Howard Finster's Paradise Garden

10/28/2026

This is hardly the most significant Howard Finster artwork that will be on view at the Heavenly Barbecue, an event celebrating the great Georgia folk artist at Slotin Auction in downtown Buford, GA, on Thursday, November 5. But it's certainly the most charming.
The drawing, "Sketches of Howard by Howard," from 1978, is among a selection of pieces from the collection of John F. Turner — the late author of the essential 1989 book "Howard Finster: Man of Visions. The Life and Work of a Self-Taught Artist" — that are included in a Slotin Auction sale on Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8.
Turner was a longtime friend and booster of Howard's, and the online auction includes unique sketches, photos and handwritten notes by the artist collected by Turner that provide an intimate glimpse at Howard’s artistic production and life in general.
On "Sketches of Howard by Howard," which includes more than 40 drawings in pencil and ink (no two exactly alike!) on scrap lined paper, Howard wrote, "I think any artist should first learn to draw himself." And he did!
The "Howard by Howard" page is only 9.5 inches wide by 12 inches high and is in what's politely termed "found condition." The comparatively low auction estimate, $400-$600, reflects that.
There are 42 varied Finster lots (with wide ranging estimates rising as high as $20,000) going on the block over the two-day, 900-lot sale, which you can fully preview during the Heavenly Barbecue. But there's only one "Sketches of Howard by Howard" in the world!
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🔥ABOUT THE 🅱️🅱️Q🔥
Whether you're a longtime collector, a growing folk art enthusiast or simply someone who loves Paradise Garden, you’ll enjoy pulling up a chair at the Heavenly Barbecue, 1-4 p.m. (with the BBQ buffet served at 2 p.m.) on Thursday, November 5.
Tickets begin at $50 at https://museumgifts.square.site/. Special Patron Saint tickets, including private tours (to be scheduled later) of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville, are also available.
Thanks to the generosity of Slotin Auction, all proceeds will support the operation and ongoing preservation of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Questions? Visit paradisegardenfoundation.org/upcomingevents/ or call 706-808-0800.

10/26/2026

Last week, when we honored Howard Finster with posts on the 25th anniversary of his leaving this fragile world, artist Peter Loose recalled a particularly poetic passage written by Howard on the back of a small painting in Peter's collection.
Peter suggested that it be read at his friend Howard's funeral in October 2001, and Pastor Billy Wright of Living Waters Ministry did the honors.
While some of the writing Rev. Finster did on the front and backs of his paintings could be of a hellfire nature, other of his scrawled incscriptions revealed the beating heart of a feeling soul.
Here's the text, with only a little punctuation added for readability:
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"To the land beyond our roses where the lilys never die,
not one tear falls from an eye.
Where the lights of God's glory out shines the sun,
where man's work is all done.
Golden streets, mansions high,
no more wars where people - die,
Holy mana, for all plenty to go around,
no hungry on God's holy ground."
“Just composed this. -- Howard …
Aug-12-1994. God bless."

10/25/2026

Paradise Garden was pleased to welcome the Leadership Chattooga group last week for a tour of Howard Finster’s folk art environment. These rising community leaders were enthusiastic to find out more about the Garden, and were especially drawn to the largest pine tree many apparently had ever seen — it took four of them stretching their arms fully to successfully “hug” it!
Their tour, which included a look at our current art exhibit by Finster Fest favorite Charlie Dingler — as well as stops to see the mural honoring Finster across from the railroad depot in downtown Summerville and the James H. “Sloppy” Floyd State Park — was led by Paradise Garden Executive Director Davia Weatherill (a member of the 2026 Leadership cohort) and Cindy Rivers McGraw, Chattooga Chamber executive director (and a Paradise Garden Foundation board member).

10/23/2026

Sharing a nice tribute to Howard Finster that was posted Thursday on the 25th anniversary of his death. Thanks to historian-author Lisa Land Cooper for creating the post!

