Hollywood Black Film Festival 2008

Walking Tall: The Life and Wife of Walt Walker, artist, businessman and entrepreneur. The late Walt Walker, who passed away five years ago at 84, created the most extensive collection of paintings, murals, drawings, sketches and graphic arts and holds the distinction of being one of the first African Americans to to open an art gallery featuring black images in Los Angeles. This documentary will inspire artists to first learn the art of business, then the business of art to steer clear of a life of the starving artist. Walking Tall exhibits the most comprehensive body of Walt's popular work as well as little shown works including his sketches and murals.By Walt's own admission, were it not for the efforts of his business-minded wife, Jane Walker, and their 62 year marriage, we may never have known his name. In addition to his wife, Jane, interviews include Charles Bibbs, renowned artist and owner of the 626 Gallery, Cecil and Miriam Fergerson, art curators, Ayuko Babu, Pan African Film Festival co-founder and Walker's eldest son Russell. He pioneered the black arts movement by opening the LeJan Gallery in the early 1960's and later was known for exhibiting his own art at Ray's Redwood Kitchen on Western Avenue in Los Angeles for 10 years. After exhibiting at community art shows and outdoor festivals, Jane insisted that they invest in prints so that 'the mother in Watts could buy some art for her apartment.' Now, many people own a Walt Walker original.