You’re Never Too Old to TikTok
Architect and artist Paul Muldawer has created his second act with a loyal, down-to-Earth TikTok following.
After 37 years with the Atlanta Journal-Constitution and now with the AJT, , Jaffe’s focus is lifestyle, art, dining, fashion, and community events with emphasis on Jewish movers and shakers.
Nonagenarian Paul Muldawer has more followers than most readers can shake a stick at, much to his own amazement. After 61 years of a distinguished architecture career that included the design and preservation of Atlanta City Hall, President Jimmy Carter’s Inaugural Reviewing Pavilion, the Savannah Historic Renewal Plan, MARTA Rapid Transit Plan, and Decatur Rapid Transit Impact Plan, Muldawer is now receiving his greatest recognition, this time from the popular social media video app, TikTok.
Three years ago, his daughter, Elisa Palefsky, and granddaughter, Sydney, said, “Poppy, you have a lot of art on your walls, why don’t you do a TikTok?” After explaining how the app works to Muldawer, they began videoing him showing the art piece on the walls while saying, “This is a photomontage. When you look at it from the left side, you see one image; then, as you walk by, the initial image changes to a second image.”
While walking around during the recording, Muldawer crashed into the wall evoking a thunderous “ouch,” which went viral. The rest, as they say, is history. Muldawer now has 630,000 followers and 1.8 million likes.
His work is divided into three categories: Fine Art, 3-D Fine Art, and more affordable TikTok art. Because TikTok does not allow direct sales, viewers can buy his art on Shopify which allows the opportunity for visitors to buy affordable original art signed by the artist. Of the rising social media star’s TikTok art, analytics show 86 percent of his buyers are female, 71 percent are 18-24 years of age, and 21 percent are 25-34 years of age.
Former Atlanta Mayor Andrew Young told Muldawer that this was the only platform he is aware of that creates intergenerational dialog between old and young people.
Muldawer echoed, “On TikTok, I share my art and experiences with younger people, and they, in turn, respond with meaningful, thoughtful, and loving comments. In spite of the overwhelming perception of negativity, I say that today’s younger generation is a good one. Of 1.8 million comments, not one is negative. They are filled with caring, thoughtfulness, and love.”
On TikTok, I share my art and experiences with younger people, and they, in turn, respond with meaningful, thoughtful, and loving comments. In spite of the overwhelming perception of negativity, I say that today’s younger generation is a good one. Of 1.8 million comments, not one is negative. They are filled with caring, thoughtfulness, and love.
Muldawer sometimes ropes in his wife, Carol, to take part in TikTok appearances. He did a TikTok video showing Carol holding a leaf blower. She said, “See what my husband gave me for my birthday? An electric leaf blower…something every woman should have!”
Muldawer exclaimed, “They like her! The truth is some young folks long for a steady hand and someone with wisdom, grandfatherly, and down-to-Earth, with wholesome values.”
Paul and Carol Muldawer’s home, which he designed, and art, were featured in the Atlanta Jewish Times Chai Style Art column on Feb. 10, 2017.
Comments From Some of Muldawer’s 1.8 Million Followers:
• “Your videos always make me feel relaxed. Beautiful work.”
• “I love you both so much.”
• “So calming and beautiful to watch.”
• “I love the confidence in his strokes.”
• “Paul, this is beautiful. Will you draw my dog?”
• “Will you be my grandpa?”
• “I love this more than words can describe.”
• “You have a sweet voice. Absolutely melted.”
• “Love the fun facts you include about animals you are sketching.”
• “Only positive thing about today.”
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