📜Today in Georgia History – October 22, 2001

Imagine walking into someone's backyard and discovering a wonderland of colorful paintings, mirrored walls, bicycle parts, discarded bottles, religious messages, and sculptures made from just about anything imaginable!

That was the world of Howard Finster, one of Georgia's most remarkable folk artists.

Born in Valley Head, Alabama, in 1916, Finster became a Baptist preacher while still a teenager. He eventually settled in northwest Georgia, where he repaired bicycles and small engines to help support his family.

In 1961, he began transforming a patch of land near Summerville into what became known as Paradise Garden, using discarded objects to create an extraordinary outdoor art environment.

Then came an experience that changed everything. In 1976, while painting a bicycle, Finster noticed what appeared to be a tiny human face in a dab of paint on his fingertip. He later recalled hearing a voice instructing him to paint sacred art. Although he had no formal artistic training, he believed he had received a divine calling.

And paint he did!

His subjects ranged from angels and biblical scenes to Elvis Presley, George Washington, and visions of the future. His artwork eventually caught the attention of the music world. He created album covers for R.E.M. and Talking Heads, and R.E.M. even filmed its "Radio Free Europe" music video at Paradise Garden.

Finster also appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, bringing his unusual combination of faith, humor, and creativity to a national audience.

By the time he died on October 22, 2001, at age 84, Finster had produced more than 46,000 works of art. Today, his creations are represented in major museums, including Atlanta's High Museum of Art.

Perhaps his greatest masterpiece, however, remains Paradise Garden itself. The remarkable outdoor environment survives near Summerville, where visitors can still wander through the imaginative world he spent decades creating.

Howard Finster once described his paintings as sermons meant to reach people who might never enter a church. Whatever one's religious beliefs, his story is an extraordinary example of what imagination, determination, and a sense of purpose can accomplish.

Photo caption: In addition to painting representations of his religious visions, folk artist Howard Finster combined religious messages with imagery from popular culture in his artwork, such as this highly decorated painting of a Coca-Cola bottle.


Georgia on My Mind curated by Lisa Land Cooper - Author and Historian

© 2026 Lisa Land Cooper – Author and Historian

10/23/2026

25 years ago today, on October 22, 2001, Howard passed away. Today in Georgia History provides this video tribute:

Howard Finster saw things; he literally had visions. They inspired him to create a universe of unusual paintings, sculpture, and drawings. A self-taught folk artist and preacher, he became one of the most important creative artists of the twentieth century. Finster was born in 1916 in Valley Head, A...

10/22/2026

Come see Howard Finster’s greatest legacy, Paradise Garden in Summerville, GA. (And Chattooga County residents get in free!)

Howard Finster saw things; he literally had visions. They inspired him to create a universe of unusual paintings, sculpture, and drawings. A self-taught folk artist and preacher, he became one of the most important creative artists of the twentieth century.

Finster was born in 1916 in Valley Head, Alabama, one of fourteen children. He saw his first religious vision at age three, and started preaching in his teens. He moved to northwest Georgia in 1937 to spend the rest of his life preaching and creating art.

In 1961, Finster began his most famous work, Paradise Gardens. He turned rescued trash into religious works like the Mirror House and Hubcap Tower, along with historical and cultural figures like George Washington and Elvis.

By the early 1980s, his work had become famous. He made album covers for R.E.M. and the Talking Heads and appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

His work filled hundreds of exhibitions, including a permanent display at the High Museum in Atlanta.

Howard Finster’s studio created more than 46,000 pieces of art by the time he died on October 22, 2001, Today in Georgia History.

