New Visiting Art Exhibit in Long Grove:
The World Renowned Folk Art of Howard Finster
Howard Finster with David Leonardis
Check the last item for Howard Finster, whose retirement was spent in a rapture of artistic creation, spurred by a vision to paint sacred art, simply put. And he did just that, combining text and visual messages with evangelical overtones throughout a grand total of 46,000 distinct-but-intertwined pieces of art. Exhibit curator David Leonardis says, “Howard took icons of pop culture and icons [pertaining to] Christianity and blended them to make his message relatable to the masses.”
The former Baptist Reverend did this work all around his home and his family (a recent discovery: unfound paintings by Finster on the individual steps leading to the basement), culminating in what is today known as the Howard Finster Vision House. Located adjacent to the living work of art that made him famous, Paradise Garden, Vision House is a living, breathing entity today, if one in need of restoration and preservation (read: we need YOU to get involved!).
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These works comprise a near-legendary collection of American outsider art, and we here in the Village of Long Grove are proud to announce the opening of a soon-to-travel exhibit of more than 200 works by Finster. Exhibited in conjunction with the permanent Vision House exhibit in Summerville, Georgia, this collection of originals, prints, unfinished Finster pieces from his studio, and signed, limited-edition silk screen prints will be on display (and on sale).
Howard Finster Vision House Traveling Exhibit
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WHERE:220 Robert Parker Coffin Rd.
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Time your visit to Long Grove with one of the three lectures by exhibit curator, David Leonardis, who shared a deep friendship with Finster throughout the last decade of the artist’s life. Now, Leonardis is working to bring Howard’s work to the masses and exploring his own relationship and experiences with Finster. He’ll be hosting the lectures, so pick one and put it on your calendar now.[hr]
R.E.M., Talking Heads & Finster
We’ve made it this far without pointing it out, but if you’re here—you’re interested, so… Finster was perhaps most widely known for his artwork having graced two seminal 1980s alternative albums, R.E.M.’s Reckoning and Talking Heads’ Little Creatures. But, dig ever so slightly deeper and you’ll find that he was not only a leader of the “outsider” art movement, but a grandfather of American folk art taking its place as a highly respected artistic genre.
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David Leonardis on Artist/Friend Howard Finster
Chicago gallery owner and art entrepreneur, David Leonardis, similarly adored Howard’s work. In fact, he began working in a gallery just to support his habit of buying Finster’s art. Leonardis went on to not only befriend Finster in life, but has supported and continued his vision since.
As curator of the Howard Finster Vision House in Georgia, where Finster saw his famous vision of God prompting him to create sacred art, Leonardis is going on the road both to share Finster’s work and to preserve Vision House.
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“I owned the Talking Heads poster Finster created,” says Leonardis. “I would have never imagined I’d one day know and love the artist himself.” |
“My admiration of Finster’s work grew when we met and I was privileged to get to know him personally. I am honored to keep his legacy alive…to share the values in his messages with admirers through this traveling exhibit, as well as my work restoring his permanent residence, Vision House.”[hr]
Why Long Grove?
On the heels of and in conjunction with our Lyman Whitaker wind sculptures exhibit, we’re feeling blessed here in the Village these days. We guess it shows: “Long Grove is a community with its own character and a history in community involvement in the arts,” says Leonardis. “It’s the perfect backdrop from which to allow Finster’s unique message to be spread.”
You’ll also find Finster’s work at the Smithsonian in Washington, D.C.; the American Folk Art Museum in NYC; the Library of Congress; and in major museums and collections around the world.