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The Psychedelic Art of 1970s Christian Hippie Comics
Sep 05, 2026 · The 418 Project
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The Psychedelic Art of 1970s Christian Hippie Comics
Religion and myth scholar Amy Slonaker will present an illustrated lecture on comic books from the 1970s designed by Christian Evangelica...
Session Date & Time
Sep 05 2026 (Saturday)
7:30 PM - 9:30 PM
Location
The 418 Project
In the: Small Theater
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About This Event
The Psychedelic Art of 1970s Christian Hippie Comics
Religion and myth scholar Amy Slonaker will present an illustrated lecture on comic books from the 1970s designed by Christian Evangelicals to attract hippies to the Christian faith – including local Santa Cruz artist Jim Phillips of the famed “Screaming Hand” logo! These “Christian Hippie Comics” present a psychedelicized version of Christianity where Aquarian ideas of free love and spiritual enlightenment merge with the Christian story of salvation through the love of Jesus. This lecture uses visual examples to explore the artwork of Christian Hippie Comics with their eye-popping array of counterculture iconography grafted onto Biblical narratives. The sources explored in this lecture include, among others, the work of Christian illustrator Al Hartley of Spire Christian Comics; cartoon art from the hippie-oriented Hollywood Free Paper; and issues of the comic book series The Crusaders by Jack Chick and Fred Carter (co-creators of many “Chick Tracts”). This lecture presents not only an historical overview of the genre of Christian Hippie Comics but also engages contemporary academic theories about religion and comics like those developed by religion professor Jeffrey Kripal in his book Mutants and Mystics (2003). These comic book theories present a way to understand Christian Hippie Comics as more than throw-away articles of pop culture and instead as visual manifestations of transcendent mystical truths.
Bio: Amy Slonaker is a PhD candidate at Pacifica Graduate Institute in Santa Barbara, CA, pursuing a degree in Mythological Studies with an emphasis in depth psychology. After a career in law, she now enjoys combining her myth scholarship with her undergraduate degree in Religious Studies from UC Santa Barbara to explore the intersection of religion and myth in both high and low art.
Doors open at 7 PM, lecture at 7:30 PM at The 418 Project, 155 South River Street, downtown Santa Cruz at the Dragons Gate.
$10 in advance, $15 at the door.
Visiting The 418 Project: What to Expect
House guidelines to ensure a welcoming, inclusive space for everyone
We are committed to a safe, welcoming environment where everyone is treated with cultural and personal respect across all backgrounds and identities. We hold the highest standards for consent—in movement, touch, and conversation. Always check in first, honor boundaries, and ensure that consent is clear, voluntary, and ongoing.
As a community-run non-profit collective with a small staff, we cannot clean everything after every event. Please help us care for the space by picking up after yourself, placing recycling and compost in the bins provided, and treating every room with kindness so it remains welcoming for the next gathering.
We have a filtered water bottle refill station on-site, so feel free to bring a refillable bottle. All restrooms are all-gender, ADA-accessible, and located conveniently on the ground floor.
To ensure everyone can breathe and move comfortably—especially community members with chemical sensitivities and asthma—The 418 Project is a low-fragrance space. Please refrain from applying perfumes, scented colognes, or strongly scented lotions before attending.
As an artist-driven non-profit collective, we believe movement and art should be accessible to all regardless of financial circumstances. Many events feature sliding scale tickets, and we offer work-trade opportunities for community members who wish to volunteer in exchange for admission.
Plan Your Visit
Venue & Accessibility
The 418 Project is located in downtown Santa Cruz. We are dedicated to creating an inclusive, accessible, and welcoming space for all dancers, artists, and community members.
Address: 155 S. River St., Santa Cruz, CA 95060
Accessibility: Ground floor entrances & all-gender accessible restrooms
Parking: On-street parking & nearby River Street public garage
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