Howard Finster Paradise Gardens
by Rebecca Korpita
Title
Howard Finster Paradise Gardens
Artist
Rebecca Korpita
Medium
Photograph - Photograph - Digital Art
Description
I happened upon this sign at the famous folk artist, Howard Finster's Paradise Gardens in Pennville GA recently. It begs a question to which I don't have the answer. This is an original photograph by Rebecca Korpita that has been digitally enhanced to achieve the effect I wanted (Howard's not around anymore but I don't think he would mind).
Howard was in his back yard repair shop, fixing a bicycle, when he looked at a paint smudge on his finger and had a vision of a human face. The voice of God commanded Howard to "paint sacred art," and for the next quarter-century he did just that.
Howard transformed his yard into what he called Paradise Garden, four acres of quirky buildings, junk-studded pathways, and sculptures made from other people's trash. He dated and numbered every one of his 48,000+ artworks, usually colorful plywood cutouts covered with busy designs and Bible verses in tractor enamel paint. Howard was known for painting 2-D Coke bottles and angels, spaceships and smiling clouds. Caps and hats in his artwork often had human faces, like Howard's finger.
I was fortunate in getting to meet Howard and I have been to Paradise Gardens three times. Some things have deteriorated beyond repair after his death, but I was happy to see that it is being preserved now by the Georgia Trust for Historic Preservation thanks to Jordan Poole who was instrumental in getting this done.
Uploaded
July 6th, 2018
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Viewed 2,036 Times - Last Visitor from Romeo, MI on 04/17/2024 at 6:27 PM
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