Pasaquan--WOW!

Today, my husband and I visited Pasaquan.  If you've never heard of it, you should check out the website www.pasaquan.com.  It's near Buena Vista, GA--a little over an hour from our house.  We've been talking about visiting for several years and finally, today was the day. 

I'm not a big folk art fanatic, but this place is unbelievable.  Eddie Owen Martin was born and grew up in this very rural area, but left in his teens for New York City.  He returned when he was in his mid forties, having had a vision that instructed him to return to Georgia.  I don't want to say any more about him--don't want to screw up the facts--but he was definitely a unique individual with a drive to create that led him to lay hands on every available surface and enhance it in some way.  I should also add that he was a self-taught artist.

His sense of color was phenomenal.  A lot of his work is outdoors and hasn't been treated kindly by the elements.  It's when you see the work on the walls inside that you can get a better sense of what those outside surfaces must have been at one time. 

He seems to have been influenced by many cultures--African, Native American, Mexican--and many religions.  I saw things that seemed Budhist, Hindu, Christian, Muslim and Native American.  There are numerous images that recur again and again.  Circles are everywhere and many things made me think of space and the planets.  There are many wonderful quilting motifs and paintings that look like quilts hanging on the walls.

To say that I was impressed would be a major understatement.  I took about 150 photographs and could have taken lots more.  We were struck by how the same section of wall or building looked totally different when you viewed it from another angle.  Sooo--I'm posting a few of my photos--enjoy.

 These circles with different designs lined the walkway to the front door of the main house.

 This huge painting covered an entire wall inside--it's a quilt, right?

 Notice the metal work and carved wood around the inside of the window frame and the view outside.

 Don't know what this building was used for, but it had a Japanese temple feel to me.

 Lots and lots of faces--this one carved into the concrete. 

 One wall in the kitchen area. 

 This area had a Budha-looking statue inside on a bench.  Notice the metal work at top.

 Circles, circles, circles--not sure what this building was about.

 Believe it or not, this structure hides a large propane tank.

 Another angle of the propane shed.

 A view from the side and back of the main house.

 Note the feather earring on the statue at left--American Indian influence?

 Loved the design on this upright section.

 Is this a Seminole patchwork quilt?  Check out the metal work on top of the wall.

 A metal clad door.