Chazz Miller
American painter
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Charles "Chazz" Miller is an American street art muralist from Detroit, Michigan. He is the founder of the Artist Village, a program of Motor City Blight Busters, a nonprofit organization located in Old Redford aimed at stabilizing and revitalizing Detroit communities.[1][2]
Chazz Miller | |
|---|---|
Charles "Chazz" Miller being interviewed by Detroit Local News. | |
| Born | |
| Education | Columbus College of Art and Design (1981-1986) |
| Known for | Painting |
| Movement | Muralist and Street Art |
Chazz is also the founder of Detroit Public Art Workz (PAWZ), which is an initiative to stimulate community growth by providing a creative outlet for Detroit youth with the intention of instilling an appreciation of the Arts.[3][4]
Biography
Miller grew up in the inner city of Detroit, and showed an early interest in art.[5] Therefore he moved to Columbus, Ohio to study painting and advertising at the Columbus College of Art and Design (1981-1986).
Miller's first significant urban renewal project was the Artist Village, where he occupied an artist studio.[6] As part of his "urban beautification" work he painted murals on exterior walls of the Artist Village complex, as well as other buildings in the neighbourhood.[6]
Social Impact
Miller's first project, PAWZ, provides art programs and positive role models to more than 1000 inner city children per year.[7] The program was commissioned by the City of Detroit to create an art installation in the Brightmoor neighbourhood, also involving the youth in the creation.[7]
In 2010 Chazz Miller and several volunteers painted plywood cutouts of butterflies as part of an anti-blight campaign called the "Papillion Effect" ("Papillon" is French for butterfly). Miller added several butterflies to the nature trail at Eliza Howell Park.[8][9]