All photographs © Invoice Klipp, not for Business Use of any kind, for private use solely.
Some folks simply move by Key West. Others, like David Wegman, change into a part of its material.
For over 50 years, Wegman has lived and breathed the salty, sun-drenched life that makes Key West not like anyplace else. He’s been a pirate, a painter, a ship builder, a storyteller and a musician — and in some ways, his artwork is Key West itself.
The Studios of Key West is presenting an exhibition of his life’s work. Opening with a reception on Thursday, April 3, from 6 to eight p.m., “A 50-Yr Retrospective by David Wegman” is a celebration of a life lived full sail and ever ahead. On view by April 24, the gathering brings collectively work, pastels, sculptures and pen-and-ink drawings from the artist.
From hand-painted bar indicators to intricate bronzes, from boat sails to silver jewellery, Wegman’s items seize the colourful characters, the swaying palms, the late-night music and the limitless horizon of the open sea.
Wegman is a Key West unique, and his story is woven into the island’s historical past. Within the Seventies, he left behind his Midwestern roots, crusing from one journey to the following — racing automobiles, smuggling, enjoying music with Jimmy Buffett, sharing drinks with Keith Richards and even jamming with Bob Dylan aboard a ship in St. Barts. By means of all of it, he created artwork, each single day.
He nonetheless paints in his studio on the legendary Rooster Protect, hosts weekly open mic nights, and continues to encourage generations of artists, sailors and dreamers.
Along with the exhibition, guests are invited to a free gallery discuss with Wegman on Friday, April 11, at 5 p.m., to listen to firsthand about his inventive journey, adventures at sea, and the tales behind his most iconic works.
