Past
"You're gonna be the start of somethin' new, and you'll call yourself 'Saint EOM,' and you'll be a Pasaquoyan - the first one in the world."
- St. EOM
Eddie Owens Martin, a self-taught Southern artist, drew inspiration from many colorful cultures to develop the 7-acre, internationally recognized visionary art environment known as Pasaquan.
Martin's artistic journey started at age 14 when he left his hometown of Buena Vista, Georgia, to embark on a hitchhiking adventure to Atlanta and Washington, D.C., before settling in New York. In the Big Apple, he worked as a street hustler, bartender, gambler and drag queen. He even gave fortunetelling a try at age 37.
In 1957, after the death of his mother, Martin came home to Georgia and continued his fortunetelling flair for pay. Donning ravishing robes and feathered headdresses, Eddie moved into his mother's old farmhouse and used his oracle occupation to help fund his vision of Pasaquan.
Martin also changed his name to St. EOM (pronounced Ohm) and became the first Pasaquoyan. He continued to work on the art environment for 30 years, creating six major structures, mandala murals and more than 900 feet of elaborately painted masonry walls.
Pasaquan lavishly fuses African, pre-Columbian Mexico and Native American cultural and religious symbols and designs, along with motifs inspired by Edward Churchward's books about "The Lost Continent of MU."
After a few years of declining health, St. EOM committed suicide in 1986. Pasaquan began to fade - literally and figuratively. For 30 years, the Pasaquan Preservation Society (PPS) worked tirelessly to preserve the site. During 2014, philanthropic organization Kohler Foundation Inc., PPS and Columbus State University partnered to bring the visionary art site back to life.
ST. EOM Speaks
Present
"I built this place to have something to identify with. Here I can be in my own world, with my temples and designs and the spirit of God. I can have my own spirits and my own thoughts."
- St. EOM
Today, Pasaquan is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is considered among the most important visionary art environments in the United States.
CNN dubbed Pasaquan one of "16 Intriguing Things to See and Do in the U.S. in 2016."
To revitalize the site, philanthropic organization Kohler Foundation Inc., PPS and Columbus State University partnered to restore the artistic masterpiece. After two years of restoration, Kohler gifted Pasaquan to CSU's foundation.
Columbus State University faculty, staff, students, and alumni have been directly involved in documentation of Pasaquan, the organization of archives and assisting with the conservation process. CSU alumni and students have worked with professional conservators from International Artifacts (Houston) and Parma Conservation (Chicago).
Future
"Pasaquoyanism has to do with the Truth, and with Nature, and the Earth, and man's lost rituals."
- St. EOM
For St. EOM, Pasaquan represents the future. It is his personal utopia, where all cultures and ethnic groups can come together in harmony and connect with the earth and the universe.
At Pasaquan, St EOM incorporated both spiritual concepts from ancient cultures and futuristic ideas of levitation transportation. In the end, St. EOM was able to communicate the traditions of Pasaquoyanism to the viewers of the future with colorful, pluralistic designs that cover the entire site.
Connecting to his genius to unite cultures and the universe around them, Columbus State University developed a mission, vision and education goals that celebrate and champion the humanitarian values Eddie Martin exhibited in his work.
CSU will also host performances, retreats, tours, artistic workshops and various education-focused programs and activities at Pasaquan to introduce visitors to St. EOM's extensive body of creative work for years to come.
About
Mission:
Columbus State University's priority is to preserve, maintain, provide access to and assist in the interpretation of Pasaquan.
Vision:
We aspire to give visitors a unique insight into the intuitive artistic process by engaging them through diverse programming, interdisciplinary workshops, lectures, seminars, retreats and performances.
Pasaquan Education Goals:
- Establish curricula that center on Pasaquan;
- Foster partnerships through comprehensive community outreach and service learning opportunities;
- Develop programming that is culturally enriching and engenders respect for visionary art and the creative differences of others;
- Create workshops and encourage seminars, which promote self-exploration; and
- Deepen visitors understanding of visionary art and inspire them to express themselves creatively.
