A master promoter as well as a prolific artist, who turned out over 46,000 paintings in his lifetime, Howard Finster was America’s favorite folk artist. His paintings and sculptures are owned by collectors and museums all over the world.

Finster Fest 2009 has been scheduled from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, May 2nd and 3rd at Paradise Gardens, 84 Knox Street in Summerville. The event will feature more than 100 artists from across the world.

Entertainment has been planned, including Husky Burnette performing his new song, “Paradise.” Also performing will be Distribution, Red Mouth and Whoo Doo Swagger and many more bands. Also on tap is art, food and fun.

Paradise Gardens is the art environment of local famed country preacher turned folk/visionary artist Howard Finster. The Gardens, which are located near Summerville, were begun in 1961 and continued as the focus of Howard Finster’s labor for more than 30 years.

Howard’s painting career, which began in 1976 and resulted in more than 46,000 paintings, was born out of his visionary labors in Paradise Gardens. Today, Howard Finster’s art is in the permanent displays of major museums and is prized by art collectors everywhere. Paradise Gardens is “one of the world’s greatest beauty spots” as Howard declared it, and was the site of numerous documentaries and videos from bands such as REM and The News Boys. Then host Johnny Carson had Rev. Finster appear on the Tonight Show, and Howard became the darling of universities and art galleries around the country.

Howard Finster was recycling from the 1940’s and turned a former swamp in his back yard into one of the world’s most celebrated art environments. His artwork in Paradise Gardens is colorful, inspiring and an amazing combination of materials and themes celebrating his love of people, mechanical objects, his Christian faith, and God’s creation.

Restoration Needed
Howard Finster’s Paradise Gardens is in need of restoration. The ownership of the Gardens passed from the Finster family to a non-profit organization in 2005 following Howard’s death in 2001, and the non-profit is undertaking its restoration. The project is called “Paradise Redemption” and is an all-out effort to return the Gardens to their former glory and maintain them as a memorial museum, retreat, and public space for the arts, festivals, weddings and workshops as well as a much needed boost to the regional tourist offerings. Though significant progress has been made thus far, help is greatly needed to restore and maintain this wonderful piece of Georgia art history including the Garden’s Chapel, Howard’s masterpiece as “World’s Folk Art Church”, and keep it alive for future generations. Howard Finster is one of, if not the most, prolific and celebrated artist of the last century. Your help is greatly appreciated.

Tours and art are available through the Paradise Gardens Art Gallery by Whitney Nave Jones. Whitney’s contact is 423-619-8154 and the website www.paradisegardensgallery.com. Hours are Wednesday through Saturday, noon to 5 p.m. To volunteer or make a tax deductible donation, contact Tommy Littleton at 205-587-3090.

Links

• See Howard Finster Art, including the complete text transcribed from the paintings, in the Brown’ Guide Gallery.

Plains, Georgia, birthplace of Jimmy Carter, the 39th President of the United States. For details on specific tour points, see below. See a larger image of the map. In 1928 the Carter family moved to Archery, a few miles to the west. For a photo of the Archery farm and a hand-drawn map of the compound by President Carter, see below.

American settlers founded the community of the Plains of Dura in Sumter County in the mid-1830s on the Americus-Preston Road. The name of the town was a biblical reference from Daniel 3:1 where Nebuchadnezzer set up a golden idol that the Israelites refused to worship, and according to biblical tradition, were cast into a burning furnace from which they emerged alive and unhurt as a sign of God’s favor. From the Arabic dhurah, the name is probably related to the Latin duras, meaning to endure. (more…)

The Whistle Stop Cafe in Juliette on the banks of the Ocmulgee River. Once a bustling agricultural community, Juliette was on the verge of disappearing, then along came Jon Avnet and “Fried Green Tomatoes at the Whistle Stop Cafe.” See this Google map for  an overview of Juliette and the specific tour points below. ++ the map and click on “Satellite.” for best views.

