Jason Folkerts

Poetic Brothers. 2023. Acrylic and Paint Pens on Canvas.

(Currently displayed in the Art Masters 2023 exhibit at the Minnehaha Country Club.)

Providential, destiny, the universe aligning, or flat out lucky – the 1957 meeting of John Lennon and Paul McCartney was one or all those moments. Geniuses of their craft, that being the making of extraordinary music as relevant today as it was then. Individually, each stood out to have extreme talent and a relentless work ethic. Combined, they became brothers to their musical vision, and we still live in the wake of their cultural revolution.

“For this art exhibit, I initially wanted to capture an iconic individual and visualize their impact. I decided on this path when the Beatle’s song, All You Need is Love, popped up on my playlist.” The underlying light blue acrylic foundation is done so that the two musicians meld into one unit. Both were shaped by the blues, so the blue color is fitting. The dots represent all the people they influenced over the decades. Through their musical poetry, millions across the globe are connected to one another. “I used six shades of blue for the dotting process. Each shade represents the Earth’s continents.”

Jason Folkerts is an accomplished artist in the fields of cartooning, comics and book illustration. For over thirty years he has tackled nearly every aspect of this artistic discipline including caricatures, LIVE art, editorial cartoons, scenic design, comic art, magazine illustration, sidewalk chalk art, gallery work, and art advertising. Jason’s work has earned awards and recognition as an editorial cartoonist, children’s book illustrator, and community leader. Jason holds a bachelor’s degree in communication, and a Master of Divinity. As a certified ministry trainer, he has been active in ministry, higher education, and civic work. He launched two of the largest youth ministries in the Midwest, helped establish the current Youth Ministry Major at the University of Sioux Falls, and was an adjunct professor from 2004-2010. For several years, Jason served as the Museum Director of The Kirby Science and Discovery Center and the Visual Arts Center at the Washington Pavilion in Sioux Falls.