PASAQUAN BRINGS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT TO BUENA VISTA

Pasaquan

7-acre artscape

6 major structures and 900 feet of painted masonry fence, painted totems, decorative walkways, sculptures, paintings, and other art and artifacts

(St. EOM’s Pasaquan)

Immediate Impact after Opening

120 students engaged in Marion County projects in the past 2 years

Pasaquan, a 7-acre artscape west of Buena Vista, Georgia, has become a prominent art asset. It is the legacy of renowned artist Eddie Owen Martin, also known as St. EOM. Born in 1908 to a sharecropping family in Buena Vista, Martin at age 14 made his way to New York City, where he eventually came to study art. He saw a vision when experiencing a high fever: three “people of the future” from a place called Pasaquan chose him “to depict, through art, a peaceful future for human beings.” It was after this event that he began calling himself St. EOM and pursued the unique artistic style seen at Pasaquan.82

Pasaquan consists of six major structures and more than 900 feet of painted masonry fence, painted totems, decorative walkways, sculptures, paintings, and other art and artifacts.83 In the 1990s, the Marion County Historical Society gained ownership of Pasaquan. After society member Fred Fussell wrote a series of grant proposals to preserve and restore the site, a $5 million grant from the Kohler Foundation supported its restoration in 2014, and a partnership was made with Columbus State University for future maintenance and management. Revenue is generated by hosting events, contributions from visitors, and external grants. Since it opened to the public in 2016, Pasaquan has averaged approximately 3,100 visitors per year. These visitors have made a noticeable contribution to the local economy. This increased tourism has been linked to the creation of 24 local businesses, including a performing arts theatre, a winery, a distillery, and a local coffeeshop.84

Received $62,000 in funding for improvements, including a new welcome center, 8 new businesses, and educational support about tourism for new businesses

Recent Numbers

3,100 visitors per year

Since the announcement of the Kohler Foundation’s commitment to Pasaquan’s restoration, 24 new businesses have opened and four buildings have been restored around the city’s square.

Georgia Council for the Arts. 2020. Leveraging Public Investment in the Arts: The Role of Arts-based Economic Development Strategies in Rural Georgia Communities. gaarts.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/ Role-of-Arts-case-studies-booklet.pdf