Today we’d like to introduce you to Kerri Moehlenpah and Sam Moehlenpah.
Kerri, Sam, please kick things off for us by telling us about yourself and your journey so far.
I like to call Sam and myself “accidental artist” when it come to our photography! By trade, we are both licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and have a private practice in Poway. In 2010, we set out to incorporate more activity because we are pretty sedentary throughout the work week. We love being outdoors and going on adventures together. As our kids have gotten older, we make it our family time and truly design adventures to disconnect from media and electronics and focus on connection. We naturally began taking photos of our adventures and have never stopped! If we’re lucky 1 photo out of 200 will end up being pretty decent!
Can you give our readers some background on your art?
Our art is about experiences. Since we own our own business, Kerri and I decided to create the kind of life we wanted to live. A while back, as I was planning a solo backpacking trip, I felt convicted that I needed to create space for the whole family and re-define and pass down my sense of adventure to my kids. Kerri was instantly on board, she has a bit of the wonder-lust spirit, and we started on our journey. Photography is what naturally comes when you go on adventures with your family and just as we take photos to document and create memory, we also take photos of nature that inspires the awe and majesty of the world around us. There is so much of our planet that you can only walk or backpack to, you can’t drive there and we wanted to show our kids the wonder of getting off the beaten path and discover your own identity, heartbeat and soul. We also want to inspire people who see limitation to dream bigger – stretch into the difficult and uncomfortable and surprise yourself with what you can accomplish.
As an MFT, I (Kerri) am a fan of Brene Brown’s work. She says that “our only unique contribution we will ever make in this world will be born of our creativity.” She also states that “vulnerability is the birthplace so creativity, innovation and change. It is also the birthplace of joy, faith and connection. To create is to make something that has never existed before. There’s nothing more vulnerable than that.” This is what I learn every time we go out on an adventure and take photos. This is what I hope to inspire in my children, the courage to be vulnerable and to be creative with their life. If our photos do that for others, that is a bonus and I am grateful.
What responsibility, if any, do you think artists have to use their art to help alleviate problems faced by others? Has your art been affected by issues you’ve concerned about?
Since we are parenting children since the advent of cell phones and social media, I find it an ever-increasing challenge to parent when there is instant access to just about anything. The lightning speed of information can cause the simplistic beauty of nature seem dull and ‘boring’. I believe that art is a vehicle that catches the eye and can cause us to take a second look. Art, when vulnerable and real, should stir something in the viewer that cause them to pause and take a second look. When we go on adventures, I won’t lie and tell you we eliminate all modern conveniences, however, we provide to opportunity for our kids to slow down and practice courage, vulnerability and connection.
What’s the best way for someone to check out your work and provide support?
We put our photos up on Instagram to share with our family and friends. We have a blog space at www.themarriageguides.com as well.
Contact Info:
- Address: 12975 Brookprinter Place #140
Poway, CA 92064 - Website: www.themarriageguides.com
- Phone: (858)215-5366
- Email: themarriageguides@gmail.com
- Instagram: @themarriageguides
Image Credit:
Sam and Kerri Moehlenpah
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