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Pasaquan

Coordinates: 32°20′47″N 84°34′53″W / 32.34635°N 84.58150°W / 32.34635; -84.58150
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Pasaquan
Pasaquan ceremonial ring after 2016 restoration
Pasaquan is located in Georgia
Pasaquan
Pasaquan is located in the United States
Pasaquan
Nearest cityBuena Vista, Georgia
Coordinates32°20′47″N 84°34′53″W / 32.34635°N 84.58150°W / 32.34635; -84.58150
Built1957
ArchitectMartin, Eddie Owens; et al.
Websitehttps://pasaquan.columbusstate.edu
NRHP reference No.08000833[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 27, 2008

Pasaquan is a 7-acre (28,000 m2) compound near Buena Vista, Georgia. It was created by an eccentric folk artist named Eddie Owens Martin (1908–1986), who called himself St. EOM. An internationally renowned art site, it consists of six major structures including a redesigned 1885 farmhouse, painted concrete sculptures, and 4 acres (16,000 m2) of painted masonry concrete walls. In September 2008, Pasaquan was accepted for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.[1]

Site Description

Pasaquan after its major restoration
Pasaquan after its major restoration

In an article on the outsider artist, Tom Patterson describes Pasaquan as "one of the most remarkable folk art environments in America—a sort of mock pre-Columbian psychedelic wonderland of brightly painted totems, curved and angled walls and walkways, and wildly ornamented structures that Martin called "temples" and "pagodas."[2]

Eddie Owens Martin

Eddie Owens Martin was born on July 4, 1908 in the village of Glen Alta in Marion County, Georgia to a sharecropper family of nine.[3] He suffered abuse from his father that caused him to leave home for New York City at 14 years old and become a sex worker.[4] His early adult years of skirting the law led to a one year prison term in 1942. He became a fortune teller after his release from Federal Narcotics Prison on March 17, 1943.[5] He committed suicide on April 16, 1986.[6]

Origins

Martin was inspired by a spirit to create a religion called Pasaquoyanism. Its members are called Pasaquoyans. The spirit also named Martin Saint EOM.[7] Pasaquoyanism emphasizes connection to the natural world and the use of hair. "Pasaquan" is a name coined from Spanish and Chinese meaning roughly "the past coming together".[8] He inherited the house and four acres of land from his mother after she passed away in 1950. Martin moved his fortune-telling business to the site in 1957 after a dispute with his brother Julius.[9] He transformed the property over many years using proceeds earned from fortune telling.[10]

Construction

Martin collected local natural materials to construct his first wall and hired D. W. Milner to assist him.[11] His original decorated fence [rot|rotted] because it was made out of wood.[12] Edwin Stephens provided Martin with technical construction skills and a romantic relationship.[13] After 10 years of construction, Martin began painting his structures with images inspired by his own personal acquaintances.[14]

Ownership Transition

The Marion County Historical Society assumed ownership of Pasaquan in 1986. A special committee was formed in order to facilitate care of the site and Martin's various other works. The committee later purged various materials in order to focus on the compound itself. The Pasaquan Preservation Society was born out of the committee and operated Pasaquan until 2014.[15][16] The Pasaquan Preservation Society deeded Pasaquan to the Kohler Foundation in 2014 in order to finance its restoration.[17][18][19] The Kohler Foundation transferred ownership of Pasaquan to Columbus State University after it reopened in 2016.[20]

Restoration

The Kohler Foundation in collaboration with Columbus State University (CSU) undertook restoring the location, and it was re-opened to the public in 2016.[21]

Publicity

President Jimmy Carter visited the site in the early 1980s.[22] In 2016, CNN recommended Pasaquan as a tourist destination.[23]

In 2013, Jason McCoy visited Pasaquan for his show Jason McCoy Eats America.[24]

  • Entrance to Pasaquan
    Entrance to Pasaquan
  • Pasaquan gate with recreation of Eddie Martin's Infamous Beware of Dog sign
    Pasaquan gate with recreation of Eddie Martin's Infamous Beware of Dog sign
  • Pasaquan outside wall
    Pasaquan outside wall
  • Pasaquan interior walkway
    Pasaquan interior walkway
  • Pasaquan ceremonial ring
    Pasaquan ceremonial ring
  • Pasaquan wall totem
    Pasaquan wall totem
  • Pasaquan wall exterior in interior view
    Pasaquan wall exterior in interior view
  • Pasaquan wall design with exterior view
    Pasaquan wall design with exterior view
  • Pasaquan wall mural
    Pasaquan wall mural
  • Pasaquan wall with external view
    Pasaquan wall with external view
  • Pasaquan statue
    Pasaquan statue
  • Pasaquan as seen from Eddie Martin Road in 2012.
    Pasaquan as seen from Eddie Martin Road in 2012.

References

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Patterson, Tom. "St. EOM", BOMB Magazine Spring, 1987. Retrieved 2012-11-28
  3. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 29, 31, 97, 99. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  4. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 31, 100. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  5. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 12, 189. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  6. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 32, 251. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  7. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. p. 29. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  8. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 169–171. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  9. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  10. ^ Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 171. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  11. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. p. 207. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  12. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. p. 208. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  13. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. p. 211. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  14. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. pp. 213, 215. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  15. ^ "Pasaquan Preservation Society Records (MC 368)". archives.columbusstate.edu. Columbus State University Archives. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  16. ^ Harris, Richard. "Pasaquan Preservation Society Honored" (fee required). TJournal. No. Oct. 7, 2015. TJournal. TJournal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  17. ^ Harris, Richard. "Kohler Foundation may support Pasaquan" (fee required). TJournal. No. October 2, 2013. TJournal. TJournal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  18. ^ Harris, Richard. "Pasaquan Restoration Nears Completion" (fee required). TJournal. No. July 13, 2016. TJournal. TJournal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  19. ^ Harris, Richard. "Restoration of Pasaquan is challenging, but exciting" (fee required). TJournal. No. July 14, 2014. TJournal. TJournal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  20. ^ "Buena Vista folk art site featured by Georgia Public Broadcasting" (fee required). No. July 8, 2015. The Journal. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  21. ^ Patterson, Tom. [1], Brut Force, December, 2016.
  22. ^ Patterson, Tom (1987). St. EOM in the land of Pasaquan : the life and times and art of Eddie Owens Martin ([1st.] ed.). Jargon Society. p. 230. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  23. ^ Hunter, Marnie (8 January 2016). "16 great places to go in the United States in 2016". CNN Travel. Cable News Network. Turner Broadcasting System, Inc. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  24. ^ Harris, Richard (March 6, 2013). "Canadian Music Star films at Pasaquan" (fee required). No. March 6, 2013. The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2019.


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