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Artist Warren Dykeman at Davidson Galleries

With bold paintings, a local artist finds beauty in imperfection

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This article originally appeared in the July 2013 issue of Seattle magazine.

Warren Dykeman is looking for “the right kind of wrong.” A graphic designer by day, the Tri-Cities native and Seattle artist prizes an awkwardness in his mixed-media collages and paintings, which bring to mind graffiti, folk art, the oddly shaped humans of New Yorker cartoonist Saul Steinberg and blobby landscapes by 1960s poster artist Peter Max. “I’m interested in contour and rhythm within the composition,” Dykeman says. “I usually make one object, and then the next has to fit with the first, and the next has to fit with the two and so on.” His new show, I Might Exaggerate, features his signature elements: a bold palette, mysterious words and cartoonish figures in profile—many of which, Dykeman points out, have one leg shorter than the other. Why? “For some reason, this just looks better.” 7/5–7/27. (Opening reception 7/11, 6–9 p.m.) Times vary. Free. Davidson Galleries, 313 Occidental Ave. S; 206.624.7684; davidsongalleries.com

 

SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction

SENSORIUM Takes on Our Screen Addiction

Dance, drag, and immersive art collide in an eight-week exploration of our phone-obsessed lives, with a few surprises along the way. 

What do drag queens, smartphone addiction, art installations, and an old luggage shop have in common?  According to longtime Seattle choreographer Alana O’Farrell Rogers, a lot.  “There’s no dead time anymore,” says Rogers, explaining how the proliferation of smartphones fills the empty spaces that once served as time for rest or connection. Where we snuggled…

Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power

Salt-N-Pepa on Breaking Barriers and Staying Power

Ahead of their performance at Seattle’s Museum of Pop Culture gala, the hip-hop pioneers talk about creative ownership, connecting with new generations, and the songs that still resonate.

The Museum of Pop Culture (MOPOP) will host its annual ICONS of Pop Culture Gala in Seattle on October 22, honoring five artists and institutions whose work has helped shape entertainment and culture.  This year’s honorees are martial arts and film legend Bruce Lee, fashion designer Jeremy Scott, the video game franchise Halo, hip-hop pioneers…

Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan

Studio Sessions: Christopher Paul Jordan

Drawing on childhood memories, neighborhood history, and salvaged materials, Christopher Paul Jordan’s latest show at Cornish’s Behnke Family Gallery explores how the past stays with us.

Start in the middle. It’s good advice for telling a story, and a way into Christopher Paul Jordan’s paintings. By the time you encounter them, their materials have already been something else, and who knows what they might move on to become. The Tacoma interdisciplinary artist works with salvaged objects, including screens, picture frames, canvas,…

Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look 

Rearview Mirror: Wedding Bells, A Furniture Launch, and the Symphony’s New Look 

Things I did, saw, ate, learned, or read in the past week (or so).

WEDDING BELLS I’ve been a bit absent from this column lately, but I think I have a pretty good excuse: I got married! It’s already been three weeks since my September 19 wedding, but I’m still reflecting on the magic of the day. My fiancé, well husband now (I can’t get used to saying it!),…