CHICAGO ARTIST RISK UNVEILS A LOCALITY ART ATTRACTION IN UKRAINIAN VILLAGE
Chicago--Enjoy a night of neighborhood art, refreshments and Italian fare at Piccolo, 859 N. Damen at Iowa in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village. Artist Erik DeBat aka RISK will unveil a recent large-scale urban painting installation accompanied by some of his minimalist aerosol can sculptures.
The Saturday March 8th, reception of “Slow Roll” by RISK will be from 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. and is set to run through summer 2008. RISK will be updating the current work, which has been on display since the grand opening of Piccolo last summer, with newer paintings and photographs from his art catalog.
Piccolo is a streamlined walk-through neighborhood corner shop, and is the recent venture of Phil McFarland and Ty Fujimura, who are the brains behind the Chicago Lava Lounge and Small Bars. Piccolo specialties are the paninis, Italian subs, soups, salads, busschettas, and they are said to have some of the most flavorful gelatos in town.
Along with the clean design the open layout of Piccolo’s space, McFarland and Fujimura chose to invite local artist Erik DeBat aka RISK to create a site-specific art installation, throughout their large open shop with ample stretch of wall space.
RISK, the Chicago painter and designer began his career on Chicago’s rapid transit lines in the early 1980s, joining in the then underground sub-culture of graffiti art and hip-hop. RISK was among the first wave of talented Chicago urban artists to make their transition from the streets and begin to exhibit and sell their paintings in galleries.
Throughout the late 80s RISK began seriously working on commissions for interior designers and private collectors. He met and painted with the late pop artist Keith Haring in 1989, while working on a mural project in conjunction with Chicago Public Schools and the Chicago Cultural Center’s then budding arts program Gallery 37.
In the 90s, RISK attended School Of the Art Institute Of Chicago where he studied graphic design, collage, photography and painting. Manufactured two street ware lines which he and partners exported to Japan and sold throughout the U.S., RISK continues to make his art, work on private commissions, and produce limited edition designs from his studio in Chicago’s North Lakeview.
Guest DJ’s will be spinning assortment of low-key rhythms, appetizers and refreshments will be served throughout the evening. For more info on Piccolo call 773-772-3355 or go to www.piccolochicago.com. For more info on artist Erik DeBat aka RISK contact him at riskone@earthlink.net or go to www.erikdebat.com.
“Slow Roll” Art Installation by Chicago artist Erik DeBat aka RISK
Piccolo, 859 N. Damen at Iowa in Ukrainian Village
Saturday, March 8th, 2008 8 p.m. to 11 p.m. – Summer 2008
