Located on the grounds of the 1848 courthouse, this birdhouse is an exaggerated folk art version of its host.
Birdhouse, Tazewell
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Tag Archives: Georgia Art & Artists
Art House, Carlton
This circa 1894 gabled-ell cottage is the home of Mike Jones and Stephanie Astalos-Jones. Stephanie writes: All the art here IS for sale. There is a small sign on the corner of Lexington and Highway 72 that says “art for sale” and points this way…Our hope is that our house is known as an art house where people can come and find original art.
It was hard not to stop after seeing this big hand on a tree in the yard.
Regarding the beautiful decoration of the house, Stephanie explains: Every bit of that is hand painted. I’m a pysanky artist (batik work on egg shell) and I wanted to put pysanky style artwork on the house. I’m also a professional actor…
There were three sculptures in the yard, and the remains of an old tuba attached to a post. Stephanie notes: My husband is a sculptor and a jazz saxophone player. Those are his pieces you show in the yard. It’s nice to see them again since all are sold now.
Greensboro Post Office, 1936
This New Deal Post Office is still in use and features murals by artist Carson Davenport (1908-1972). Davenport served as director of the WPA Art School & Gallery in Big Stone Gap, Virginia and was Chairman of the Art Department at Averett College from 1943-1969.
Greensboro Historic District, National Register of Historic Places
Ware’s Folly, 1818, Augusta
Perhaps the most famous house in Augusta, the Nicholas Ware House was given its pejorative nickname for its excessive construction costs. Ware was an early Augusta mayor and United States Senator. The structure is now home to the Gertrude Herbert Institute of Art.
National Register of Historic Places
The Corner Shop, Pineview
This building features a “homemade” Coca-Cola mural.
Howard Finster’s Paradise Garden, Summerville
For the unfamiliar, Paradise Garden is the life’s work of the late Reverend Howard Finster (2 December 1915 or 1916-22 October 2001). A man of strong religious faith, Finster was a tireless folk artist who used his boundless energy and talent to spread the word of God in every available medium. The folk art chapel (above), as well as much of the garden itself, is presently being restored after going back to nature in the time since his passing. His own words sum up his mission and are often used to describe his philosophy of reusing, recycling and casting nothing of value aside: “I took the pieces you threw away-put them together by night & day-washed by rain and dried by sun, a million pieces all in one!” As a matter of fact, Finster created over 40,000 pieces of art in his lifetime.
Howard Finster rose to national prominence and widespread fame in the 1980s thanks to his work being featured on album covers by the Talking Heads, R.E.M., and many others. R.E.M. even shot much of their video for “Radio Free Europe” at the garden and featured a cameo of Howard. During this time Reverend Finster was also a guest on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson which helped cement his national reputation.
This the Rolling Chair Ramp Gallery, where work from fans and admirers, as well as ephemera and memorabilia from Howard’s life are displayed. He built this structure mainly to share his message with those who were unable to walk around the garden.
Visiting Paradise Garden for the first time was a life-changing experience for me.
The people of Chattooga County are understandably proud to call Howard one of their own and in all my travels around Georgia, they are some of the nicest people I’ve ever met.
The Coca-Cola Bottle House was used as a pump house.
This giant cement shoe is one of my favorite items in the garden.
Finster was a visionary and you see it everywhere at Paradise Garden.
While he’s inspired many, none can come close to the breadth of his work.
It’s easy to see that this place was his witness and his way of preaching.
The mirror house is being restored.
A tribute to Howard Finster.
Some of Howard’s “supplies”.
The tour is entirely self-guided, unless you ask for a guide, and you are guaranteed to get lost in the whimsy of this place. Consider that a good thing.
Detail of George Washington portrait by Finster, and the front porch of his home, now the visitor’s center. Washington was one of Howard’s favorite American icons.
National Register of Historic Places
Tin Man, Long County
This recycled metal sculpture near the entrance to the Morgan Lake campground is a familiar landmark on U. S. Highway 84 between Ludowici & Jesup.
Folk Art Gravesite Decoration, Crescent
This was one of the neatest things I found in the historic Hopkins-Belleville Cemetery.
Carson’s Supermarket, Farmington
I first came to know of this structure through an online community of Georgia photographers in 2008 and was immediately intrigued by it. Returning to South Georgia from a visit to Athens in 2010, I made a point of traveling in this direction and by chance just happened to meet one of Georgia’s most accomplished artists, John L. Cleaveland, Jr., as I was photographing the store. John introduced himself and his young son and showed me inside the store, which he owns and uses for work. He was even aware of my work at Vanishing South Georgia and was very encouraging as to the scope of my project. I’m very grateful for our brief visit.
His gallery notes that his “paintings are more than mere landscapes. They reflect his incredible attention to detail and his knowledge and respect of the history of the South. The abstraction of light and shadow, the harsh beauty of nature, and the cycle of life and death are all given space in his paintings.” Having had the privilege of seeing a few for myself, I concur.
Alfred Dorman Wholesale Warehouse, Circa 1900, Statesboro
Thanks to Burney Marsh for the identification.
Just across East Main Street, in Triangle Park, is one of several unique sculptures located around Statesboro honoring Georgia Southern’s Eagles football team. This one, designed by Colleen Beyer Stewart and Wesley Stewart is entitled Farmer’s Market. This neighborhood has undergone a bit of a renaissance recently and is now home to Eagle Creek Brewery, a popular brewpub and a first for Statesboro.