Whistle stops and mill towns along Georgia rivers were a vital part of the agricultural economy. Surrounded by farms and plantations, they were the place where the local farmers brought their cotton and grains for processing and shipping, bought their supplies, and caught up on county events. (more…)

Bulloch Hall, completed in 1839, has been described as one of the most significant houses in Georgia, and one of the South’s few examples of true temple-form architecture.

Don’t miss the home of Theodore Roosevelt’s mother - Roswell’s Bulloch Hall, a Willis Ball design that has been described as one of the most significant antebellum houses in Georgia.

The childhood home of Mittie Bulloch, President Theodore Roosevelt’s mother, this impressive Greek Revival structure completed in 1839 has been described as one of the most significant houses in Georgia and one of the South’s few examples of true temple-form architecture. The floor plan, typical to the period, features a lofty center entrance hall with an equal number of rooms on each side. The house is beautifully furnished with authentic period furniture. The house includes a Museum Room with history of the family. The grounds include reconstructed slave quarters, privy, summer house, wells, gardens and museum shop.

The 26-mile round trip in vintage climate controlled or open air railcars is a scenic smorgasbord, including one hour winding along the course of the beautiful Toccoa River.

Tucked into the charming mountain village of Blue Ridge, Georgia, in the lush Chattahoochee National Forest, the Blue Ridge Scenic Railway takes you on the trip of a lifetime. The area is known as the “antique capital” of Georgia with friendly folks and an old-time atmosphere.

The regular 4-hour, 26-mile round trip in vintage climate controlled or open air railcars is a scenic smorgasbord, including one hour winding along the course of the beautiful Toccoa River.

The relaxing ride starts at the historic depot, built in 1905 in downtown Blue Ridge, then stops for a layover in the quaint sister towns of McCaysville, Georgia, and Copperhill, Tennessee.

Copperhill/McCaysville is one town with two names because it is split by the GA/TN State Line. Here, visitors have a two-hour layover (1.5 hours on Sunday): plenty of time to eat lunch, shop for unique crafts and antiques, snack on ice cream, or walk across the old bridge in town to view the river. Then, re-board the train for the one-hour return trip.

Architectural Tours of Savannah informs visitors, locals and anyone else interested in Savannah’s story about this beautiful city’s built environment. Oglethorpe’s original plan, today’s desire to balance preservation with a living city and almost 300 years in between are discussed while walking through what is sometimes labeled an urban jungle.

Red Oak Covered Bridge in Meriwether County is one of the points on this Meriwether-Pike County driving tour.

This 55-mile route begins at Warm Springs, Georgia on SR 85. It continues north to Gay and then moves west on the SR 109 spur back to Gay.  From Gay, the route extends eastbound along Flat Shoals Road across the Flint River and turns southwest on SR 18 to Molena. The route follows SR 18 back to SR 85 south of Woodbury to Manchester and proceeds to follow SR 190 back to Warm Springs.

During the 1920s, ’30s and ’40s, President Roosevelt came to Warm Springs in hopes that the therapeutic warm springs would help improve his polio-stricken legs.  He built a home in Warm Springs, the Little White House, which is now operated as a state historic site.

The Meriwether-Pike County Scenic Byway offers several other attractions, including the Red Oak Covered Bridge, the Oakland Baptist Church and Jones Mill, where a large gristmill and millpond are the only reminders of a once-thriving farm community.  In May and October, the Cotton Pickin’ Fair and the Great Gay Marketplace attract thousands from around the Southeast.

Keown Falls is one of the points on this Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway tour.

The Ridge and Valley Scenic Byway provides a chance to experience the varied terrain of northwest Georgia. Mountain overlooks and fertile farmlands can be found along the 51-mile byway as it travels U.S. 27, State Highways 156 and 136, and rural county roads. Outdoor activities, ranging from hiking, camping, and picnicking to fishing and hunting can be enjoyed at the Keown Falls Scenic Area, the Pocket, and John’s Mountain Overlook and Wildlife Management Area. The surrounding countryside also holds the histories of the native Cherokee Indian Nation; Civil War battles; and early settlers whose farmhouses, built in the 1800s, still stand.