Meet Kaiquin Zhang

I return to the Norris Street site today to interview Kaiquin Zhang. As I turned onto Norris Street I was surprised to see Mural Corps students on the corner, almost three blocks from where I had seen them less than a week before. The mural was moving along steadily. I walked down the street towards the garden studio and noticed about three or four buildings were splattered with designs. So much progress in only five days; it was mind blowing. Kaiquin was helping some Mural Corp students finish grouting a partially finished mosaic about halfway down the block. The students took their break as Kaiquin and I walked back to the garden to talk in the shade. She washed the grout off of her hands with the hose, it had dried into crust-like gray gloves. The students gathered in the shade of the pavilion as we took refuge from the sun beneath a tree.

Name: Kaiquin Zhang
Age: 26

Birthplace: KumMing China

Current Location (excluding the internship): International House at University of Pennsylvania

Education: MFA (Masters of Fine Arts) at Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts

Medium: Sculpture and Mixed Media.

Site: Norris Street

Artist: Bev Fisher

Jobs at Site: Installation of Mosaic

Job Questions:

Why did you apply for this internship? I had seen the program around Philadelphia and I thought it was a new and interesting idea. I'm also interested in Public Art.

What do you plan on gaining from this experience? How to co-operate with American artists and the Mural Corps.

Future Plans? I hope to have a family and start an art exchange program between China and America.

Favorite Mural? This project is my favorite.

Personal Questions:

What are you listening to? Music from India and South America mostly, but some soft Rock and Roll too.

Favorite Color: Yellow

Favorite Food: Cheese Cake

Favorite Season: Autumn definitely.

Favorite Emotion: All of them.

If you could be an animal....? I think I'd be a polar bear.

Favorite place on Earth? I'd say my home town but its become very polluted lately, I'd have to say an unpolluted place with a lake.

Did you remember sunscreen? Yes, I definitely did. (When I saw her again later that day she was putting more on.)

How do you think art can change the world? It gives people real experience. Having them make art about something is better than just telling them about it.