In Our Gallery: Jessie Summa Russo

Viscon Cellars welcomes back local artist Jessie Summa Russo this month with all new works for an exhibition on display from October through December 2024.

Preview the show online.

Join the artist for the opening during West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday, October 10 from 6-9pm. Snacks and free wine tastings will be provided!

There will also be a closing reception during West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday, December 12th, so save the date.

The pieces in this show are from two collections:

Cosmic Grids, 2022

“In the quantum world, to see something you must disturb it.  In the deep quantum world, to see something you must create it.” — Nobel-winning Physicist Frank Wilczek

At its most basic level, our universe exists as a “vibrant energy field” Wilczek calls The Grid. In these mixed media paintings, each square represents a life—some bright, some indistinct, some full of contrast, and some just a brief and incomplete sliver—that belongs to and in the blue-black void of space equally.

Morphetica, 2022-24

These abstract expressionist paintings are inspired by recurring dreamscapes and hypnopompic hallucinations—vivid sensory experiences that occur as a person is waking up from sleep—that I have experienced for as long as I can remember.

“During the pandemic, I began experimenting with the unique topography of oil and cold wax medium; it was love at first scrape,” says Russo. After building up a collage background layer, she paints and etches until the composition evokes a wall plastered with worn posters and ghost graffiti.

Russo was raised by two artists in Somerville, Massachusetts. She studied printmaking and painting at Sarah Lawrence College in New York, and illustration at Massachusetts College of Art & Design. Based in West Seattle since 1997, she founded the local venue Skylark Café & Club in 2006 and ran it until 2013. She is currently the Gallery Director at Gallery 110 in downtown Seattle—stop by and say hello the next time you’re in Pioneer Square!

Follow her on Instagram or check out her website here.

Cosmic Grid Segment 98, 14” x 14”, oil and paper on cradled wood

Dream City, 10” x 10”, oil on canvas

Cave Waterfall, 10” x 10”, oil and paper on canvas

Underwater Lava II, 12” x 10”, oil and paper on upcycled wood

2013 Long Road Red

2013 Long Road Red
Cabernet Sauvignon
Horse Heaven Hills
14.0% Alc. by Vol.

Long Road Red is the signature Cabernet Sauvignon in our line-up. The name is derived from our journey and commitment to make a wine that represents the beauty and complexity of this majestic old world grape. Washington State Cabernet Sauvignon is like no other. The Long Road is well traveled.

The 2013 Long Road Red is 98% Cabernet Sauvignon and 2% Cabernet Franc from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Horse Heaven Hills AVA. This wine was aged in 100% once used French oak barrels for 36 months, creating a soft, well-balanced, fruit forward wine.

The dark color of this wine shows depth and is a hint of the rich flavors you will experience.
Smells of ripe black cherry and warm plums compliment tastes of freshly picked blackberries with a savory subtle warm vanilla finish that lingers.

2013 UNFORESEEN Cabernet Franc

2012 UNFORESEEN
Cabernet Franc
Yakima Valley
13.2% Alc. by Vol.

Unforeseen is a beautiful surprise at our winery. Cabernet Franc is typically used as a blending wine. However this Cab Franc would not stand for second billing. While creating the wines for our 2012 release, this wine continued to impress on its own. Not one to deviate from the plan, I kept trying to blend out this wine into other wines in our lineup. This Cab Franc would have nothing to do with it, kept shining on its own. I finally gave in and let it stand on its own, and stand it has.  

The 2012 Unforeseen is 98% Cabernet Franc and 2% Cabernet Sauvignon. Aged for 30 months in 100% French oak, once filled, this wine earned a home in our wine offering.

The dark red ruby color invites you to lift the glass and swirl and smell. The smell is warm and inviting, hints of spice with bright red raspberries. Tastes of bing cherries and cola, this wine finishes with a slight hint of warm toast. 

2013 Heart Box Red Merlot

2013 Heart Box Red
Merlot
Yakima Valley AVA
13.5% Alc

Heart Box Red will capture your heart. We named this wine after our oldest daughter’s practice of catching and locking our kisses in her “heart box” so she could take the kisses out whenever she needed one. She designed this label when she was 3 years old, it has been an icon of this wine ever since. Like us, you will find yourself wishing for one more pour of this delightful wine. 

The 2013 Heart Box Red Merlot is from Alder Ridge Vineyard in the Yakima Valley. This wine was aged for 24 months in 50% American Oak barrels and 50% French Oak barrels then blended. The deep red color glistens on your glass as you swirl, leading to smells of ripe berries and a hint of vanilla. Tastes of warm black cherries are complimented with subtle mocha flavors releasing soft tannins and finishing with a velvety light toast.

2011 Long Road Red Cabernet Sauvignon wins Gold at Seattle Wine Awards

GOLD - Seattle Wine Awards

"On April 19th & 20th twenty four wine professionals gathered at the Seattle Waterfront Marriott Hotel to serve on the Tasting Panel and review nearly 1250 wines for the 2015 Seattle / Oregon / Idaho Wine Awards. This Tasting Panel was comprised of Master Sommeliers, Wine Directors, Wine Buyers, Wine Makers, Sommeliers and Masters of Wine."

Read the full list of winners.