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Arts and Entertainment: Arts Center Gears Up for Big Weekend
December 3rd, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Gallery Walk to Kick Off Holidays
November 4th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: First Art Exhibit of Season
October 30th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Arts Center Plans Children`s Art Classes
June 13th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Student Art Featured at Arts Center
May 2nd, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Highwaymen Movie Offered Thursday
April 15th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Enter the World of Connie Nelson
April 4th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Call to Artists
March 22nd, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Benefit Lunch for Children`s Art Program
March 7th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Arts Center Plans March Opening
February 29th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: 3-D Show Coming Saturday at Arts Center
January 29th, 2008

Arts and Entertainment: Rock the Boat Art Show Displays New Talent
December 1st, 2007

Arts and Entertainment: Arts Center Opens Vibrant Show
November 12th, 2007

Arts and Entertainment: And the Winner Is......!
May 23rd, 2007

Arts and Entertainment: Rawlings Conference Continues Through Saturday
April 13th, 2007

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Local Artist "Bill Roberts" to Display at the Cedar Key Arts Center

Local Artist "Bill Roberts" to Display at the Cedar Key Arts Center

Amy Gernhardt

Bill Roberts is a local artist who will have a retrospective of his work at the Cedar Key Arts Center during the month of November. The opening will be the first Saturday of the month from 5-7 p.m.

In a recent interview, Roberts suggested a series of short stories would cover his life adequately. Included in those reminisces, is a train wreck, a truck wreck, and a helicopter crash, and he is still walking, albeit without shoes most of the time.
The first memory Bill shared regarded the Okeechobee train wreck of 1944. The freight train came through Sanford at 11:45, and some local kids got it into their heads to build a barricade, and watch the train, en route to Pahokee and Belle Glade with a load of produce, just to see what would happen. Well, the engineer spotted the barricade, and stopped just shy of the pile of trash and rocks and logs. The kids took off like a bunch of quail. The barricade was removed, and when the engineer got to Pahokee, he called Bill`s dad. Bill caught it, but the rest of the kids claimed ignorance, and Bill was named the Ringleader.


One of Bill Roberts' Pieces

Bill`s Dad was a manager of a produce farm, which had about 1500 acres of string beans. The migrant workers were provided with housing, which included coal lanterns and outhouses. Mrs. Roosevelt would come to inspect the living quarters, to ensure people were being treated fairly. The produce was sent to the Northern markets by train.

The truck wreck was caused by Bill falling asleep at the wheel early one morning when he drove home after visiting a girl friend in West Palm Beach. Bill rolled his truck into some trees, and hit his back. The resulting injury to his vertebrae resulted in difficulties during Bill`s tour of duty during the Korean War.
Bill joined the Navy in 1952. During boot camp, he was diagnosed with the injury to his back, and he was granted a service chit. This chit authorized Bill to straggle. He had to keep his unit in sight at all times, but could not keep up on the forced marches. This resulted in him always being late to chow, and there wouldn`t be any food left. Although, if he was questioned by an officer, "Sailor, why aren`t you with your company"? He would merely salute the officer, and pull out his chit.


The helicopter unit Bill was assigned to at Key West was experimental. They were testing loaded helicopters for take off and landings, and several members of his unit were injured or killed during these exercises. Bill did not participate in any helicopter crashes, although his Dad had warned him to stay off the things.

Bill moved to Cedar Key and lived in a travel trailer at first. He had started painting at age 15 when he was given a set of watercolors. Then he began to paint with oils, and sold the paintings at a bar near the 20 Mile Bend in the Everglades. The tourists came and bought them, he did landscapes, with whooping cranes and turkeys, he painted Osceola, and Tiger Tail.

He has continued to paint local scenery, and has many pictures of the old houses and cars which used to dot the landscape around Cedar Key. The show promises to bring back a lot more memories. Please join us in celebrating this fine collection.

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