Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Daytripping From Americus - An Artful Day at Pasaquan

We visited Pasaquan several years ago.  It was only open one day a month, 8 months a year.   The paint was faded and peeling.  But, even in disrepair,  it was an awe-inspiring place.
Created by Eddie Owens Martin, also known as St. EOM, (1908 - 1986) in Buena Vista, Georgia (about 35 - 40 minutes from Americus),  Pasaquan is described as a "visionary art environment".
Eddie Owens Martin lived a very interesting life.  He was born in Glen Alta, Georgia to sharecropper parents in 1908.   At the age of 14, he ran away to New York City where he had the opportunity to visit art museums and cultural institutions that inspired his future art designs.
Following his mothers death and the inheritance of his mother's home in Buena Vista, he returned to live permanently in Georgia in 1957.
Pasaquan reflects St. EOM's vision of the future.
St. EOM worked for almost 30 years creating this incredible art environment.
In 2014, the Kohler Foundation partnered with the Pasaquan Preservation Society to restore the artwork to its former glory.  
In the photo above and below, you can see the before and after shots of some of the work from Pasaquan.
 After 2 years of restoration work, the Kohler Foundation gifted Pasaquan to Columbus State University.
Reopened to the public in October 2016, CNN hailed Pasaquan as "one of the 16 intriguing things to see and do in the U.S. in 2016."
One of our guests, Michelle Clotfelter, shared these great photos from a recent trip to Pasaquan.
She and her sister, Lisa, regularly visit the Americus Garden Inn Bed and Breakfast for some sisterly time together without children or husbands, a girlfriends' getaway.
After visiting Pasaquan, on our recommendation, they visited Five Points Berries Winery in nearby Mauk, about 15 - 20 minute drive.
With advance notice, you can visit Five Points Berries to try all 6 of their delicious blueberry wines.  From sweet to dry, the wines are 100% blueberry wine, not blueberry flavored grape wine.  And, they have no added sulphites.
Pasaquan is open Friday, Saturday and Sunday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
It is closed the months of July and December.
Admission price is:  $10 for adults, $5 for seniors, $3 for students
Hope you enjoyed Michelle's photos as much as I did.

Thank you so much for visiting the Americus Garden Inn Bed & Breakfast blog.  We hope to see you in person, soon.