The Studio@620's latest exhibit, The Florida Highwaymen: Even Further Down the Road, draws to a close this weekend, which means that locals have only a few more opportunities to peruse a collection of genuine Florida art produced by a group of African-American artists who played an important role in our region's cultural history. An encore presentation to last year's very successful showing, this particular Highwaymen exhibit features more than 50 works that follow a "Florida Wetlands" theme, acknowledging the Highwaymen's favorite subject — Florida's watery landscapes — while recognizing the fact that these pockets of natural beauty are disappearing at an alarming rate. A related discussion, "Paintings and Historical Validation," about the role of visual arts in historical research, is held by a panel of folks well-versed in Highwaymen art and culture: St. Petersburg Times writer Jeff Klinkenberg, Arts Center curator Sangoytmi Ogunsanya and USF history professor Gary Mormino (Fri., Aug. 11, 7 p.m., $5). On display through Aug. 12, 620 First Ave. S., St. Petersburg, 727-895-6620, www.thestudioat620.com.
