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Thursday, June 23, 2011

ZT in VT

Email, 3 days ago:
Hi Sandy,
Just wanted to let you know that you might like to take a road trip to see us at Flood Brook School (K-8) in Londonderry, VT. We have come to see you, it's your turn to visit us! I've introduced Zentangle to our art teacher, Casey Bailey, and she has taught the kids. Casey is using the paper puzzle pieces that she got from the Vermont Council of Arts a few years ago. It is sooooo cooooool! You have to come and see what's happening here. Casey is also loving teaching it this time of year since the kids are quite excited about the year ending and this tends to calm them down and is not messy!!

... It is so nice to see zentangle all around me. I'm a teaching assistant in Kindergarten and have taught the teacher in our classroom zentangle. We've been having a blast with the kids (and each other). Oh, the places we will go.......

let me know if you want to visit!
Jane MacKugler
CZT 6 


And what do you think I said?! Of course - I went to Vermont!
The Flood Brook School is a wonderful, artsy, little school - I mean. there is art everywhere! The art teacher was doing Zentangle with a group of older kids when I arrived. They were tangling on giant puzzle pieces.
A few of the big kids' puzzle pieces on a hallway bulletin board.
One of the reasons that Jane contacted me, and why I drove the two hours out to VT, is because i am working on a website to go along with my new book ("Zentangle for Kidz!"). I had intended to have a place where I could put extra projects and such for kids who enjoyed the book. Then, I started getting amazing art from tangling kids. Hmmm... that should be on the site. Then I realized, parents and teachers would be using the book and had lots of tips to offer too. More stuff for the site... So I will post the pictures I took of these kids' tangles on that site too. And I will let you know when I have it pulled together enough to go "live".
You have to see these close-up! The kindergarten one has spiders and little poem parts too!

Puzzle pieces done by the kindergarten class.
As I was leaving, I got to experience one of the school's traditons. On the last day of school, the teachers cover the tables with shaving cream, crank up the music, and let the kids "draw". I captured a little video of the kids dancing and drawing Zentangles in the foam! It was so wonderful. I know - I'm torturing you - but I can't post the kids on the internet. I'm so sorry! I'll watch it one more time, just for you.... yes, it is still wonderful. But I can post a close-up of one of the foamy creations:


So, just imagine "I'm Yours" by Jason Mraz playing really loud, kids laughing, bouncing from one table to another, hands looking like white gloves, smooshing the foam smooth, then joyously drawing huge swirls and zigzags... I know many CZTs like to have quiet, meditative Zentangle experiences for their students... but I admit, for me, Zentangle is about creative, playing, sharing, and JOY! I really wanted to join in the fun!


On the way home, we stopped in town to get lunch at this really cool cafe. All these buildings belonged to the same business (cafe, restaurant, quilt shop, art gallery...). I don't even know if there is a name for this style, (Steampunk Western?) but I love it. And there were so many interesting patterns in the details, the shingles... I stood in the middle of the parking lot, in the pouring rain to take these shots for you. ;-D




3 comments:

  1. Wow! How cool is that! so neat for you to make that connection!

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  2. We had a great time with you and your mom as well! Thanks for coming over for the visit. I can't wait to see your new book and the companion website. The kids and teachers enjoyed meeting you and seeing your work. Come again any time!

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  3. Ditto from me! Thanks for coming to visit. It was fun to meet you although it seemed like the time went way too fast. So glad Jane sent you that invitation. What a great way to end the school year. I was glad you got to experience Kindergarten shaving cream table time. Probably my favorite end of year event. We'll be back over to Wingdoodle soon. I'm sure I need something...or a lot of somethings.

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