Meet Tiffany Shlain!
Tiffany Shlain is a mother of two, acclaimed filmmaker, writer, founder of The Webby Awards, and co-founder of the International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences. She lives in the San Francisco Bay Area with her husband, Ken Goldburg, and her two daughters, Odessa (10) and Blooma (4). Tiffany and her family exude creativity and are always cooking up fun, artful ideas- from cardboard sculptures to wacky house parties! I recently visited Tiffany and her daughters at home to check out their art pantry and find out a little more about the importance of art in their lives.
May 6, 2013
Megan: How has art played a role in your life?
Tiffany: I love doing art. Before I had children I used to sculpt every week for hours and hours and I loved it. I’m a filmmaker so it’s a lot about putting things together in new ways. What’s been so wonderful with having children is making art with them; it’s probably my favorite thing to do. We took your art class, we take ceramics together and we build things. I just think it’s such a wonderful way to do something together. I find that it puts my mind in a completely different state of being, which I love. I really get lost in time. It’s so rare these days that you’re not thinking of a million things, but when I do art I’m just thinking of what I’m doing.
Megan: How do you bring art into your children’s lives?
Tiffany: With our art closet, I try to make all the tools easily accessible so that whenever they’re inspired they can create. We call it the “inspiration closet.” We started with 2 art carts that we used to push around the house. They never really worked well so we finally re-did our closet and it’s just a revelation. How much more art we create when it’s so organized!
Megan: What does it mean to be creative? Is it important that your children grow up to be creative adults?
Tiffany: My husband’s an artist also so we kind of think that everything you do is a work of art. Like the way you plan your week, the way you make your meals, the design in the house, the way you live your life. Everything you do can be creative. It’s a way of looking at the world.
Megan: So I’m guessing it’s important to you that your children grow up as creative people?
Tiffany: I really try to nurture that. Odessa has such an amazing imagination. She creates these amazing things and then she projects onto them this incredible imagination. She could be, for three of four hours, just in this world of her mind. And Blooma’s really good at drawing. I think they see how much we value it. A childlike sense of wonder, play, and creativity are just essential to living a good life. May it never go away!
Megan: Tell me a little more about your “inspiration closet.” Do they have access to it whenever they want?
Tiffany: Oh yeah! That’s their favorite place, I would say. They’re in there all the time.
Megan: What kinds of supplies do you have in this space?
Tiffany: Everything.
Odessa chimes in: Glue gun, glitter, sparkles
Tiffany: Play dough, clay, lots of different colored paper, collage items, needles and buttons, pinecones… we have boxes labeled, “shiny fun things” and “collection of cool objects.”
Megan: Do you have any tips on keeping this space fresh and organized?
Tiffany: Investing in actually organizing it well just makes such a difference. Clear storage so you can see what’s in them and labels on both sides has been really important. If it’s being used, if it’s a good art closet, you need to tidy it once a month!
Thanks for sharing, Tiffany!
Learn more about Tiffany here.
