R.I.P. Robert Butler Florida Highwayman

Robert was a friend of mine.  Somewhere I have some photos of when he visited us here in Muddy Valley. He will be missed.

He was a member of the well-known African-American artist's group, The Highwaymen

The history of the Florida Highwaymen artists, of which Robert Butler was a part, is a fascinating story.  During the early 1950’s and through the 1980’s a group of 26 African-American artists known as the “Florida Highwaymen” used vivid and bright colors to display the beautiful untouched Florida landscape. The Florida Highwaymen painted wide-bent palm trees, serene sunsets, churning oceans and bright red Poinciana trees. They painted from their garages and back yards on inexpensive Upson board and then on the weekends they traveled to sell their Highwaymen paintings to hotels, offices, businesses and individuals who appreciated the artwork for around $25 a piece. The creativity and talent of these artists has made them famous for their idyllic landscapes of rural Florida and they were inducted into the Florida Artists Hall of Fame in 2004.  Their works are also displayed at Florida’s state capitol. http://theatremaven.blogs.theledger.com/12367/robert-butler-famed-florida-highwayman-artist-has-passed-away-artist-has-passed-away/