Meet Chad Steva

On the corner of 16th and Berks is a small community center. Large murals covered the entire outside of the building now along with small mosaics in the shape of birds. The project, which is one of Mural Art's Cops and Kids programs, was begun when the Adolescent Violence Reduction Program lost funding. It brought together Philadelphia Cops and City Kids to talk. The theme of the mural is that words have power. Words like compassion and love pepper the elegant pastoral scene, while words like drugs are in the process of being thrown in the trash. After the two groups came up with the design with the main artist, Willis Humphrey there was a community meeting to make sure that the mural was something everyone could agree on. The project got the go ahead and I caught it in the last stages. Chad was under the awning, his pants ripped and covered in paint, he put his brushes in water while we talked.

Name: Chad Steva

Age: 22

Birthplace: New York City

Current Location (excluding the internship): Fairmont

Education: Tyler School of Art

Preferred Medium: Oil

Site: Southwest Philadelphia and 16th Street and Burk Street

Artist: Willis Humphrey

Jobs on Site: Painting mostly.

Job Questions:

Why did you apply for this internship? I had worked for Mural Arts on a project before, but the project I was on got delayed. I felt like I hadn't recieved the full experience so I applied for the internship.

What do you plan on gaining from this experience? I hope to be able to give something back to my community. My college is just down the street and I like giving back to the community.

Future Plans? An Interior Designer with my own firm.

Favorite Mural? The zoo mural that they just painted over was my favorite.

Personal Questions:

What are you listening to? 1980's hip hop on site mostly.

Favorite Color? White

Favorite Food? Cheese pizza.

Favorite Season? I'd have to say summer.

Favorite Emotion? Love, who doesn't want to be in love?

Favorite Animal? A wolf.

Favorite place on Earth? Mexico, just all of Mexico.

How do you think Art can change the world? Art makes people happy and happy people don't hurt people.