Courtesy Photos Artist Chad J. Szatkowski, chosen as the muralist for Habitat for Humanity Northeast Michigan’s recent mural contest, displays his winning designs. With him is Natalie Keyes, manager of Habitat’s ReStore, where the mural will be featured on the building’s exterior.

Chad J. Szatkowski of Alpena remembers his grandmother sparking his initial interest in art. Born deaf, art became a form of early communication for him that over the years developed into a lifelong passion and a livelihood.

Recently, Szatkowski used his talent for art to create two winning designs in Habitat for Humanity’s mural contest.

In announcing the contest, Executive Director Ted Fines asked for designs from area artists that reflected Habitat’s vision for a world where everyone has a decent place to live or a place where people work together to build homes. He also asked potential artists to consider incorporating into their designs Habitat’s focus on communities and hope, its demonstration of the love Jesus and its support of sustainable, transformational development.

In the end, Fines said, Szatkowski’s work best conveyed the intent of the contest.

“We had multiple submissions, and then we extended the contest for a couple more weeks because of weather issues,” Fines said. “In the long run, Chad created the two very best designs that we will work on incorporating into one mural.”

The mural comes as part of a capital improvement project at Habitat’s ReStore building on Chisholm Street. The project calls for a new main entrance with double-doors at the front of the ReStore building. The 14×17-foot wall space adjacent to the proposed new entrance is reserved for the mural.

“I love art. I’m surprised,” Szatkowski said of the news about being picked as the mural artist for the project. He said his family also is very happy for his latest accomplishment.

What Fines said the mural selection team liked about Szatkowski’s work was that it is both colorful and ties together so many elements related to Habitat.

“The colors are great. It just popped out,” Fines said.

Once the weather fully cooperates, Habitat will begin prepping the exterior wall for the mural by adding strips of wood. Szatkowski then will paint his designs on 4×4-foot panels that will be secured to the wood strips on the wall. A bronze plaque also will be featured next to the mural, giving credit to Szatkowski as the muralist.

A graduate of Alpena High School, Szatkowski attended Alpena Community College and Northwestern Michigan College in Traverse City, where he earned a degree in visual communications. Beginning in grade school, he frequently entered his artwork in the Chicago-based International Creative Arts Festival for the Deaf. Over many years, he won multiple awards, including first place, most unique and best of show.

At the present time, Szatkowski is an active tattoo artist and a working artist. He creates in a multitude of medium, including ceramic, watercolor, acrylic, oil painting and recycle art.

Grant funds are helping to make the capital improvement project possible. Additional lighting on the ReStore building exterior is planned to highlight Szatkowski’s mural.

“Additional lighting will flood the mural so that people driving by will easily see it,” Fines said.

Szatkowski and Fines anticipate a start date in May and are looking to have the mural project completed by the 4th of July parade.

The ReStore plays a key part in raising funds for building Habitat homes or refurbishing existing homes.