Chad Niehaus is a lucky man. He is doing exactly what he wants – in his work as an artist, raising a child with his wife and starting backpack trips from his front door. It’s apropos, as his motto is “Do your thing”.
1) What initially brought you to Moab?
Working as an outdoor recreation planner for the Bureau of Land Management
2) What do you love most about living in Moab?
Starting a backpack trip from my front door
3) What do you dislike about living in Moab?
The perpetuation of a rift between ‘Old’ and ‘New’ Moab
4) What is your occupation? Artist.
In addition, I own and operate two art-based businesses, Subvert® and Waterpocket Press.
5) If you could have any job in the world, what would you most like to do?
I’m lucky to be doing it at the moment.
6) Describe a typical day in your life.
Feed the dog and chickens, run the dog, bike my son, Oscar, to school, fill Subvert and Waterpocket Press orders, have lunch with my wife, Emily, paint and work on new ideas, cook dinner from the garden (fresh or canned), join my family at the kitchen table.
7) Some people have bumper stickers on their car that read: I’d Rather be Sailing. What would your bumper sticker read?
I’d Rather Be… Riding my Bicycle
8) Tell us one thing people don’t usually know about you.
I like to write. I’ve published one book and have a thick, unfinished novel residing in my file cabinet.
9) In high school, you would have been considered the person most likely to…
and I quote the Jenks High School (Oklahoma) 1994 Yearbook: “become the first person to complete a painting while climbing Yosemite’s El Capitan.”
10) What is your favorite Moab activity?
A multi-day rafting trip
11) Tell us your favorite non-Moab place to visit.
Wyoming’s Wind River Range
12) What do you consider your greatest achievement in life?
Raising a child with my wife
13) If you were President, what’s the first thing you’d do to make life better in America?
I would guarantee that no one is financially ruined because they become sick or injured, thereby removing one major barrier from Americans’ realizing their dreams and making life better for the rest of us.
14) What superhero power would you most like to have?
Whichever one Oscar is most enamored with at any given moment
15) If you could be an animal, what would it be? Why?
Coyote. No comment.
16) What is your all time favorite movie?
Forrest Gump
17) And, your all time favorite book?
“Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance” by Robert Pirsig
18) If you were stranded on a desert island, which three CDs would you want to have with you?
Pink Floyd’s “The Final Cut”, Bonnie ‘Prince’ Billy’s “The Letting Go”, and Bon Iver’s, “Bon Iver”.
19) If you could have dinner with anyone, living or dead, who would it be? Why?
Jackson Pollock. I’d eat, but he would skip the meal and crank out a drip painting instead. Why? Because I get goosebumps when I visit an original.
20) What is your life philosophy?
Do Your Thing.
20 Questions is featured weekly to introduce a local community member. Email Kristin at editor@moabsunnews.com if you, or someone you know, should answer our questions.
