Historic Skirvin Hilton Hotel Names Nationally Acclaimed Painter and Illustrator as New Artist in Residence
Mike Wimmer Appointed as 2016-2017 Artist in Residence at Oklahoma City’s #1 Hotel
OKLAHOMA CITY -- The Skirvin Hilton Hotel is pleased to announce Mike Wimmer as its fifth artist-in-residence. Wimmer, an accomplished illustrator and painter from Oklahoma, will work from the historic hotel's studio space for one year to showcase his artistic talents.
Born and raised in Muskogee, Okla., Wimmer earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Oklahoma in 1983 and a Master of Fine Arts degree from the Hartford University in Hartford, Conn. in 2009, where his emphasis was illustration.
Wimmer's artistic work has its own acclaim. From the cover art for Disney's Lion King Soundtrack and telephone book covers, to full-color, full-page advertisements for some of America's largest corporations including RJR Nabisco, Procter and Gamble's Mr. Clean, Huggies Diapers and packaging for Celestial Seasons tea box covers, his work can be seen everywhere. He is best known for his children's illustrations, which grace the covers of more than 200 books and fill the pages of almost a dozen more. Wimmer has over 40 paintings depicting historic subjects in the Oklahoma State Capitol.
Wimmer currently serves as the Distinguished Visiting Artist and Gallery Director for the Oklahoma City University School of Visual Arts, where he develops young minds using his life goal and personal motto – "Learn it, live it, teach it." He serves on the board of the Oklahoma Art in Public Spaces Oversight Committee and the National Center for Children's Illustrated Literature Museum in Abilene, Texas among others.
The Skirvin's selection committee, consisting of leaders in the local art community, the Paseo Art Association and The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, selected Wimmer from a distinguished pool of artists.
"We are thrilled to welcome Mike as our new artist-in-residence," said Gerald Rappaport, general manager of The Skirvin Hilton Hotel. "From abstract mosaics, violin making, poetry and encaustics to paintings and illustrations, it's exciting to see our program continue to bring such creative and ambitious talent to the Skirvin and downtown Oklahoma City. I am confident our hotel guests will enjoy this unique and personal artist-in-residence experience."
The Skirvin Hilton Hotel is majority-owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Skirvin Partners in Development.
For more information about The Skirvin Hilton Hotel, call +1 405 272 3040 or visit www.skirvinhilton.com.
About The Skirvin Hilton Hotel
The Skirvin Hilton Hotel originally opened in 1911 and has been synonymous with elegance and innovation for the past five generations, hosting oil barons, dignitaries, movie stars, political leaders and presidents ever since. Guests from around the globe have traveled through the downtown Skirvin Hilton to experience its unique sophistication and timelessness. In 2007, Skirvin Partners in Development, Marcus Hotels & Resorts and Hilton partnered on renovating the hotel to its original glory. The reopening event was designated as an official Oklahoma Centennial event and since the renovation, the hotel has earned AAA Four Diamond rating every year and received the Mayor's Development Award for best downtown development. The Skirvin Hilton Hotel is owned and operated by Marcus Hotels & Resorts, in partnership with Skirvin Partners in Development.
The hotel features 225 luxuriously appointed guest rooms, including 20 one-bedroom suites, one presidential suite and 18,500 square feet of premiere meeting and pre-function space. It is home to the upscale Park Avenue Grill restaurant and Red Piano lounge.
The Skirvin was recognized as one of the Best Hotels in the USA by U.S. News & World Report, finishing as the #1 Hotel in Oklahoma City and the State of Oklahoma. The hotel remains on the National Register of Historic Places.
The Skirvin Hilton Hotel is located at One Park Avenue in Oklahoma City. For more information, please visit www.skirvinhilton.com and follow the company on Facebook (www.facebook.com/TheSkirvinHilton ) and Twitter (@SkirvinHiltonOK).
About Marcus Hotels & Resorts
With the addition of Kimpton Hotel Monaco Pittsburgh, Marcus Hotels & Resorts owns and/or manages 19 hotels, resorts and other properties in the U.S. The company's distinctive portfolio includes city-center meeting hotels, upscale resorts, historic properties, and premium branded and independent first-class hotels. Marcus Hotels & Resorts is an approved operator for all major lodging brands. A leader in the hospitality industry since 1962, Marcus Hotels & Resorts creates asset value for hotel owners through its expertise in management, development and product repositioning. This includes premier food and beverage brands such as Mason Street Grill, ChopHouse, Miller Time® Pub & Grill and SafeHouse® Restaurants. For more information, please visit: http://media.marcushotels.com and follow the company on Facebook and Twitter (@MarcusHotels).
About The Marcus Corporation
Headquartered in Milwaukee, The Marcus Corporation is a leader in the lodging and entertainment industries, with significant company-owned real estate assets. In addition to its lodging division, its theatre division, Marcus Theatres®, is the fourth largest theatre circuit in the U.S. and currently owns or operates 1,064 screens at 85 locations in 17 states under the Marcus Theatres, Movie Tavern® by Marcus and BistroPlex® brands. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.marcuscorp.com.
Susan Riley
Skirvin Hilton
(405) 702-8505
Marcus Hotels
