Friday, July 7th marks a new tradition on Mercer Island: the First Thursday Art Walk will now be on the First Friday of the month! After a long work week, Friday evenings are the perfect time to relax and unwind, and there’s no better way to relax than to go for an evening stroll and visit Mercer Island’s unique art spots, all within walking distance of each other. It’s perfect for a Friday date night out on the town! Mercer Sources, Clarke + Clarke Art + Artifacts, and SZ Gallery will be participating. First Friday Art Walk begins at 5PM.
For the initial First Friday Art Walk, SZ Gallery will feature State Senator Lisa Wellman’s photography exhibit, DETRITUS.
Lisa’s photography is both stark, striking, and visually captivating – she finds ways to see the beauty in everyday objects and places, focusing on the idea of uncovering what’s hidden in plain sight. DETRITUS is a show that focuses on the concept of disintegration, decay, and destruction, the natural path that all creation takes. In an interview with Lisa, she described her inspiration behind this theme: “But somewhere along that path we stop ‘seeing.’ Whether it’s people, nature itself, or what remains of our interaction with our environment, I find beauty in what is often overlooked.”
Take one look at Lisa’s portfolio, and you’ll find images with deep contrast, intriguing shapes, and vibrant life. Pieces from her Steel Portfolio resemble abstract art paintings that are simultaneously familiar yet very new to the eye. Lisa finds these images in places that are generally hidden from the public and deemed as places of lesser value, such as junkyards. “The patterns, colors, and textures jumped out at me,” Lisa shared. She seeks places where everyday objects become abandoned, letting her mind’s eye lead the way while seeking new subjects for her photography. This allows her to find other ways of seeing a world saturated with commercialized ideas of beauty.
As a busy State Senator for Washington, Lisa’s photography provides her with an outlet for creative expression while also inspiring her career. “Such an important part of the job is listening, looking beyond your own world construct and trying to understand and appreciate someone else’s,” Lisa explained. “My creative process with photography strengthened those skills.”
Lisa’s passion for photography helps her capture the beauty she finds all around her – she first picked up a camera after the passing of her husband, when she wanted to find a way to reset her brain and exercise her creative side. Her artistic angle makes her an image maker in addition to a photographer; her photographs go far beyond the genre, capturing images that her audience can interact with in a new way. She hopes that, by sharing these images through her DETRITUS exhibit, she may inspire others to reconsider where beauty truly lies.
Check out Lisa’s exhibit at the First Friday Art Walk on July 7th at SZ Gallery, located at 2441 76th Ave SE, Suite 160, Mercer Island, WA 98040. Her pieces are available for purchase on our website.
Written by Julia Hess