Pasaquan

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.[2] 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.[3] In September 2008, Pasaquan was accepted for listing on the National Register of Historic Places.[1] Pasaquan was restored by the Kohler Foundation and Columbus State University between 2014 and 2016.[4]

Pasaquan
Pasaquan after 2016 restoration
Nearest cityBuena Vista, Georgia
Coordinates32.34635°N 84.58150°W / 32.34635; -84.58150
Built1957
ArchitectMartin, Eddie Owens; et al.
Websitepasaquan.columbusstate.edu
NRHP reference No.08000833[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 27, 2008

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.[5] 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.[6] 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.[7] He committed suicide on April 16, 1986.[8]

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."[9] 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."[10] 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.[11] He transformed the property over many years using proceeds earned from fortune telling.[12]

Construction

Martin collected local natural materials to construct his first wall and hired D. W. Milner to assist him.[13] His original decorated fence decayed because it was made out of wood.[14] Edwin Stephens provided Martin with technical construction skills and a romantic relationship.[15] After 10 years of construction, Martin began painting his structures with images inspired by his own personal acquaintances.[16]

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.[17] The Pasaquan Preservation Society deeded Pasaquan to the Kohler Foundation in 2014 in order to finance its restoration.[18][19][20] The Kohler Foundation transferred ownership of Pasaquan to Columbus State University after it reopened in 2016.[21]

Restoration

In 2004, the Pasaquan Preservation Society solicited the Kohler Foundation for help in maintaining Pasaquan. The project was accepted in 2014.[22] The Kohler Foundation collaborated with Columbus State University to restore Pasaquan's art. After two years of work, the site was re-opened to the public on October 22, 2016.[23][24]

Publicity

President Jimmy Carter visited the site in the early 1980s.[25] In 2015, the Pasaquan Preservation Society won the Governor's Award for the Arts and Humanities for its work on Pasaquan.[26][27] In 2016, CNN recommended Pasaquan as a tourist destination.[28] In 2019, Atlanta recommended Pasaquan as a folk art destination.[29]

In 2013, Jason McCoy visited Pasaquan for his show Jason McCoy Eats America.[30] In 2017, James Ogburn and Scott Wilkerson created an opera called "Eddie’s Stone Song: Odyssey of the First Pasaquoyan" that celebrated Martin's life.[31][32]

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

References
  1. "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. Hyatt, Richard. "Richard Hyatt: St. EOM would be pleased". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (June 03, 2014). Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  3. Rice, Mark. "Pasaquan will be restored then gifted to Columbus State". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (June 03, 2014). Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  4. Patton, Charlie. "Pasaquan folk architecture site now renovated, open to public". The Florida Times-Union (Dec 18, 2016). GateHouse Media. GateHouse Media. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  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. 29, 31, 97, 99. 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. 31, 100. 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. pp. 12, 189. 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. 32, 251. 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. p. 29. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  10. 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.
  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. pp. 204–205. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  12. Krakow, Kenneth K. (1975). Georgia Place-Names: Their History and Origins (PDF). Macon, GA: Winship Press. p. 171. ISBN 0-915430-00-2.
  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. 207. 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. p. 208. ISBN 0-912330-61-9.
  15. 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.
  16. 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.
  17. "Pasaquan Preservation Society Records (MC 368)". archives.columbusstate.edu. Columbus State University Archives. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  18. Harris, Richard. "Kohler Foundation may support Pasaquan" (fee required). The Journal (October 2, 2013). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  19. Harris, Richard. "Pasaquan Restoration Nears Completion" (fee required). The Journal (July 13, 2016). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  20. Harris, Richard. "Restoration of Pasaquan is challenging, but exciting" (fee required). The Journal (July 14, 2014). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 23 July 2019.
  21. "Buena Vista folk art site featured by Georgia Public Broadcasting" (fee required) (July 8, 2015). The Journal. 8 July 2015. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  22. Harris, Richard. "Thousands visit Buena Vista for Pasaquan Grand Re-Opening" (fee required). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  23. Patterson, Tom. , Brut Force, December, 2016.
  24. Wallace, Carrie Beth. "Pasaquan pays homage to Eddie Martin with grand reopening". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (October 15, 2016). Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  25. 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.
  26. Rice, Mark. "Pasaquan Preservation Society wins prestigious state award". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer (October 09, 2015). Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  27. Harris, Richard. "Pasaquan Preservation Society Honored" (fee required). The Journal (Oct. 7, 2015). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  28. 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.
  29. Hunt, Emma (20 May 2019). "5 fantastic folk art destinations in the South". Atlanta Magazine. Atlanta Magazine. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  30. Harris, Richard (March 6, 2013). "Canadian Music Star films at Pasaquan" (fee required) (March 6, 2013). The Journal. The Journal. Retrieved 22 July 2019.
  31. Wallace, Carrie Beth. "Sex, drugs and classical music: Pasaquan Opera brings St. EOM's story to life". Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Columbus Ledger-Enquirer. Retrieved 24 July 2019.
  32. "First Pasaquan opera brings St. EOM's journey to life". WTVM.com. WTVM. Retrieved 24 July 2019.


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