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Pasaquan: A Lost World Reborn
25 Aug
Summary
- Artist Eddie Owens Martin transformed seven acres into a unique art environment.
- Pasaquan combines diverse cultural designs with personal spiritual beliefs.
- A major restoration project revitalized the damaged site by 2016.
In 1957, folk artist Eddie Owens Martin, or 'St. EOM,' began creating Pasaquan on a seven-acre property near Buena Vista, Georgia. For 29 years, he built a unique world of painted totems, walls, and masonry structures, drawing inspiration from Mesoamerican, African, Eastern, and futuristic designs. Martin envisioned Pasaquan as a realization of his personal spiritual system, Pasaquoyanism, funded by his work as a fortune teller.
Following Martin's death in 1986, the Pasaquan Preservation Society worked to protect the site. However, extreme weather and damage threatened the structures. In 2014, the Kohler Foundation undertook a significant two-year restoration project, employing specialist conservators to repair masonry, treat termite damage, and repaint surfaces, meticulously matching St. EOM's original vibrant colors and designs.
Completed in 2016, the restoration ensured Pasaquan's survival. The Kohler Foundation then donated the site to Columbus State University, which now manages it as an educational center, museum, and artist residency. Pasaquan remains a testament to Martin's visionary art and personal beliefs, open for tours and cultural events.
