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maza

Learning brought to life

February 24, 2018 by

By: Olivia Wile
Twitter: o_wile
Email: wileo@findlay.edu

It matches the rest of campus; a low-rise, brick structure with grey letters spelling “The Virginia B. Gardner Fine Arts Building” on the side. Nestled behind the landmark that is the University of Findlay bell tower, the building itself houses its own piece of history; a hidden gem that teaches us not to judge a book by its’ cover.

Though University of Findlay students attend classes in this building, the Mazza Museum promotes learning beyond just campus. According to its’ website, the Mazza is the most diverse collection of original artwork by Children’s book illustrators in the world. Deputy Director of the museum Kerry Teeple explains how it is an archive embraced by students.

“We have tours with classes,” stated Teeple. “Professors have their students come in for a tour, or they work something about picture books into their curriculum.”

One of these tours includes that of ENIN students at the University. The ENIN course is a writing class designed for international, non-native English speakers.

“That’s just like an immersion tour, they just want to go through and hear English be spoken, and we’re pointing at things,” explained Teeple. “You know it just kind of gets them used to the English language.”

Findlay’s College of Education also makes use of the artwork in the Mazza. Teeple says that Dr. Mary H. Munger, assistant professor of English, has her students visit the museum once a month.

“They look at picture books, different genres, and its using picture books in the classroom, so we are a big part of that,” she explained.

Among their engagement with the campus population, the museum also invites a much younger crowd to its’ gallery. Director of the museum Ben Sapp says the Mazza School Extension program in particular is a cherished partnership for all involved.

“It’s a partnership between the museum and, generally it’s been an elementary school, where they form a committee that comes to the museum to select three works of art, three illustrators to run their program on,” said Sapp.

The program is a nine week, collaborative effort between the museum, picture book docents, and elementary schools. During the program, the docents visit the elementary schools once a week and spend 30 minutes with each class reading the picture books and discussing the art. Two of these “Mazza Ladies” are Cindy Lininger and Sandy Reinhardt.

“They can’t wait for us to come,” said Lininger, “they say ‘oh it’s the Mazza Lady.’”

Docent Sandy Reinhardt says both her and Lininger work with second and fourth grade students throughout the nine weeks. She explains the art they teach about was selected by a committee made up of Jerry Mallett, the founder of the Mazza, teachers, and docents. Reinhardt says the committee chose books based on art in the Mazza they felt would encourage good conversation.

“We kind of have a teaching element, a variety of art media for sure,” stated Reinhardt.

Lininger adds that the various books chosen encourage students to practice a deeper level of thinking.

“We really get them thinking, trying to get higher level thinking skills, and they notice that the pictures compliment the text. The words don’t tell us everything,” said Lininger, “the pictures expand on the story, and they love that.”

The program not only continues to grow in proximity, now accommodating schools from Perrysburg, Toledo, and Sylvania, but also advances technologically. Sapp says last year a live Skype was held between an illustrator and students of Carey Elementary School for the first time in program history.

“They were able to talk back and forth which was a wonderful end to a nine week period of time that they really spent studying both the art and the literature in the books that these artists created,” stated Sapp.

Though the Mazza plays a large role in the lives of these students, it is clear they have a large impact on the museum staff and docents as well.

“Sharing your love for the art with the kids, and getting to see the art through their eyes because they notice things that we don’t notice and it just so sweet,” said Lininger.

Filed Under: Around Campus Tagged With: maza

Tom Lichtenheld donates to Mazza Museum

February 24, 2018 by

By: Leah Palm
Twitter: @_palmegranate
Email: Palml@findlay.edu

The University of Findlay is home to the nationally recognized Mazza Museum, but very few students on campus, or individuals in the community, take part in what it has to offer. An upcoming donation from award-winning Author/Illustrator Tom Lichtenheld could change that.
On Tuesday, Feb. 20, Lichtenheld made an appearance at the Mazza for a ceremony honoring his generous donation of 28 books and works of art. Lichtenheld collaborated on multiple popular children’s books such as “Goodnight Goodnight Construction Site” and “Steam Train Dream Chain.” His donations to the museum will include artistic renditions and manuscripts from multiple books.
Lichtenheld’s work has been sitting in his basement for years, which is what prompted his and his wife’s decision to donate the work to the Mazza.
“First of all, it’s a real museum,” Lichtenheld explained. “It’s a gallery and it has archives and there is a lot of similar work there so it feels really good to be amongst that collection.” He adds that the archival system at the Mazza is state-of-the-art, and added to their decision to donate to the museum.
“I think I just like the accessibility of the Mazza Museum. I like having met the people there, I like that it’s in the Midwest, I am a mid-westerner myself,” said Lichtenheld.“It just felt more fitting for me to approach them.”
Ben Sapp, director of the Mazza Museum, shares his excitement regarding the donation.
“He is donating 28 total books that he has created where there is only one original. We are very excited. He’s been on the New York Times best sellers list more than I can ever remember anyone else being,” said Sapp.
Beyond the addition of iconic books that will add to their educational collection, the donation of Lichtenheld’s work speaks volumes about the museum itself.
“It was just somewhat of a humbling experience to think and to know that the work you’re doing here had that much of an impact on the artist to decide that this is where he wanted everything to come and to live and to be forever,” stated Sapp.
Lichtenheld’s work will be added to the museum’s archive to help further educate children and adults about the world of children’s books, the work that goes into them, and the meaning behind them.

Filed Under: Features Tagged With: maza

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