Chattooga County buys Finster's Paradise Garden
by The Chattanooga Times-Free Press
Feb 08, 2012 | 2005 views | 2 2 comments | 4 4 recommendations | email to a friend | print
This image shows some of the artwork at Paradise Gardens Park and Museum. (Contributed photo)
This image shows some of the artwork at Paradise Gardens Park and Museum. (Contributed photo)
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Chattooga County's most famous site likely is Paradise Garden, a swampy, 4-acre maze of buildings, sculptures and displays near Summerville, Ga., created by the late folk artist Howard Finster.

Featuring found objects and recycled materials such as bottles, bathtubs and bicycle frames, the garden was the backdrop in the early 1980s when the indie-rock band R.E.M. filmed its video for "Radio Free Europe," the band's first single to hit the charts.

On Tuesday, Chattooga County officials announced they used $125,000 in grant money and donations to buy the site so it can be preserved and promoted.

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Comments
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eyewitness
|
February 08, 2012
This is the most asinine thing Chattooga county has ever done! Finster's family obviously couldn't make a successful venture out of it or they would still be there reaping the benefits of Finster's "art". That place is a disaster area that needs to be bulldozed. It should have been done years ago. Great idea county leaders. Most tree houses are more sound than these buildings! Now the county owns them and when, not if, but when someone is injured on the property guess who gets sued: the taxpayers!
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FormerRoman
|
February 08, 2012
It was Grant money, meaning all taxpayers have a piece of the pie, plus donations..

I still like to sport one of my Howard Finster ties on occasion..

Worth saving IMHO.
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