In Delta Painting, Howard Finster uses images of vehicles and historic events, punctuated with brief commentary, to create a richly textured evangelical narrative. A centrally placed Delta airplane and a bus with an Atlanta destination refer to the artist’s many journeys to preach his messages. Zooming upward, the airplane is shepherded by a team of spritely angels. Satan is represented as a serpent, prominently placed between the bus and the plane, its body wrapped around the globe, “putting his squeese on the free world.” When Finster created Delta Painting, number “2000 and 831” of more than 46,200 works, the political climate was tense and the Cold War was still a reality. He was also concerned with social problems at home. Undoubtedly, it is Rosa Parks represented as the tiny African American woman at a front seat of the bus. The balloon from her mouth reads, “My seat on the front row. This is the way I like to go.”

Lee Kogan, "Delta Painting," in Stacy C. Hollander, American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 394-395.