Mike's adventures in art: WNDR, Make Believe Film Festival, and animation

If you're looking for tips on how to experience art in the Seattle area, you're in the right place. In this weekly post, KUOW arts reporter Mike Davis has suggestions for what to do around Seattle over the weekend so you can have your own adventures in arts and culture.

Visual art

The WNDR Museum, had its grand opening and this is my pick of the week. If you are looking for an actual adventure in art, this is the place to be. Walking into the museum, you'll find yourself in a mirrored hallway with an interactive LCD-screen floor. As you take steps, the screen beneath your feet responds with colors and patterns that reflect on the mirrors that cover the surrounding walls and ceiling. The colors and patterns cast reflections and the mirrors create the illusion that the hallway is endless. This psychedelic portal is the perfect gateway into museum to prepare audiences for what they will experience.

All of the exhibits are immersive in some way. I don’t want to spoil everything, but I will highlight a few to provide an example of what this new gallery has to offer. Because I have been involved in the conversation of art's relationship with AI, I think it’s fitting to talk about the guest-curated AI gallery. In this space, museum guests type a text description of the art they want to see — this can be anything. For example, you could say, "Puppies in the style of van Gogh" and the seven surrounding screens will be filled with AI generated images based on the text. And until someone else enters new text, these images will be on display for fellow guests to view.

Leigh Sachwitz created an exhibit — based on one of her memories — that allows audiences to experience her memory, thus creating a new, shared memory. That explanation may be a little complicated, but the exhibit is a house, with transparent walls, tables, and fresh fruit inside. Once seated, you pull the cord to a single light bulb that dangles into the middle of the room. Then it happens. I don’t want to give it away, but I can say that I now share a common memory with Sachwitz.

The WNDR Museum is filled with unique, immersive, exhibits that allow viewers to interact with installments, and at times, create their own art. They even have an exhibit that will change the way you experience taste.

WNDR Museum, 904 Alaskan Wy, Seattle, WA 98104

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKA, is showing at MoPOP. This is a good pick for those who have children, or for adults like me who still enjoy animation. LAIKA has produced a run of stop-motion movies that have made major advancements in the industry. Their films include Coraline, ParaNorman, Box Trolls, Kubo and the Two Strings, and Missing Link.

In the exhibits, you will learn how LAIKA used groundbreaking techniques, like the 3D printing used for facial animation in Coraline. Viewers also get up-close looks at the puppets, set pieces, and props in these movies. There are also immersive displays like cameras that put viewers into cartoons or character interactives that let viewers animate and film puppets.

The exhibit includes a sneak peak into "Wildwood," the upcoming film from LAIKA. With a nice blend of readers, displays, and touchable elements, this exhibit is fun for all ages. And, it’s inside of MoPOP, so there are plenty of additional exhibits to enjoy during your trip.

Hidden Worlds: The Films of LAIKI, at MoPOP March 18 – Summer 2024

Film

Make Believe Seattle Film Festival, on Capitol Hill is in its first year and is off to a great start. I saw an authorized fan film, "Friday the 13th Vengeance 2: Bloodlines," on the unofficial opening night and it was great. I love a slasher, and this film delivered. The showing concluded with a conversation with film director Jason Brooks, who also played Jason Voorhees in the film.

The festival itself is described as a “genre festival,” with the films falling into the categories of horror and fantasy, and they are intentionally trying to connect and tell stories representing queer and BIPOC communities. You can learn more about the festival and hear from the creative director and filmmakers in this Soundside segment.

There are plenty of films showing all weekend at theaters located on capitol hill.

Make Believe Seattle Film Festival, capitol hill March 22-26