"On the floor I am more at ease. I feel nearer, more a part of the painting, since this way I can walk around it, work from the four sides and literally be in the painting." ... Jackson Pollock ( 1912-1956 ) , on drip painting.
Abstract expressionist artist Jackson Pollack was definitely on to something when he painted on the floor. Just look at actor, director Ed Harris' Academy Award-nominated performance in Pollack to see his unconventional methods and how they lead to genius works of art.
One wonders what he would have thought about High Risk Gallery owner Rick Schmitz taking his concept one step further and having artists not only paint on the floor but also actually paint the floor. "Walk on Art" is a permanent exhibit at the new revamped High Risk Gallery that opens its new exhibit, "In Pursuit of Art" Sept. 9, 1113 W. Belmont, ( 773 ) 296-4443.
With more than 60 original works of art painted on 3x3 squares on the floor by different artists, the floors alone at the High Risk Gallery are amazing. When you are done looking at the floors, there are always the walls, which are home to original paintings and drawings by more than 22 local artists. Here one will find bold colors, rich drawings about life in Chicago and life in the artist's vivid imagination.
Forget everything that you know about the old High Risk Gallery, which was a temporary space-filler gallery run by Windy City Times last year. The new High Risk is bigger, bolder and better. Under the new ownership of Schmitz and Chad Fabruada ( gallery manager ) , High Risk reopened its doors in July and is fashioned after several different styles and periods ranging from the '20s and '30s.
It also has served as reception space for many local GLBT events, as well as private functions. Here, Schmitz, Fabruada, Jessica Q. Lucas ( gallery art director and artist ) and two artists in residence ( Mark Jeffreys and Grace Kroll ) share their thoughts.
WCT: What inspired you to reopen High Risk Gallery?
Rick Schmitz: The love of art and the fact that there is not enough artist space in Chicago that gives artists the credit, courtesy and the respect they deserve. Plus we wanted to use it as a party space and a ballroom. The idea of the gallery was thanks to Tracy Baim. She had the old High Risk Gallery and she was going to close the gallery [ since it was just temporary ] . We were doing an event one evening [ my catering company, Coup de Gras ] and I said to her let us take it over and revamp it. We decided to keep the name High Risk. Opening a gallery is a risk and when artists pour their hearts and souls into a piece and they never know if you are going to like it, they are taking a major risk just by putting it out there. So if you think about it, every piece here is a high risk for the artist.
WCT: Do you have an art background?
RS: No, just an appreciation of [ it ] . I think that it is important for artists to be recognized instead of stepped over.
WCT: How did you come in contact with the artists you feature?
RS: Well, Jessica is a friend of ours and she has gathered a network of people.
WCT: What inspired the art on the floor?
RS: I wanted to see something different, something that is very unique that makes everybody say, "Wow, how unique, how different, how cool." And I wanted something totally unique so artists can show their stuff off, and this is a gallery that shows off everything. There is pretty much nothing that you can't come in here and find in terms of style of art. They had to decide which direction to go in, we did not tell them which way to put the art on the floor.
WCT: How do you select the work?
Jessica Q. Lucas: In the first show, we used people who we had worked with before; in this show half of them returned but we also have some artists that we have met along the way. Eventually, we would like to get some sculpture in here.
RS: There is always a theme for the shows. The first one was called Work in Progress, which was appropriate, since we had not quite been polished yet. This one is called "Pursuit of Art."
Chad Fabruada: It features different types of art from paintings to photographs.
RS: It is interesting to see the range of artists, a variety of age groups and across cultures. I've learned what starving artist means, which is why I feed them [ laughter ]
JL: Before we started this project, I took Chad to an art store so he could see how much paint costs [ more laughter ] . Art is one of those professions where you have a profession to support your profession. I know that Rick already had an appreciation for that, but it is not something that a lot of people understand. It is really frustrating when people are bargaining with you over the price of your piece.
WCT: What has been the community's response to your opening?
RS: The neighborhood loves the fact that we are here. We want you to come in and look at the art and feel good. You do not have to have your checkbook in hand when you enter. Also, we have had some kids in here and they are just amazed with the art and that is where it starts; they are just in love with the floor pieces; they jump on them, they walk on them, that is why it is called "Walk on Art."
JL: We are trying to have art exhibits here since so many schools do not have art programs.
RS: At some point, there will be art classes for children and adults. We are developing a game where the children can use the art pieces on the floor. I don't want art to be a lost art, no pun intended, but it is damaged somewhat since public schools do not have as many art programs.
WCT: So in terms of this being in a gay area, how much community involvement will you have with gay organizations? Do you want this to be thought of as gay art gallery?
RS: First of all, art is not gay or straight or striped. It is art and art is appreciated by every body. Is it a gay gallery? No. Is it a straight gallery? No. It is a gallery for people. I don't select the artists or visitors on their sexual orientation or racial make up. It is open to everyone and everyone is treated with the same respect. Because it is in a gay neighborhood, that is a benefit because the gay community has the highest disposable income. The gallery has sold several pieces. ... One of the artists in this show is legally blind and he doesn't want to make that a big issue and neither do we. So it shows that everyone can have some art in their life.
WCT: Grace, as an artist how is it different having your work displayed here?
Grace Kroll: It is a much more friendly and outgoing atmosphere. You just feel like you belong because every show that goes up is different so the different aspects that I work in I feel would be comfortable hanging here.
JL: She did the woman who is the puppet and [ it ] is completely different than the images she had in the last show. Several artists have mentioned that they didn't feel like they had to stay in one genre and we would find a way to incorporate them into the show. Like Christie Chew-Wallace who did the landscape has this really wide range of images and we just had some people here Saturday night that loved it.
Mark Jeffreys. This was for me the first foray into publicly showing my art. It is not always easy for a gay artist to show his work, [ my work is ] not dirty pictures, but it is in the gay genre and I had very different expectations on what it would be like to go to a gallery. And I was very impressed with the warm and supportive environment. I don't think that I would have gotten this far with other galleries because of the theme of the art and that I am virtually unknown.
JL: We have some artists who are self-taught, others have taken classes. We are looking for images that are interesting to look at, things that people who come here might find new and surprising. In November, we are putting together a portrait and figure show of people ranging from abstract to realistic. In December, we would like to have art for and about children.
RS: Everyone thinks of an art gallery as being paintings or sculptures, but really art is poetry, it is actors, and it is playmakers ... to say that a gallery is only for this medium is wrong. It is all art and this gallery is for art. We want to bring art out and put it back on a pedestal.
