Late folk artist Howard Finster created tens of thousands of works at Paradise Garden in Pennville, Georgia. In the early 1980s, he bought a church adjacent to his property and transformed it into the wedding-cake-shaped World's Folk Art Church. The foundation managing the garden hopes to raise money to restore the church's decaying interior.
Paradise revived —
Late folk artist Howard Finster created tens of thousands of works at Paradise Garden in Pennville, Georgia. In the early 1980s, he bought a church adjacent to his property and transformed it into the wedding-cake-shaped World's Folk Art Church. The foundation managing the garden hopes to raise money to restore the church's decaying interior.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
A meditation chapel in the garden is covered with hand-painted Bible verses.
Paradise revived —
A meditation chapel in the garden is covered with hand-painted Bible verses.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
One end of the garden's meditation chapel features this friendly-looking Howard Finster self-portrait. Among its messages: "I never seen a person I didn't love."
Paradise revived —
One end of the garden's meditation chapel features this friendly-looking Howard Finster self-portrait. Among its messages: "I never seen a person I didn't love."
Marnie Hunter/CNN
Madonna and child join thousands of glass fragments and objects embedded in the walls of the Mosaic Garden.
Paradise revived —
Madonna and child join thousands of glass fragments and objects embedded in the walls of the Mosaic Garden.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
The Mirror House overlooks beds of plants and the bicycle repair shop where Finster had his mission-defining 1976 vision.
Paradise revived —
The Mirror House overlooks beds of plants and the bicycle repair shop where Finster had his mission-defining 1976 vision.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
These images of George Washington on an exterior wall are the first paintings Finster created after the vision.
Paradise revived —
These images of George Washington on an exterior wall are the first paintings Finster created after the vision.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
Objects secular and sacred are embedded in the garden's walls.
Paradise revived —
Objects secular and sacred are embedded in the garden's walls.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
Another wide assortment of things hangs over the entrance to the bicycle repair shop.
Paradise revived —
Another wide assortment of things hangs over the entrance to the bicycle repair shop.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
The reflective Mirror House serves as a high point for surveying the garden.
Paradise revived —
The reflective Mirror House serves as a high point for surveying the garden.
Marnie Hunter/CNN
Howard Finster painted this Cadillac in the early '80s. "If you want to go on the Cadillac, just drop me your picture and say, 'Hey, Howard, I want to go on the Cadillac,' " Finster told Johnny Carson when he appeared on the "Tonight Show" in 1983.
Paradise revived —
Howard Finster painted this Cadillac in the early '80s. "If you want to go on the Cadillac, just drop me your picture and say, 'Hey, Howard, I want to go on the Cadillac,' " Finster told Johnny Carson when he appeared on the "Tonight Show" in 1983.
Marnie Hunter/CNN