Membership
Become a Pasaquoyan: While Pasaquan is open to everyone, you can join and enjoy St. EOM's member events. All donations and membership fees will assist Columbus State University with the programming of this internationally recognized environmental art site.
Membership Opportunities:
Neophyte: $25
Neophyte (student) members will receive newsletters and invitations to special members-only events.
Individualist: $35
Individualist members will receive the same benefits as the Neophyte membership.
Co-conspirators: $100
Co-conspirators membership includes up to four family members. Members will receive newsletters and invitations to special members-only events as well as invitations to family activity days, and Pasaquan coloring pages included in the newsletters.
Technicolor Dreamer: $500
This is a patron-level membership and includes one-year unlimited admission, newsletters, invitations to special members-only events and one private tour a year for 20 of your family and friends.
Pasaquoyan: $1,000
This is a lifetime membership. It includes unlimited admission, newsletters, invitations to special members-only events and one private tour a year for 20 of your family and friends.
Donate: All donations will assist Columbus State University to maintain this national treasure. Your support provides essential funding that will help preserve St. EOM's utopian vision of the future into the future.
Help us maintain St. EOM's Pasaquan by becoming part of the movement to preserve this otherworldly historical site.
Events
Dear Pasaquoyans and Friends of Pasaquan,
Pasaquan has reopened to the public, Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, 10-5 pm. All visitors to the site must properly wear a mask covering their nose and mouth and practice physical distancing (at least 6-feet apart). No more than ten visitors will be allowed in the house at one time, and there will be no group tours.
Thank you for your interest in Pasaquan, and please come and visit.
Sincerely,
Mike McFalls
Director of Pasaquan
Pasafest - April 16, 2022
Please Join us, on April 16th for Pasafest! The Pasaquan Preservation Society and Columbus State University has organized this festival to highlight the cultures of the Southeast. Throughout the day, we will be offering Country, Rock, and Psychedelic music as well as visual artists who are known for their Folk and Self-Taught styles. Following the tradition of St. EOM's life, we will also be offering handpicked food vendors, fortune tellers, performers, and much more! Pasafest is a step toward fulfilling our mission as a society by producing programming and fundraising events that will help preserve as well as educate people about this world-renowned visionary art environment!
Gates open at 11:00 AM. Pre-purchase your tickets at Eventbrite for $20 or purchase at the gate for $30 (student rate is $10 with ID).
Musical Acts: 1:00 PM to 10:00 PM: Pylon Reenactment Society - Zeta - The Pink Stones - Chickasaw Mudd Puppies - Chew - Terror Pigeon - Alia Torres - Exotic Bird Hunter
Artist Market: 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Artists: Bond Anderson - Brent Wykle - Carey Slay - Charles Laster - Charlie Dingler - Chris Alison - Elyse Mixon -Fawne DeRosia - Fountain City Mystic (Candice Crooke) - Gina Tew - Jarrod Turner - Jim Shores - John Mollica - Katie Lebel - The Lee Tones - Lee Laney - Leonard McEwan - Lyndsey Allison - Mariah Hope - Mary Lou "Pixie" Jacquin - Matthew Moye - Meg Anderson - Melissa Posey (Henna) - Michael Pierce - Peter Loose - Polly Sherrill - Ralph Frank - Randy Tobias - Scott Peek - Standard Deluxe - Shane Campbell - Smiley Creations - Steve Sweetser - Tex Crawford
Sponsors:
- Kohler Foundation, INC
- Georgia Council for the Arts
- Pretoria Fields
- Columbus State University
- Triangle Arts
- Pasaquan Preservation Society
*NO PETS ALLOWED*
Contact
Location
238 Eddie Martin Road
Buena Vista, Georgia 31808
Google Maps
Hours
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Suggested Contribution: $10 Adults, $5 Seniors, $3 Students
Closed during federal and bank holidays and the months of December and July.