Tennessee Williams Paintings Exhibit

Tennessee Williams besides being one the most important playwrights of the 20th Century & gay icon was also an amazing artist. His paintings are currently on display at the Jewish Museum of Florida in Miami through October 7th. The painting are on loan from David Wolkowsky who still lives in Key West & is almost 100. This is one of the few times the paintings have been exhibited outside of Key West. The exhibition “Tennessee Williams: Playwright & Painter” is an intimate showing of nine exquisitely rare paintings created by Williams in Key West during the 1970s. I actually had the pleasure of meeting Williams during the early 70’s decked out in a light blue seersucker suit sporting his trademark white Panama Fedora when I worked at WCVB-TV in Boston. David Wolkowsky known as “Mr. Key West” is from one of the earliest Jewish Families that helped to settle Key West in the 1800s & was one of Williams’ intimates. Susan Gladstone, the Executive Director of the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU stated, “The story behind these paintings & the close friendship between Wolkowsky & Williams, is just one example of the many unexpected treasures in the rich history of Jewish culture in the State of Florida, spanning four centuries. The fact that Williams painted, much less that he painted in Key West, is a surprise to many & his paintings have mostly remained outside of the public eye. We are honored to have these works here at the Jewish Museum of Florida-FIU & to be one of the few museums that David Wolkowsky has selected to exhibit these works outside of their Key West home.” (Above Painting of Actor Michael York, by Tennessee Williams (1970s)
For More Info: jmof.fiu.edu
LISTEN: Director Sharone Halevy Talks New Play Romeo/Juliet