Weber), James Kitchens, Cam Parker, Reda3sb, Vitale Bros, Javon Walters, David Watson

Wayward Walls (Jason Harvin), and Catherine Weaver

T-shirts & Mural Prints

PURCHASE A T-SHIRT OR MURAL PRINT HERE

T-shirts and Black Lives Matter Mural prints are available for purchase.

Items are available for pick-up Tuesday – Friday, 12:00 pm – 5:00 pm

Upcoming Events

Saturday Morning Yoga at The Woodson

When

Every Saturday Morning at 9 A.M.

Where

Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Free

What

Mindful Movement hosts yoga sessions every Saturday morning in The Woodson’s Legacy Garden.

No registration is required.

 

The Woodson’s Annual Toy Drive

When

November 4 - December 9

Where

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Donations

What

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is accepting bikes, books, balls, dolls, and more for its annual Toy Drive!

Bring unwrapped toys for ages 0-12, and gift cards for ages 13-17 for local families.

Drop off donations during our hours Tuesdays – Thursdays from 12-5 P.M., and Fridays from 11 A.M. – 4 P.M.

Picturing Paradise: From John James Audubon to the Florida Highwaymen

When

November 30, 2023 at 7 P.M.

Where

Via Zoom

Admission

Free

What

Join us for this virtual lecture by Dr. Keri Watson, associate professor of art history at the University of Central Florida and co-executive editor for Panorama: Journal of the Association of Historians of American Art.

The Florida landscape has provided aesthetic inspiration to artists for centuries. Titian Ramsay Peale and John James Audubon came in search of native flora and fauna, followed by Harriet Beecher Stowe, Martin Johnson Heade, George Inness, Winslow Homer, and Henry Ossawa Tanner, who were lured by its natural beauty and warm climate. This presentation offers a succinct and engaging history of Florida’s landscape painters.

To Register, click here.

 

This Florida Talks program was sponsored in part by Florida Humanities with funds from the State of Florida, Department of State, Division of Arts and Culture, the Florida Council on Arts and Culture, and the National Endowment for the Arts. Any views, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this program do not necessarily represent those of Florida Humanities or the aforementioned entities.

 

 

Holiday Open House

When

Saturday, December 9, from 5-8 P.M.

Where

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Free

What

Join us for December’s ArtWalk and enjoy the holiday festivities that are in store!

Enjoy holiday treats, wander through the twinkling holiday display located in our Legacy Garden, and donate toys for families in our community.

This will be the final opportunity to meet Ray McLendon, the artist of our current exhibition, The Florida Highwaymen: The Next Generation – The Legacy Continues.

 

 

 

 

PJ’s, Popcorn, and Pictures with Santa

When

Saturday, December 16 from 10 A.M. - 1 P.M.

Where

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Free

What

Join us for crafts, popcorn, and taking pictures with Santa in The Woodson’s Legacy Garden!

To register, email woodsonmuseum@gmail.com

The Woodson’s Annual Toy Drive Give-Away

When

Saturday, December 16, 2023

Where

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida

Admission

Free

What

This toy give-away is for eligible families that have registered.

To sign up, click here.

Classic Black

When

Sunday, January 28, 2023 starting at 5 P.M.

Where

The Palladium

Admission

Varies

What

The Woodson African American Museum of Florida is proud to showcase some of our area’s most talented Black classical performers. This annual event celebrates the extraordinary artistic talent of African Americans that is rarely seen or celebrated.

VIP: $75 – premier seats and a champagne & wine reception with the artists.
Tier B: $45.
Tier C: $20.

To purchase tickets, click here.

 

Save the Date | Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fundraiser

When

February 4, 2024 | 3-6 pm

Where

The Coliseum

Admission

Varies

What

Join us in supporting our Woodson Warriors Scholarships Program during this fundraiser with guest speaker Bryan Stevenson.

Bryan Stevenson is the founder and Executive Director of the Equal Justice Initiative, a human rights organization in Montgomery, Alabama. Under his leadership, EJI has won major legal challenges eliminating excessive and unfair sentencing, exonerating innocent death row prisoners, confronting abuse of the incarcerated and the mentally ill, and aiding children prosecuted as adults.

The Woodson Warriors Scholarships Program’s mission is to assist local African-American students with their next level of education after graduating high school.

Sponsorship and Table Options

 

Click here for ticket, table, and sponsorship options. 

 

Title Sponsorship – SOLD OUT

Title Sponsor of the Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fundraiser will be printed on promotional materials, press releases, and social media outlets and acknowledged as a sponsor of two (2) scholarships during the annual 2024 Woodson Warriors  Scholarships Awards Ceremony. Your organization’s logo will be added to The Woodson African American Museum of  Florida’s website as a contributor. The sponsorship provides for two (2) tables of eight at the event, and up to three (3) guests invitations to a VIP Reception. 

 

Signature Sponsorship – $5,000.00

Signature Sponsor of the Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fundraiser will be printed on promotional materials, press releases, and social media outlets and acknowledged as a sponsor of one (1) scholarship during the annual 2024 Woodson Warriors  Scholarships Awards Ceremony. Your organization’s logo will be added to The Woodson African American Museum of  Florida’s website as a contributor. The sponsorship provides for one (1) table of eight at the event, and up to two (2) guests invitations to a VIP Reception. 

Patron Sponsorship – $2,500.00

Patron Sponsor of the Woodson Warriors Scholarships Fundraiser will be acknowledged on The Woodson African American  Museum of Florida’s website as a contributor. 

Table Sponsorship – $1,500.00

Table Sponsor will have sponsor signage on their table.

Table of 8 – $1,000.00

Indiviudal Ticket – $125.00