Jerry Turner's Art Turns Heads at The Rellik

The new art show at has people talking — and giggling. is a well-respected plein air artist and instructor in Benicia, but his newest exhibition has quite a different flavor. The show is sponsored by as part of its satellite gallery project. 

Turner's friend and former art student  was amused that many of Turner's paintings feature male genitalia as well as eyeballs, aliens and other odd subjects. 

A Turner painting called Future Man Assembly Directions resembles a butcher's beef chart with bullet points like Trucker's Bone, Belly-fat Drain, Standard Foot, Lego Type Segmented Adjustable Vertebrae, Coffee Cup Hand, Snap-on Nose- 100 sizes, Puffy Lip Replacement and Screw in Replaceable Eyeballs- 12 colors.

“It's very courageous,” said Arts Benicia Director Larnie Fox. “He's very accomplished, obviously. Art is much more interesting when people are pushing boundaries — and Jerry is pushing his boundaries very well, and ours as well.”

Turner describes his artistic style as Magic Surrealism. He said he plans to start the Benicia School of Weirdness and Magic. “The only requirements are that you commit yourself to it and don't tell anyone that you're a member. Even members won't know that they are members. It's a secret society.”

Turner's traditional plein air paintings can be seen at the and , both on First Street. His show at The Rellik will be there for the next few months, so you may find yourself giggling at the artwork while you sip your martini.