In 1976, Baptist preacher Howard Finster saw a vision of a face on a paint smudge and heard a voice telling him to "PAINT SACRED ART." Prior to this, the reverend had devoted his plot of swampy land in Pennville, outside of Summerville, GA, to structures comprised of bicycle frames and concrete covered in mosaics made from a variety of discarded items, such as figurines, broken plates, and glass and machine parts. The property was named "Paradise Gardens," and after Finster received his new calling, he devoted his life to painting and incorporated his works throughout the existing garden. The result is a fascinating combination between junkyard and folk art gallery, with Bible verses painted on everything from scrap metal to sides of old buildings, and a fanciful chapel which, though in a state of disrepair now, was once used for weddings and other special services.
The following photos are from my recent trip to Paradise Gardens. For more info about the site, visit http://finstersparadisegardens.org/.
The following photos are from my recent trip to Paradise Gardens. For more info about the site, visit http://finstersparadisegardens.org/.
The gardens were also the site where R.E.M.'s video for "Radio Free Europe" was filmed. Don't you just love the old-school special effects? (Oooh - some shots are filmed in negative!!!)
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