I am delighted to share that our inaugural Zentangle® Student Art Show, held at Walkerville Artists’ Co-op in Windsor, Ontario and featuring Zentangle and Zentangle-Inspired Art pieces created by five of my students, was a huge success!

The students’ art was on display from May 22 to 27, 2018, highlighted by an evening reception and opportunity to meet the artists on Friday, May 25.

Upon entering the gallery, guests were greeted by a simple display introducing them to the Zentangle Method and presenting a sampling of classes I offer to students in the Windsor area.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Zentangle spoken here!

Moving along, the students’ framed artwork was prominently displayed on standing screens in the centre of the gallery, with plenty of space for viewers to stop and take in the intricate details of each piece.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

In addition to framed art, my wonderfully creative students had tangled on a variety of three-dimensional pieces including gift bags, boxes, and tags, tote bags, small canvases on easels, pendants, and even a beautifully-etched glass vase.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Student artwork

Our Friday evening reception happened to coincide with the first neighbourhood night market of the season, so in addition to friends and family of the artists we were treated to a number of drop-in visitors passing by on their way to or from the market. I found myself wrapped up in conversation with various people throughout the evening (mostly about the joy of Zentangle!), so couldn’t possibly have counted the total number of individuals in attendance, but I can say that the place was buzzing from start to finish, and everyone seemed to be enjoying themselves. I’d count that as a win!

One of my good friends (who also happens to have been a student at my very first Zentangle class!) did an amazing job of coordinating the goodies on offer at our reception.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Refreshing!

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Tangled coffee and tea carafe tags by moi

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Delicious!

I created a name badge for each of the reception participants, conveniently leaving plenty of blank space so that they could personalize each with their own tangled embellishments. I wish I had thought to take an “after” photo of their badges, as they were truly spectacular! I always love how you can easily turn a small area of blank space into an individual work of art by adding a few simple tangles.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Name badges, prior to having the empty spaces tangled by the artists

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

My own tangled name badge

Once most of the guests had cleared and the reception was wrapping up, we took the opportunity to gather together for a few group photos.

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

My lovely students (and me!)

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

My lovely students (and me!)

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

My lovely students (and me!)

At the end of the evening the group surprised me with the most beautiful bunch of tulips and a heartfelt card signed by each of them. I am so very thankful to have these lovely people in my life!

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

Beautiful tulips – one of my favourite flowers!

Zentangle Student Art Show 2018

A card from my students

I am beyond thrilled with the way our first show and reception came together, with group members generously investing much creativity, hard work, time, and initiative to make the event a success. Best of all, it went so well that we are already enthusiastically anticipating next year’s show!

P.S. If you’re in the Windsor-Essex region of Ontario and would like to be among the group of students exhibiting in our second Zentangle Student Art Show, now is the perfect time to get involved by taking an Introduction to Zentangle class with me! I will have classes scheduled throughout the summer which will be open to the public, or you may contact me if you’re interested in scheduling a private individual or group class. Either way, I hope to meet you soon, introduce you to the Zentangle Method, and get you started on your tangling journey!


Laurel Storey, CZT

Certified Zentangle Teacher (CZT25), artist (Ten Thousand Tangles), writer (Alphabet Salad), iPhoneographer, cat herder, ongoing work in progress.