R.E.M might have broken up, but Finster lives on in Long Grove!

Grandfather of Folk Art, Howard Finster, is famous for creating album art for R.E.M's "Reckoning" album. His legendary Paradise Gardens played host to their video shoot for "Radio Free Europe" and from there, R.E.M wrote a song as an homage to Finster "Maps and Legends." Famous not just for working with R.E.M, Finster created over 50,000 pieces of sacred folk art after seeing a vision from God to spread his message of goodness. The man was a genius who's vision lives on today.

Needless to say, I'm thrilled to be involved with the traveling Howard Finster Vision House exhibit that's in Long Grove until January 31.Open Friday, Saturday and Sunday, the exhibit will also include a lecture hosted by David Leonardis, this Friday, October 21 at 7 pm, with an opening reception beginning at 5:30 pm.

Leonardis, Chicago gallery owner and curator of the Howard Finster Vision House in Georgia, was at first an admirer of Finster's. He actually took a job at a gallery to simply afford Finster prints when he started out in the art world, and then from there reached out to Finster to ultimately become a close friend and owner of his former home in which he's made into a museum. Leonardis will share personal stories about Finster as a man and an artist.

This is an event not to be missed. All attendees will receive a Finster print!

Come make a night of it in Long Grove.