Sam Kates is the featured Artist of the Month for December at Butterfield Garage Art Gallery.
A fourth generation Floridian, Kates continues to search for subjects that harken back to “old Florida.” His paintings of ancient sand dunes and rust-stained shrimp boats depict what he discovers in coastal state parks and in the few remaining old Florida communities like Cedar Key, Carrabelle, East Point and Apalachicola.
He fondly remembers the miles of deserted beaches in New Smyrna where his grandparents lived during the 1940s and ‘50s. The huge dunes were a playground for him and his brother, and his “granny” would buy their fresh seafood directly from the dozens of shrimp boats that lined the local docks.
Kates has been an exhibiting artist at Butterfield Gallery for the past 10 years. He retired in 2002 after three decades as a director of museums and natural science institutions in Florida, Tennessee and Alabama. In 2008, he and his wife of 60 years, Jackie, moved to St. Augustine from St. Joe Beach, Florida, to be closer to their children and granddaughter.
The historic city and beaches have also been a source of inspiration for Kates’ paintings. He admits that his style of painting reflects his “curatorial background.” A “traditional realism” technique visually documents his landscapes and subjects. He employs bright light and dark shadows to create works with sharp clarity and depth.
Kates was born in Orlando and raised in Gainesville, where he attended the University of Florida’s P.K. Yonge High School. He is an alumnus of Florida State University.
He will be at the gallery from 5 to 7 p.m. during First Friday, Dec. 3, and the artist talk will be at 6 p.m. He will also be at the gallery from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday, Dec. 7.
Butterfield Garage Art Gallery is located at 137 King St., St. Augustine.
