Creative Culture Lab :Q + A Feature With Lydia Moore
STUDIO VISIT WITH LYDIA
Lydia Aurora Moore is an interdisciplinary artist and educator exploring ways in which our creative capacities can offer strategies towards wholeness and collaboration. This work emerges from an intersection of experience as a museum educator, classroom teacher, community organizer, and the study of mind/body practices. The Arts Management program at the University of Tulsa provided a foundation in fine art and the facilitation of community-driven arts initiatives. In 2008 Lydia worked with neighborhood organizations to carry out an inter-generational mural project for the Diorama Arts Centre in London. In 2014 Lydia was selected as the regional site coordinator for the annual convening of the National Performance Network. She has chaired local and regional events such as the New Genre Arts Festival, the Day of the Dead Festival, and the 24 Hour Video Race. Lydia’s teaching experience includes Any Given Child, AHHA classes, workshops, and professional development, Art Core Studios & School Residencies, and New Arts Camp. Lydia was the Art Specialist at Undercroft Montessori School, teaching students in primary through middle school from 2014 - 2018. During this period, she also served on the Board of Directors for Living Arts of Tulsa where she worked collaboratively to develop and implement educational programming. Following this, her work as Lead Studio Ambassador at AHHA challenged her to consider ways to increase access to arts experiences to the broader public through activities thoughtfully designed to empower and support visitors in independent discovery and reflection. Currently, Lydia is pursuing certification as an Occupational Therapy Assistant and concurrent study in Initiatic Art Therapy to enhance her work in service to facilitating meaningful arts experiences for both children and adults. Lydia is passionate about empowering people to connect with their inherent creative capacities through collaborative inquiry and experimentation.
I thought she would be the perfect person to have a conversation with for a Q and A feature as the world becomes vaccinated and sorta begins again! Jenna went to Creative Culture Lab last week to take some pictures of the space and connect with Lydia on this great new venture.
Opening up a new biz in a pandemic is not stopping Lydia anytime soon!
Their conversation below……..
-Tell us a little about Lydia!
Thanks for the invitation to chat, Sam & Jenna. I am a long-time artist; first-time entrepreneur. I’ve worked in the arts & cultural nonprofit sector for over twenty years here in Tulsa and worn many hats during that time ranging from events and public relations to implementing original programming and designing curriculum. 2020 allowed me the stillness to finally crystallize my vision of what a personal studio business could look like and the fire to finally make it happen. :)
-Can you share a little about Creative Culture Lab and what your experience has been like since opening?
I signed the lease in November and fully expected the shut downs to continue through the winter so my focus during that period was to slowly set up the space, build the website and tinker with the business model. I put in countless hours scrubbing, painting and repairing only to go to bed with a sore back and a happy heart. All the furniture in the studio is lovingly repurposed and sourced locally. For me, creativity is how resourceful we can be with what we have and how agile we can think through challenges with a spirit of curiosity and wit. It truly feels like watching a seed sprout to life as the Spring arrives and we are able to safely open to more visitors.
-What does a day in your life currently look like?
6:30am Rise and Rush the kids to school
8:00am Coffee & Communications (texts, emails, DMs, planner, notes)
9:00am - 3:00pm Studio Quality Time (hands-on projects, meetings, writing, research)
3:15 Pick up kids, WFH, dinner and dessert on patio
7:00pm communications & planning... from bed in pajamas
9:00am [Snores loudly before the Netflix sign-in sound has even finished]
-What makes Tulsa unique for small businesses or local creatives?
Tulsa is kind of a ‘sleeper’ city, no?! If you’ve never visited it might be easy to underestimate her appeal but it only takes an instant to fall in love when you experience your first sunset over the Osage Hills or the excitement of an event like Pride or Tulsa Tough. I think our developing infrastructure really celebrates communal spaces and corridors of culture and entertainment.
We are poised at such a unique place and time; on the precipice of immense promise while reflecting on complicated histories. I think there is so much potential and momentum in that and people are naturally drawn to the energy of future-building here.
-You are such a talented artist! Do you sell your own artwork in the studio?
Thank you! Yes, I have artwork for sale in the studio and soon online as well. I also accept commissions and work collaboratively on special projects.
-What kind of music do you like to play while you’re working?
Reggaeton and Latin dance hall ...when I need high-energy tunes
Perfume Genius, Jose Gonzalez, and Arthur Russell ...for feeling all the feelings
Christine and the Queens, Cat Power, Sylvan Esso, Alabama Shakes …for afternoon vibes
Black Sabbath and Bjork ... for giving zero fucks
Mulatu Astatke, Khruangbin, and Gustavo Santaololla ...for contemplative flow-state
Taylor Swift, Hamilton Soundtrack, and R.E.M. ... for carpool with the kids :)
-What’s your favorite part about your job?
I love helping people access their innate creativity and light up with confidence and fresh ideas! Seeing people beam with pride in their creations gives me the greatest joy.
-Any exciting summer plans for Creative Culture Lab?
Yes! We are celebrating all caregivers this Mother’s Day with special make-and-take classes for adults as well as kids. This summer is busy with community partnerships including The Greenwood Art Project and North Tulsa Community Coalition. We will offer small-group art camps for kids throughout the summer. Special events will include movie nights, book club, wellness events and pop up shopping opportunities.
Creative Culture Lab is dedicated to equipping students with design-thinking strategies, opportunities for critical reflection, and community mentorship. They believe in the capacity of creative practice as an instrument for collective empowerment and cultural expression across the lifespan.
Discover more with the link below!
https://www.creativeculturelab.com/
So proud of you Lydia!
The same depth and simplicity that exists in her work also exists in her, as an artist and an individual. She is curious, self-aware, and has an insatiable hunger to understand the world around her. This world needs more Lydias!
And great job, Jenna! I know it was so fun getting in the field again!
