Archive for May, 2012

“A Rich and Rewarding Experience for All!”

Friday, May 25th, 2012

 

Jay at Sharon Elementary School, collage

“Jay brought stunning art and a wonderful message to Sharon Elementary School on May 15. He did a beautiful presentation of A Little Farm Story that entertained the kindergartners, 1st and 2nd graders and led to a lively discussion of farming practices and local agriculture with the 3rd and 4th graders.

His sharing of The Turning was a terrific chance for 5th and 6th graders to see a graphic novel in progress and to think about issues of climate change. A rich and rewarding experience for all!”

– Catherine Freese, Sharon Elementary School Librarian

Photos by Catherine Freese

Learn more about bringing Jay to your school or organization for a workshop!

Brightening Local May Day Occupy Event

Tuesday, May 8th, 2012

I participated in a May Day celebration in Lebanon, New Hampshire in solidarity with the national “Occupy” events that were happening all over on 1 May. I brought the sun puppet to brighten up the cold dreary day and also to remind folks that the sun is truly our main power source.

The picture of the stilt figures are of me and Kim Reinlander, another stilt walker. We did a little skit in which I played “Winter” the curmudgeon who is stuck in his ways and wants to maintain the status quo in which the rich get richer and the rest of us just have to deal. This is America after all, the land of opportunity (for some of us). Winter, however, loves freazing everything: frozen assets, frozen wages… if you are left out in the cold get over it. “Spring,” on the other hand, is planting seeds of hope and is all about change. To Winter she is chaos and a threat to his existence. He tried to hold on but fortunately the audience was on the side of Spring and eventually they blew Winter off the stage. The crowd celebrated by dancing around the May Pole.