10/19/2026

This very early and important Howard Finster painting will be on view at the Heavenly Barbecue, an event celebrating the great Georgia folk artist at Slotin Auction in downtown Buford, GA, on Thursday, November 5.
The painting, "Behold the Fowls of the Air," from circa 1977 (before Finster began numbering his work), was prominently featured in a Life magazine cover story, "The Flowering of U.S. Folk Art," in June 1980.
Displayed in Paradise Garden, it marked the first national exposure for Howard's soon-to-be-famous folk art environment in Summerville, GA.
Though relatively small in size -- 24" w x 18" h (including a wood-burned frame by the artist) -- it is among the star attractions in an online Slotin Auction sale starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8. The 900-lot auction includes self-taught art, Southern folk pottery, antique and anonymous folk art, Americana and more.
"Behold the Fowls of the Air" was owned for many years by Finster biographer John F. Turner, the late author of one of the essential books about the artist, "Howard Finster: Man of Visions. The Life and Work of a Self-Taught Artist" (1989). The painting’s auction estimate is $10,000-$20,000, easily the highest among the 42 varied Finster works (with wide ranging estimates) going on the block over the two-day sale.

🔥ABOUT THE 🅱️🅱️Q🔥
Whether you're a longtime collector, a growing folk art enthusiast or simply someone who loves Paradise Garden, you’ll enjoy pulling up a chair at the Heavenly Barbecue at 1-4 p.m. (with the barbecue buffet served at 2 p.m.) on Thursday, November 5.
Tickets begin at $50 at https://museumgifts.square.site/. Special Patron Saint tickets, including private tours (to be scheduled later) of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville, are also available.
Thanks to the generosity of Slotin Auction, all proceeds will support
operations and ongoing preservation of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden, which is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
Questions? Visit paradisegardenfoundation.org/upcomingevents/, Or call 706-808-0800.

10/15/2026

Join us for our next event, Heavenly Barbecue, an afternoon celebrating Howard Finster at Slotin Auction in downtown Buford, GA!
On Thursday, November 5, Slotin Auction and the Paradise Garden Foundation will present this exclusive collector preview, barbecue and spirited gathering benefiting Howard Finster's Paradise Garden.
Enjoy a rare opportunity to view a private collection of Howard's early works (and place an advance bid, if you wish!) — before they go on the auction block that weekend.
The prime Finsters are among 900 varied lots of self-taught art, Southern folk pottery, antique and anonymous folk art, Americana and more in the auction starting at 10 a.m. Saturday and Sunday, November 7 and 8.
Whether you're a longtime collector, an emerging folk art enthusiast or simply someone who loves Paradise Garden, you’ll enjoy pulling up a chair at the Heavenly Barbecue!
Tickets begin at $50 at https://museumgifts.square.site/. Special Patron Saint tickets, including private tours of Howard Finster's Paradise Garden in Summerville, GA, are also available.
The collector preview is 1-4 p.m. Thursday, November 5, with the barbecue buffet served at 2 p.m.
Thanks to the generosity of Slotin Auction, all proceeds will support the preservation and operation of the nonprofit Howard Finster's Paradise Garden.
Questions? Visit paradisegardenfoundation.org/upcomingevents/, Or call 706-808-0800.

10/12/2026

Sunday's opening reception for Charlie Dingler's exhibit “Art That Moves — And Moves You!” left all who attended at Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden with big smiles.
With humor and humility, Charlie spun a string of great stories about his long career in folk art and his side venture into blacksmithing.
Charlie remembered when he was starting out in the 1980s, telling his artist friend Mavis Stevens that they might be able to ride the rising wave of interest in folk art for five years. Nearly five decades later, that wave hasn't crested yet!
Charlie also recounted the sage advice an early art mentor gave him: to put plenty of himself in every piece of art he makes. And, indeed, Charlie's talk gradually seemed to make every super folky and often whimsical work hung on the wall behind him in Paradise Garden's Museum & Visitor Center connect to his well-lived life.
Afterwards, attendees enjoy healthy slices of cake, with the exhibit title spelled out in cursive icing, an appropriately sweet finale to our time with Charlie.
“Art That Moves — And Moves You!” continues on view through November 2. A portion of each sale benefits Paradise Garden's operations and restoration projects.
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