ArtSEA: Seattle Aquarium’s Ocean Pavilion swims with Native art

Another unexpected treat is returning: Bumbermania! Live and extremely low-budget, these costumed ring matches, courtesy of Grit City Wrestling, were hilarious last year. “Bill Gates” wrangling with Microsoft’s “Clippy” — a monster of his own making — is an image that is now forever associated with Bumbershoot for me. 

Also in the playful “Recess District” (behind MoPOP), watch for roller skating, double Dutch, a skateboard competition and Seattle’s own Massive Monkees — the long-standing crew who will show you what real break-dancing looks like. Let’s hope Raygun is watching too.

Also in the lineup is the Fashion District, which proved popular last year, with lots of designers, Indigenous fashion from Vancouver, B.C., runway shows and a wig farm (the last like a “U-pick” for hairstyles). A new Comedy Dome has been added, curated by local comic Dan Hurwitz, as well as an Animation District, brimming with indie films made from scratch. 

The visual arts are once again emphasized, with a great big Bumbershoot Contemporary exhibit, curated by Ben Beres and Ellen Ito, in the Fisher Pavilion. Showing work from bonsai to AI, as well as painting, sculpture and photography, the 35 featured artists include Raven Skyriver, Io Palmer, Preston Wadley, Leah Nguyen, Jeffry Mitchell and Anna Mlasowsky. 

Meanwhile, over at the Pacific Science Center plaza — redubbed the Century 21 District — a Sculpture Parking Lot features installations by Clyde Peterson & Nonamey, Sylwia Tur, Margie Livingston and Seattle Design Nerds, among other artists. 

And as always, there is a ton of music at Bumbershoot too. To name just a few bands in the diverse mix: headliners Pavement, Cypress Hill and James Blake; local faves like ParisAlexa, Chastity Belt, Kim Gordon, Tres Leches and Stephanie Anne Johnson; plus Helado Negro, Ted Leo & the Pharmacists, Courtney Barnett and so many more. Not to mention: a warm and sunny forecast!