Govinda Gallery

The Fish of the Sea, 1990, 14″x21″, enamel paint on board, #16,000 985, by Howard Finster. Copyright © Govinda Gallery. All Rights Reserved.

Today, June 14th, is Flag Day.

I was invited to the 101st Congressional Club First Lady’s Luncheon on May 15th, at the Washington Hilton Ballroom. The luncheon was hosted this year by Mrs. Billie Gingrey, Spouse of Congressman Phil Gingrey of Georgia. The great American folk artist Howard Finster (1916 – 2001) lived and worked in Summerville, Georgia where he built his inspired Paradise Gardens. Finster had several exhibitions at Govinda Gallery, including his remarkable series of American Flag paintings from May 8 – July 4, 1992. Congressman Gingrey’s office wanted to include a print of one of Howard Finster’s American Flag paintings as a gift for the First Lady and for everyone attending the luncheon. Govinda Gallery was delighted to participate and made arrangements for a print of The Fish of the Sea to be made, the painting suggested by Congressman Gingrey’s office.

Govinda Gallery published a catalogue of Howard Finster’s American Flag paintings for the Govinda exhibition in 1992. Govinda also commissioned two limited edition signed silk screen prints of Finster’s Flag paintings, More Than A Piece of Cloth and Oh Say Can You See. A number of catalogues and limited edition silkscreen prints are available through Govinda Gallery.

The cover of Howard Finster’s American Flag Paintings catalogue (Govinda Gallery, 1992) featuring the painting More Than A Piece of Cloth, and the title page signed by Howard Finster.