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Mike Bennett (artist)

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Mike Bennett
NationalityAmerican
Alma materShippensburg University of Pennsylvania
Known forVisual art
Notable workWonderwood
Websitemikebennettart.com

Mike Bennett is an American visual artist based in Portland, Oregon. He studied art education and has worked as a preschool teacher.[1]

Early life and education

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Originally from Massachusetts, Bennett was raised in central Pennsylvania. In 2012, he studied animation, art education, computer design, and illustration at Shippensburg University of Pennsylvania.[2]

Career

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Slow down signs by Mike Bennett

Bennett installed large plywood cartoon characters in 2019.[2][3][4][5] In 2020, he partnered with Miller Paint to offer Earth Day kits.[6] He also hosted a collection called Crypto Zoo outside his house in 2020.[7] Bennett's A to Zoo[8][9] and A, B, Sea projects were exhibited at Director Park. Bioluminescent Beasts was displayed at Pioneer Place in 2022 as part of the Portland Winter Light Festival.[10] Dinolandia was exhibited in downtown Portland in 2022.[11][12][13]

In 2023, Bennett hid fifty artworks for people to find as part of a Zelda-themed scavenger hunt.[14] He also hosted a moving sale and released Halloween-themed yard art in 2023.[15][16] Painted Pines was exhibited at the Lloyd Center in early 2024.[17][18] The Cool Creature Crawl was held at the Oregon Zoo in 2024.[19][20] Bennet also hosted the seasonal pop-up shop Snow Day Village at Director Park in 2024. The shop debuted stuffed animals based on his visual work.[21][22]

Bennet contributed a plywood work to Robot Alley. He also designed MidCity SmashedBurger's mascot, who appears in the company's logo. He opened Wonderwood in 2022.[23][24][25] In 2022, Bennett was recognized as a distinguished alumni of his high school for his work in the visual arts.[26]

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2021-04-19). "Portland artist Mike Bennett is making his yard into a 'magical' aquarium alphabet this spring". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2021-10-16. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  2. ^ a b Turnquist, Kristi (2019-06-17). "Pokémon in the park? Portland man's cartoon cutouts pop up all over city". The Oregonian. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  3. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2019-06-10). "Mike Bennett turns Portland into land of cartoon giants". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  4. ^ "Cartoon scavenger hunts brighten Portland". BBC News. 2019-05-30. Archived from the original on 2022-11-27. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  5. ^ "Portland-based artist creates scavenger hunt, hides memes and cartoons across city". KGW. 2019-05-20. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  6. ^ "Paint like Portland's Mike Bennett with these $20 Earth Day kits". KGW. 2020-04-21. Archived from the original on 2023-03-21. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  7. ^ "Halloween Might Be Canceled This Year. Don't Tell That to Mike Bennett". Willamette Week. 2020-09-23. Archived from the original on 2022-07-02. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  8. ^ Nakamura, Beth (2020-05-15). "Mike Bennett's outdoor art installation 'A to Zoo' showcases alphabet of animals in Alberta neighborhood, inspires musical collaboration with composer Joe Kye". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-06-03. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  9. ^ Mahoney, Teresa (2020-04-25). "Drive-by 'zoo' pops up in Portland's Alberta neighborhood". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-11-11. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  10. ^ Stein, Rosemarie (2022-01-31). "Portland's self-guided Winter Light Festival glows for 9 nights". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2022-07-08. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  11. ^ "Dinolandia, an Immersive Museum of Mike Bennett Art, Will Open Downtown This Spring". Willamette Week. Archived from the original on 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  12. ^ "Portland artist Mike Bennett loves dinosaurs. He thinks you'll love them too after visiting his pop-up museum, Dinolandia". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2022-07-14. Retrieved 2022-07-22.
  13. ^ "Dinolandia brings Jurassic thrills to downtown Portland". Oregon Public Broadcasting. Archived from the original on 2023-12-05. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  14. ^ "Mike Bennett to hide Zelda-themed art around Portland Saturday". KOIN. May 19, 2023. Archived from the original on December 9, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  15. ^ "Paint with Mike Bennett at his 'MEGA' moving sale this weekend". KOIN. August 30, 2023.
  16. ^ "Mike Bennett releases new series of Halloween decorations". KOIN. October 4, 2023. Archived from the original on December 2, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  17. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2023-09-07). "Lloyd Center's top floor transforms to Mike Bennett's 'Painted Pines' in early 2024". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on 2023-10-26. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  18. ^ "Lloyd Center's top floor transforms to Mike Bennett's Painted Pines in early 2024". KOIN. September 6, 2023. Archived from the original on February 17, 2024. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  19. ^ Vondersmith, Jason (2024-03-21). "Try to find Mike Bennett's animals during 'Cool Creature Crawl' at Oregon Zoo". PortlandTribune.com. Archived from the original on 2024-03-29. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  20. ^ "'Cool Creature Crawl' debuts at zoo". KATU. 2024-03-20. Archived from the original on 2024-03-21. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  21. ^ "Mike Bennett to debut line of stuffed animals for the holidays". KOIN. 2024-11-14. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  22. ^ Haynes, Dana (2024-11-14). "Holidays popping up in downtown Portland". Portland Tribune. Retrieved 2024-11-15.
  23. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2022-08-26). "Portland artist Mike Bennett to open immersive adventure space and coffee shop in St. Johns". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-03-29. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  24. ^ Acker, Lizzy (2022-10-20). "Mike Bennett's Wonderwood Springs brings a whimsical world to Portland". The Oregonian. Archived from the original on 2023-10-08. Retrieved 2024-11-10.
  25. ^ "Portland's Mike Bennett opens new medieval cafe, immersive art exhibit". KOIN. October 18, 2022. Archived from the original on December 10, 2023. Retrieved November 10, 2024.
  26. ^ Moore, Marcia (October 4, 2022). "Selinsgrove High School Alumni Banquet scheduled for Nov. 5". The Daily Item. Archived from the original on November 6, 2022. Retrieved November 6, 2022.
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