Fred Rothenbush To Headline Saturday's 'Phenomenal' Art Show Benefit

Floridians have a chance to greet and meet Fred Rothenbush, a fifth-generation artist whose work is in the collections of American presidents and entertainers, at an event set to benefit the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office's Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation and a foundation aimed to help senior citizens on fixed incomes tear down diseased oak trees in their Riverview community.

"You'll also get to experience some local artists who are extremely talented and very giving to the Riveriew community," said Barbara Jones, the Riverview-based community service officer for the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office. "We'll have probably 20 or 30 artists displaying their work and probably another 25 craftsmen. We're showcasing art in many different mediums."

The Riverview Community Fine Art Expo, set for Saturday, Aug. 31, is scheduled to run from 2 to 6 p.m. at the Pleasant Living Mobile Home Park, at 10502 Pleasant Blvd., in Riverview. The event is sponsored by the Pleasant Living Homeowners Association, which has set up a fund to help seniors on fixed incomes remove diseased oak trees from their yards.

"These are old, old oak trees that make Pleasant Living the beautiful community that it is," Jones said. "But this year some of the trees were diseased by parasitic beetles boring in and some seniors can't afford the $1,000 to $2,000 it takes to chop some of these trees down. We have found some people who will do it at a discount rate and we hope to get the dangerous trees down first."

Rothenbush is the featured artist.

In 2007 he was the "Artist of the Year" Brush Strokes award recipient, presented by the Brandon League of Fine Arts.

But his recognition goes well beyond the local community.

"Fred Rothenbush is a world-renowoned artist," Jones said. "He has painted the majority of living presidents and some who have passed away, including Ronald Reagan. And he's done a lot of recent military art for returning soldiers from Afghanistan. His family is a family of artists."

According to the Fred Rothenbush website, he "has hunted quail with President Jimmy Carter and has his works in the collections of four other Presidents and various entertainers including Elvis Presley, Porter Wagoner and Tennessee Ernie Ford, among others." He also "has appeared on numerous TV hunting shows, talk shows and was invited to exhibit in Paris in 1983." His skills "range from wildlife, hunting dogs, murals, portraits, and a specialty called, 'kids going their thing.' "

Jones called the artist "remarkable."

"One of my favorite pictures of his is of his little girl, painted as a clown, in which her eyes sparkle and her face is recognizable," Jones said. "The story goes that his little girl was dancing around one day and asked her daddy to paint her. She started clowning around for him. When she saw the picture she just giggled and laughed. He also has painted world-renowned football and baseball coaches as clowns."

Jones called his work "phenomenal." 

"He's a very, very, very talented artist but he puts his heart into his art and you can see that," she said. "You feel it. And when you actualy talk to him and hear the stories behind some of his art, it blows you away. You can't look at the picture the same way."

There is no charge to attend the Aug. 31 fundraiser. It is scheduled to take place in the Pleasant Living community's recreation center. Light refreshments will be available along with pulled-pork sandwiches for sale. Live entertainment will be provided by the string ensemble of the New Directions Orchestra. Also on tap, a silent auction and drawing on some items. Proceeds, as noted, benefit the tree foundation and also the Lynn Sowers Memorial Foundation.

"The foundation was named for a former deputy who was all about helping others in need," Jones said. "When she passed away they founded the foundation and it helps sheriff's office employees in time of crisis or great need."

To get to the Pleasant Living Mobile Home Park from Brandon, travel south on U.S. Highway 301. Cross the Boyette/Gibsonton Road intersection and turn left on Pleasant Living Park Drive, then a right on Pleasant Boulevard. Jones said balloons and a welcoming sign will be in view of approaching motorists.