Georgia's Best-Finster Fest: A Paradise Garden Celebration

Finster Fest, the family-friendly, fabulously interesting and colorful Folk Art extravaganza returns this weekend, September 21 and 22 at Paradise Garden in Summerville, Georgia.

Folk Art by American master, Rev. Howard Finster.Photo byParadise Garden Foundation

Folk art was literally propelled into American popular culture by Reverend Howard Finster, a life-long Summerville resident. Described by one art museum as “the Picasso of Folk Art,” Finster, a country preacher who produced 46,991 numbered works, became the ultimate example of cultural cross-pollination. Legendary Rock musicians like Athens-based R.E.M., saw Finster as family. R.E.M. filmed its first music video at Finster’s home. Finster and lead singer Michael Stipe then collaborated on the cover for the group’s 1984 critically-acclaimed album, “Reckoning.” This was followed by a highly popular New York City band, the Talking Heads who commissioned Finster to paint the cover for their 1985 album, “Little Creatures,” honored as “Album Cover of the Year” by Rolling Stone magazine.

R.E.M. album cover by Rev. Howard Finster.Photo byNew Georgia Encyclopedia

Finster’s fame continued to grow when he was commissioned by Atlanta playwright Tom Key to produce the backdrop for the hit musical play, “Cotton Patch Gospel, ” which is still being performed throughout the country. His signature structure, “The World’s Folk Art Church,” is part of a 2.5-acre environment in Summerville’s Paradise Garden, now managed by the Paradise Garden Foundation.

A self-taught 5-string banjo player, Rev. Howard Finster delivered a sermon on Elvis Presley at the University of Mississippi.Photo byDown South Today

In 1995, Reverend Finster highlighted The International Conference on Elvis Presley at the University of Mississippi, delivering his “Sermon on Elvis,” and playing and singing gospel songs accompanied by his 5-string banjo. Finster’s appearance was featured in The New York Times.

Elvis in coveralls with angel wings by Rev. Howard Finster.Photo byDown South Today

Howard Finster brought folk art into the mainstream and helped to make art a more accepting place. The last time I spoke with him was on his front porch during a frightening thunderstorm. The conversation included Elvis, who was often depicted in Finster’s works as a farm boy wearing coveralls with angel wings adorned with Biblical text. Finster, who would sometimes speak in ways that resembled parables, volunteered that Elvis died “before he completed God’s mission and his soul is not at rest.”

Family Fun at Paradise GardenPhoto byParadise Garden Foundation

Finster Fest information and directions: paradisegardenfoundation.org