DRAWING ATTENTION
OKC artist Jerry Bennett takes pop culture art downtown for Skirvin residency
In Jerry Bennett's world, aliens from “War of the Worlds” might land in downtown Oklahoma City, “Star Wars” hero Admiral Ackbar might explore a sideline as a Ghostbuster, and the Iron Giant might be tapped to help take down “Transformers” baddie Megatron.
These days, the Oklahoma City artist's career is a sort of mashup between the often underground Oklahoma comic art scene and the iconic landmark the Skirvin Hilton Hotel, where he is the 2018-19 artist in residence.
“I wouldn't have thought that this kind of art would be placed in this setting. In the last few years as I've been more involved in the arts community here around the city and especially in the Paseo, they've really accepted comic art as a much more elevated medium of art,” he said.
“I told them my vision of what I wanted to do with this space, and they were excited about it. I'm just over the moon excited that people have taken to comic art in this capacity now.”
Making a SPACE
Formally known as the Skirvin Paseo Artist Creativity Exposition, or SPACE, the residency is a partnership between the historic downtown hotel and the Paseo Arts Association.
"As a pop culture artist, Jerry has the ability to show Oklahoma City the relevancy of the comic book medium in contemporary art,” Paseo Arts Association Executive Director Amanda Bleakley said in an email. "It's so exciting to be involved with the Skirvin to show their guests and Oklahoma the caliber of artists we have in our city.”
Bennett is the seventh artist to take part in the yearlong residency program — which, along with a ground-level studio space inside the hotel, includes a monthly stipend, as well as complimentary meals and parking.
Pop culture inspiration
Bennett, 48, said he has been drawing and drawing inspiration from comic books his whole life, starting when he was child poring over his “Star Wars” comics. The 1989 Del City High School graduate attended art school at the University of Science and Arts in Chickasha.
As a freelance artist, he has worked with DreamWorks, Stan Lee, Scholastic Children's Books and Upper Deck (Marvel). He has earned a local following for his original comics and pen-and-ink artwork, as well as for his frequent submissions to Okie Comics Magazine.
“I'm just thankful for this opportunity to show anyone comic art and to show the comic art community that we have in
Oklahoma,” Bennett said.
Shared passion
Bennett said he never considered applying for the Skirvin residency until Literati Press Bookshop owner Charles Martin urged him to take the chance. Now, Martin and Bennett are collaborating on an original comic tentatively titled “Glamorella's Daughter,” about a 10-yearold girl on the autism spectrum and her relationship with her superhero mother.
The original comic will be part of a summer show at the Skirvin designed to give people a behind-thescenes look at how comic books are created.
Since he started his residency in the fall, Bennett said an array of people have come in and created comic art alongside him,
from Cirque du Soleil performers to schoolchildren on field trips. He encourages people to share their drawings on social media and tag him @comicartscene.
“This kind of art is probably one of the more accessible art forms,” he said.