Since 1971, Bumbershoot has played an intrugal role in defining the Northwest arts scene. A major component of the festival's influence over the years has been its annual Fine Arts Poster.

Western graduate and Seattle artist Warren Dykeman will have his art featured on the Fine Arts Poster at Bumbershoot this summer. Dykeman’s art will be alongside famous artists, such as Modest Mouse, The All-American Rejects, Katy Perry, De La Soul and others. Various kinds of local art, such as dance, literary arts, theatre and film, are also on display at the festival.

Bumbershoot is one of the largest music and urban arts festivals in the world; the festival gives praise to big-and small-name bands as well as local artists

“We seek quality, original art by any Seattle-area artist," Jennifer Orr, public relations manager for Bumbershoot, said. "We are proud to continue the legacy of supporting local artist and their outstanding work.”
 
Every year, a Seattle artist is chosen to feature his or her artwork on the Festival's Fine Arts Poster. This year, Dykeman’s piece “Fullness” was chosen. Dykeman grew up in Kennewick, Wash. he said his art reflects his graphic design interest and is guided by folk and pop art.  Dykeman lived just outside of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation under the shadow of America’s atomic ambitions. The Cold War era also influenced him during his youth and gave him inspiration as an artist, he said.

“Western played a big part as far as shaping my interest in art,” Dykeman said. “I initially came to Western with an interest in graphic design. Then I signed up for one of Ed Bereal’s painting and drawing class. Once I started doing it, I was hooked.”

Dykeman said he started painting after college as a release from his full-time job doing design work. He said painting was a way he could do whatever he wanted after spending all day being directed by executives and clients.

“I had a show in 2000 at the Roq La Rue gallery in Seattle, which is a pop surrealism/new contemporary art gallery," Dykeman said.  "It featured some very dark work; as I look back at those paintings they were large and horrific. Everything I did turned out bad, and I am surprised I kept working at it.”

In 2004, Dykeman said he was invited to show in the BLK/MRKT One Group art show in Los Angeles. He worked a different style and played around with sumi ink, which is an Asian traditional ink made from soot, water and glue. He said his work drastically improved by trying different styles and he has been showing and selling ever since, he said.

Dykeman’s painting “Atomic Autobody” was on display at the BLVD Gallery in Seattle last November when One Reel, a Bumbershoot partner, contacted Dykeman about submitting a few works for the Fine Arts Poster.

“I didn’t do the painting with the poster in mind,” Dykeman said. “I usually work on several paintings at once and ideas from one painting will flow to the next. My paintings influence my paintings.”

Dykeman said he has a small TV in his studio that plays documentaries while he paints. Images and words will often come up that he will put in his paintings, he said.  Dykeman also sketches images that interest him which he then scans on the computer.

“One week I will be looking at an artist like Henry Darger, and the next, I will be obsessed with information graphics and letterforms," he said.  "My inspiration changes every day."

Dykeman’s work draws upon elements of folk art, handmade sign lettering, digital art and collage. Dykeman said he uses a variety of materials and his work produces a rhythm between contour, color and mistake.

Dykeman’s art fits right into the qualifications applicants must have according to the Bumbershoot art application found on its official Web site, being work that is affordable, not yet sold and from an artist with a strong reputation as an "emerging artist."

Dawn Cerny, the 2006 featured artist, submitted her piece titled “The Artful Scheme of Happiness,” which was part of a series of silhouettes she cut originally for an installation piece.

“The past Fine Arts Poster alumni are a really bad ass crew,” Cerny said. “I feel like my reputation is enhanced greatly in Seattle after being featured on the poster.”

One Reel’s Programming Department, with input from community advisers, selects art to be displayed on the Fine Arts Poster and purchases the work with limited license to use it on the poster and a small number of T-shirts or other promotional items.

“It’s a really big deal and a great honor to be featured on the Fine Arts Poster, Cerny said. “ Any artist should be proud.”

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