Museum Opens At Former Home

Of Folk Artist Howard Finster

MUSEUM OPENS AT FORMER HOME OF FOLK ARTIST HOWARD FINSTER

AVV 12-5 #721

 

By DORIE TURNER

Associated Press Writer

PENNVILLE, GA. (AP) — It’s easy to miss the tin-roofed, red and white house along the winding streets of this hilly little town.

But not for long.

The place where bicycle repairman Howard Finster had his vision from God to paint the Gospel opened this fall as a museum honoring a man considered to be a grandfather of contemporary folk art. Finster, who died in 2001 at age 84, began his art revolution in the basement, eventually producing 48,000 pieces: Intricate, brightly colored paintings with Bible verses, quirky wooden statues and sculptures made from other people’s trash.

“Howard is why everyone else gets to be a folk artist,’’ said David Leonardis, a Chicago gallery owner and longtime friend of Finster’s who renovated the ramshackle house into a museum and gallery. “Howard Finster helped me so much, and helped others so much. This is the least I can do for him.’’

The house was severely run down in 2005 when Leonardis bought it in a foreclosure sale for $1,479.