2012-09-25 11:22:04 - On the occasion of the 30th anniversary of Tom Waits' 'Swordfishtrombones' , one of the most influential music albums of all time Michael A. Russ shows artworks from his legendary cover shoot with Tom Waits' and the Hollywood actors Lee Kolima and Angelo Rossitto.

Tom Waits hired Michael Russ, after he had seen his exhibition, "Prussian Blue" in L.A. In the early 1980's Michael displayed in Los Angeles avant-guardistic positions in photography. With the cover Michael Russ should give Tom Waits' new musical input a fresh look.
Tom Waits and Michael Russ casted numerous actors for the cover shoot. Finally, he chose Lee Kolima, a Hollywood actor of gigantic stature and the diminutive Angelo Rossitto, who was one of the busiest actors in Hollywood and has appeared in over 80 films. With the two actors alongside Tom Waits, Michael A. Russ created the legendary photo shoot for the cover of the groundbreaking music album 'Swordfishtrombones' in 1983.

Michael was also the associate director and choreographer

on the MTV music video for the song 'In the Neighbourhood' from that album. The video grew out of the album cover; it was centered around Lee Kolima and Angelo Rossitto. The cinematographer of the video was the famous Haskell Wexler. He is a multiple Oscar awardee and has worked on films like, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?', 'One Flew over the Cuckoo's Nest', 'In the Heat of the Night', 'American Graffiti', 'Coming Home' and many more.

Now, 30 years later, Michael A. Russ opened his archives and has selected important works for the 'Swordfishtrombones-Cover Gallery' with the eye of an experienced artist. These fine art print editions give enthusiasts a wonderful chance to get authentic works that combine music, visual art and history.

For more information visit: www.swordfishtrombones-cover-art-gallery.com

Currently on display in the exhibition ART based on PHOTOGRAPHY’ at ‘art place berlin’ (until October 31st) is an original TinTone artwork by the American artist Michael A. Russ. It shows the motive of his cover photo for Tom Waits’ ‘Swordfishtrombones’ from the year 1983.

Resulting from Michael A. Russ' typical black / white photos, the final work is created only through a variety of creative and technical intermediate stages of work. Michael Russ' TinTones contain just about the entire spectrum of photographic technology from the invention of photography in form of Photograms through masking and solarization of chemically toned - one of a kind - silver gelatin prints. At the Park Inn Berlin-Alexanderplatz shows the exhibition of ‘art place berlin’ copies of large-format TinTones (Alu-DiBond- Silver/ThyssenKrupp/Industrial, about 150 x 100cm).

These artworks react to light and movement of the beholder in a very impressive manner. From each altered position also a new perception results and therefore leads to an interaction between artwork and observer. With his TinTones Michael A. Russ creates expressive, inspiring images, complex both in idea and in visualization.

More on: www.art-place-berlin.com