PROFESSIONAL ALLIANCE SPOTLIGHT
Felix Chavez, Inc.
44-02 11th Street
#201
Long Island City, NY 11101
(718) 729-9003
Felix Chavez, Inc.
When the rich palette of color, luminous surfaces, and
paintings inside St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic Church
in New York City were restored, the historic sanctuary was
brought back to life. As a result, attendance at worship
services and demand for the space as a wedding venue has
spiked, which has dramatically increased church revenue.
The Reverend John A. Kamas spearheaded the building’s
restoration and redecoration, working closely with Felix
O. Chavez, President and Chief Designer of Felix Chavez,
Inc., and his crew of skilled artisans who designed and
fabricated the new interior finishes.
Felix Chavez, Inc. has been decorating, restoring, and
conserving the paint, plaster, metal, stone, and wood in
sacred places across the U.S. for over thirty years. Each
project is professionally managed in collaboration with
building owners, owner representatives, architects, and
255 S. 17th Street
#2604
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-1328
www.felixchavezinc.com
general contractors. Without exception, outcomes exceed
their clients’ highest expectations.
The story behind the grand – and formerly bland –
interior of St. Jean Baptiste on East 76th Street is a
familiar one. Ornamental plaster, stained glass windows,
lighting fixtures, and other architectural appointments
were installed in the sanctuary before the church
was dedicated in 1914. Funds, however, did
not permit the walls, columns, and ceilings
to be decorated as envisioned by the church’s
architect, Nicholas Serracino. Painted simply in
tones of gray, both the interior and exterior of
this landmark building were in poor condition
when Father Kamas assumed leadership of the
parish. Within months, he launched a twelveyear, $7 million capital campaign that attracted
support from parishioners, preservationists,
and neighbors, enabling a thorough renovation
and systems upgrade of the facility, with the
comprehensive decoration of the major interiors
as the final step in the process.
Sides of the decorative vault and walls at St. Jean Baptiste Roman Catholic
Church in New York, NY. The 22-carat gold letters were created using
stenciling techniques. Photo: Dick Lopez.
At St. Jean Baptiste, Chavez based the new system
of colors, textures, and patterns for the church’s
Renaissance-revival decor on existing fixed
elements – such as the stained glass windows and
the altar – to guarantee harmony among all the
elements in the space. He also drew inspiration
from a study of pictorial literature, museum
collections, and historic photographs. Working
directly on sample sections of the ceilings, walls,
and columns, the palette and techniques for the
sanctuary decoration were refined by Chavez and
approved by Father Kamas and congregants.
In addition to setting the standard for how
Sacred Places • Winter 2013 • 20