Paul Moshammer is Creativity Explored’s Director of Studio Programs.
Creativity Explored is a studio and gallery in San Francisco that supports a neurodiverse community of over 135 artists with disabilities, providing opportunities to create, exhibit, and sell their work. Creativity Explored's life-changing programs continue to open doors of inclusion to center the personhood and creative vision of people with developmental disabilities.
When did you start your journey with Creativity Explored?
I walked into the CE1 studio in November of 1989. My wife had just discovered the studio and told me: ‘you might really like that art studio in the Mission’. I had moved to San Francisco from Vienna, Austria a few weeks before. It was a rainy November morning. Artists were huddled around me, wanted to show me their work, wanted to interact, some even wanted to hug me. I never before experienced so much creative power in one large room. It was mesmerizing. I started to volunteer at Creativity Explored a few months later, and then became a substitute teacher. In 1991 when one of the teaching positions became vacant, Ray (the former Director) told me to apply. I thought that I didn’t have the qualifications to do so. I didn’t have a Masters in Fine Art, which up till that point was a standard. He kept encouraging me, and shortly after my interview I was offered the position of a full time Teaching Artist. A friend / roommate at the time said: ‘It seems like you landed your dream job!’ I was beyond happy.
What or who inspired you to begin this impactful work?
I was always an artist (my parents actually encouraged me to be one!) and working in the arts in a community setting was in some ways my dream. I was always interested in communities and how they live and work together. I met my wife in a Kibbutz and went there in order to see how this kind of community works and lives together. CE’s artists and community were always a fountain of inspiration and creativity.
What inspires you in your work today?
I still thrive on getting to see the artists at work in the studio. In my early days at CE, I often pulled paper and paint out after the artists left and worked on my own artwork for a few hours. Now I make a strict separation between being at work and my own artwork. I am strongly influenced by all that I see and experience. I would say CE’s artists are influencing my artwork till today. I learned from the fearlessness of our artists and feel that I have a fluidity in my approach as well. I don’t overthink things, but just go for it. So for instance, I have been working on a mural on our house for the last few years (it’s still not quite finished) which I approached with no plan. I sketched directly on the wall with paint and developed the design as I went along. The beauty of acrylic is that you can always paint over it.
Any advice for those looking to make a difference through charity work?
The only advice is, do what you love! Then the giving and receiving is much larger than if it were a chore (yes, I believe the more you give, the more you will receive.) Also, once you have chosen a cause, stick to it even on days when you have doubts whether someone might benefit from your presence.
When you’re not working on your projects, what do you enjoy doing?
Taking walks alone, with my wife, or with my family through the city or in nature. Watching TV or playing board games with my family. Being silly! I go swimming as often as I can (mostly in an outdoor pool) and love riding my bike. Visiting family in either Vienna or Miami is very important to me as well.
What is your dream trip where you feel you could gather the most creative inspiration?
Most of my trips since moving to the US have been trips to Florida and Austria in order to visit family. I really enjoy visiting New York City, as well as road trips across the US, but I would love to visit Mexico City. I have dreamed about visiting that city for a long time, I think it could be incredibly inspiring as it has such a rich culture and great history.
For more info visit Paul's website or on IG @paulmoshammer
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