For Gerald Moore, creativity isn’t just about producing beautiful works of art—it’s about transformation, storytelling, and rebuilding. A sculptor, teaching artist, and member of the Arts for Learning CT (AFLCT) Teaching Artist community, Gerald brings a lifetime of experience, passion, and empathy to his work with students and educators. Through his innovative interactive sculpture program, known as “The Game,” Gerald inspires others to see art as a bridge between their inner world and the larger community.
A Studio Full of Stories
Nestled in a cultural hub in Bridgeport, Connecticut, Gerald’s studio reflects his artistic journey. Surrounded by materials, tools, and works in progress, he finds the solitude necessary to imagine and create. As John Klemmer’s Cry sounds from a portable turntable, Gerald says, “This is my cave,” describing a space where ideas take shape and stories come to life.
Gerald’s workspace isn’t just about personal creation. It’s a part of Bridgeport’s evolving arts scene, supported by local developers and businesses. His studio is one thread in a larger tapestry of galleries, theaters, and creative enterprises, turning the area into a cultural destination.
The Art of Rebuilding
A deceptively simple refrain is at the core of Gerald’s teaching philosophy: rebuild, rebuild, rebuild. In his workshops, students construct 3D models using upcycled materials, often seeing their creations topple under the forces of gravity or instability. Instead of focusing on failure, Gerald encourages students to embrace the opportunity to rebuild, transforming setbacks into stepping stones.
“Building is a metaphor for becoming,” he explains. “As learners, we’re all constantly becoming something. The question is: what are we becoming?” This creation, destruction, and reconstruction process mirrors life’s challenges, teaching students resilience and the importance of perseverance.
The Power of Play
Gerald’s workshops are deeply rooted in the idea that play is essential to the creative process. “Play is where it all began for me,” he shares, recalling his childhood days of sculpting clay figures inspired by comic books and mythology. This sense of imaginative play becomes a transformative experience for his students, many of whom rediscover the joy of unstructured creativity for the first time through The Game.
In one memorable session at Church Street School, Gerald observed how The Game’s interactive nature allowed a newly arrived student, who spoke little-to-no English, to connect with her peers. She could participate fully through nonverbal communication, smiling, and engaging with her classmates in ways that words alone could not achieve. “Nonverbal communication is everywhere,” Gerald notes. “It’s something we experience constantly but rarely take the time to develop as a skill.”
Art as a Catalyst for Growth
Gerald’s approach to teaching art goes beyond techniques or aesthetics. He sees art as a tool for processing emotions, fostering empathy, and building connections. By integrating arts into educational curricula, he creates a space for students and teachers to explore their inner lives and relationships with the world around them.
His work with AFLCT’s Higher Order Thinking Schools program exemplifies this philosophy. By blending art with humanities, STEAM, and social studies, Gerald helps students understand the interplay between culture, community, and the environment. From discussing Frank Lloyd Wright’s architecture to encouraging students to add narratives to their sculptures, he ensures that every lesson is educational and personal.
A Lifelong Commitment to Creativity
Gerald’s passion for art and education is rooted in his life experiences. Growing up, he admired his father, a steel mill worker who moonlighted as a photographer, and his mother, who nurtured his imagination. These early influences and his love of storytelling and mythology shaped his identity as an artist and educator.
Eighteen years ago, Gerald found his calling in arts learning when he joined AFLCT. Inspired by the writings of Eric Booth, a pioneer in teaching artistry, Gerald realized the transformative potential of connecting the inner world of creativity with the external world of education and community.
“I am blessed, in spite of myself, to have a mechanism, a process, where I can reconcile those worlds,” he reflects. “Because every time I play the game, and this is without hyperbole, every time I play the game with kids or by myself or in a small group, I learn something new about myself, about the materials, or about the audience or the participants.”
Looking Ahead
As a cornerstone of AFLCT’s mission, Gerald Moore’s work exemplifies the power of art to inspire, connect, and rebuild. Through his innovative teaching methods and commitment to fostering empathy and resilience, he continues to impact students, educators, and communities across Connecticut.
Gerald’s message is simple yet profound: art is not just about creating objects; it’s about creating experiences that transform lives. In a world full of challenges and uncertainties, he reminds us that the act of rebuilding—whether a sculpture, a relationship, or a community—helps us grow and thrive.