Crush-Out Austin: Moises Diaz - Urban Roots Gallery Owner

What do you do when you aren't working at the gallery?

I spend time with my wife and kids. We are a young family so we have designated Sunday as “Family Day.” I also enjoy going out with my wife as much as possible. In addition to time with them, I'm into outdoor recreation and playing with our dogs.

What was the last book or periodical you read?

Do Books on CD count? If so, The Da Vinci Code… pretty original, huh? I have to admit, I am not much of a reader (except for my morning paper) and I know I have to get better about that, but I have a very difficult time focusing. I know that I have some sort of learning disability or something, but I have never formally addressed it because I have just learned to live with it...

What are three of your all-time favorites things?

In-N-Out Burger, being from Southern California, I used to eat there AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE!

Toy Story, the movie, my wife and I saw this movie when it came out in theaters back in 1995, and it is my son’s favorite movie, so I have probably seen it over 100 times. I laugh every time.

NFL Football. Nothing beats watching the Sunday afternoon game while dozing off in the 2nd quarter, and waking up in time to catch the 4th quarter… two hours later!

What about a recent favorite?

My Slingbox, being that I travel a lot to art shows all around the country, it is really nice to be able to watch your own TV shows while residing in an unfamiliar hotel room.

Describe the last thing you saw that really made you think.

Reading about the Army’s cover-up RE: what really happened to Pat Tillman (Afghanistan) and Jessica Lynch (Iraq) and how out of control this current administration has been over the past four years. Being an everyday citizen with no real agenda, and trying to give our country’s leadership the benefit of the doubt, they have continually let me down.

Do you have any siblings?

Yes, one younger sister, but we are not on talking terms.

What is your hometown?

Born in East L.A., raised in Whittier, CA. I have been here in Austin for the past three years and I LOVE AUSTIN.

Where did you live before Austin?

Yorba Linda, CA (near Disneyland)

Favorite eatery in town?

Portabla (West 6th/ Blanco), Chase (the owner/ chef) rocks. When I opened Urban Roots Gallery, he helped me as much as he could, and I have been eating there regularly for the past two years. [It's] never boring and always tasty!

What is a guilty pleasure of yours?

HBO. More specifically the Sopranos and maybe Entourage. I love their programming and series, and I have all the Sopranos seasons on DVD, so I watch them regularly as I work in my studio. If you can get past the brutality of this show, it is amazingly thoughtful on how it connects with every person that watches it.

Tell me about being a self-taught artist...how does that inform your approach vs. "trained" artists?

In my opinion, whether you are trained or self-taught, it really comes down to vision, originality and luck. I know plenty of “trained artist” that have amazing talent, but no imagination and I also know many artist that have great imagination, but not much talent! Going back to my self-diagnosed “learning disability”, I just do with what I have been given, in respect to talent, and overachieve with imagination and execution. I don’t think that I would be the same artist, or even be a full-time artist today if I had been formally trained. All my techniques, execution and work is really based off of gut feel, not academics.

What else would you like us to know?

I am the tallest artist in Austin...6’6”. Maybe even the tallest in the world.

Thanks, Moises.

E. Moises Diaz is the owner of Urban Roots Gallery at 1202-A West Sixth Street in Austin.