robert lindsey walker

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(1909 - 1996)

robert lindsey walker was born in 1909 in savannah, georgia, where he lived his entire life. he spent his career working as a stonesetter until his retirement in the late 1960's. he was married and divorced with no children.

upon retirement, walker took on a variety of odd jobs including working for the senior citizens employment service, landscaping, and driving a cab. he was well known in the historic district of savannah for his helping hand with odd jobs, and for his meticulous yardwork. walker combed the downtown streets looking for the discarded materials that he collected throughout his life. upon his death, box after box of these collected materials were found, stacked from floor to ceiling. though his colleagues remember him "doodling on anything that would stay still," few people knew of his meticulously constructed drawings depicting the homes and lawns he knew so well from his work as a gardener, and the neighborhoods where he picked up and delivered the "widow ladies" in his cab. only after his death were they discovered.

robert lindsey walker's work is in the collection of the high museum of art in atlanta, ga, and the telfair museum of art in savannah, ga.