Experience the bold colors of Squash, an exhibit that consists of 20 watercolor paintings and an assortment of drawings and mix-media works by prominent painter and muralist Charles Humes Jr. These works pierce into the heart of South Florida's agricultural fields, highlighting both the landscape and its migrant workers as they work amidst the elements. For more information, please contact the branch at 305-553-1134 or gonzalezja@mdpls.org. All Ages.
Experience the bold exhibition titled Squash - consisting of 20 watercolor paintings and an assortment of drawings and mix-media works by painter and muralist Charles Humes Jr.
Humes depicts images of Florida City and Homestead’s agricultural farming fields, featuring migrant workers harvesting several crops, including squash. The paintings highlighted in Squash are studies of Humes’ seemingly landscape view – the endless panoramic crop fields, rows of vast brilliant greens and the golden hues of squash.
His watercolor pieces are dramatic portraits that capture field workers picking, filling and loading their baskets with crops, under the early morning and afternoon sun. Humes visually connects these contemporary scenes with the historic imagery of slaves toiling in the fields of cotton and tobacco hundreds of years ago.
“I wanted to show the beauty and genre of these workers and pickers as they toil amid the various elements of field, weather and sun,” he said.
These studies were completed in early spring 2024 during Humes’ arts residency at Everglades National Park as an Artist in Residence in Everglades (AIRIE) recipient.
Humes expressed that his exhibit is a visual diary of his “walks and studies of massive farming fields, and the natural wonders of the Everglades that too few get to see.”
His painted sketches are part of a Plein Air technique that showcases fluid contrasts of space and form in vivid perspectives, capturing the region's topography. They also highlight the dramatic forms of field workers harvesting crops across acres of farmland, a signature of South Miami’s farming industry and community.
Mon, Jan 13 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
Tue, Jan 14 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
Wed, Jan 15 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
Thu, Jan 16 | 9:30AM to 8:00PM |
Fri, Jan 17 | 9:30AM to 6:00PM |
Sat, Jan 18 | 9:30AM to 6:00PM |
Sun, Jan 19 | Closed |