West Seattle Cellars October Artist: Mike Russell

I have lived in Seattle for over 15 years, but my roots go back to the suburbs of Cleveland, Ohio, where I first got interested in photography. After a particularly bad ice storm, I took my old “point and shoot” camera out to a local play field close to my childhood home. It was a cold, brilliantly sunny day, everything was glistening. I spent hours in the cold trying to capture the beauty of the “shiny trees.” Today I may have different gear, but I still have that same drive to find just the right angle, the right perspective…to find just the right lines.

Repeating shapes and strong contours evoke a sense of permanence. Rusting metal, fading paint, and broken glass captured in the strength of the midday sun reveal the texture and beauty of decline. “Power and Decay” showcases photos taken during my recent trips to Atlanta and around northwestern Arizona.

To see more of Mike’s photos visit his blog: http://mikerussellfoto.com

The theme for our regular weekly wine tasting this Art Walk Thursday was a special request by our artist. Mike asked if we could pour Italian wines on the night we debut his photos and we were happy to oblige! So come and meet Mike, enjoy his photography, and enjoy some fantastic wines from Italy.