Melanie Moore’s ArtsReach Program Helps Heal Wounded Warriors
By Zandra Wolfgram
It’s summertime! Which means the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) is in full swing.
“As a 23-year veteran, with 14 combat deployments, adapting back into the civilian world can be difficult and stressful for both the member and family. The art technique that Miss Melanie introduced has helped me both focus and obtain the inner calmness I need. I brought the art set home your foundation provided and enjoy sharing the meditative process with my 10-year-old daughter.” – Rob, Special Operations
This is just one of the many Thank You notes the Mattie Kelly Arts Foundation (MKAF) has received from local veterans and active-duty military men and women who have tried their hand at Zentangle, a special ArtsReach program offered through MKAF’s Warrior Arts initiative.
The Zentangle Method is an easy to learn artform that is created in an accessible way, one line at a time. Led by MKAF education director Melanie Moore, who is a certified Zentangle instructor, this guided practice promotes focus and mindfulness. Simple “tangles,” or patterns are combined in an unplanned way that grows and changes in an improvisational style.
“While the mind is engaged in drawing, the body relaxes, alleviating stress and anxiety,” she explains. “If someone has racing thoughts, issues with focusing from PTSD or a traumatic brain injury, focusing with an active meditative process like Zentangle is appealing.”
MKAF’s Warrior Arts program, which Moore created in 2016, partners with veteran service organizations and military partners to offer creative opportunities that promote mindfulness and resilience for our nation’s heroes with visible and invisible injuries. A specially curated range of customized programs include the Zentangle drawing method, painting classes, improv comedy workshops and more.
The Warrior Arts community actively partners monthly with Okaloosa and Bay County Vet Centers and the EOD Warrior Foundation with recurring Zentangle workshops — both virtual and in-person. Other valued partners and programs have included AFSOC Warrior C.A.R.E. Summit, AFSOC Preservation of the Force and Family, AFSOC Peer Supporters, AFSOC Commando Caregivers, Air Force Wounded Warrior, and Special Operations Wounded Warriors.
What started out as five programs in 2016 is now estimated to be 60 by the end of the 2021. In this case, offering Zentangle as a virtual program was key to its success. In 2018, first Zentangle spouse event with the EOD Warrior Foundation was a “lunch & learn” format. That went so well, word spread, and it soon was open to the entire EOD community.
No one has been more pleasantly surprised than Moore with the response.
“I’m overcome with how well received this is,” she says. “To see it grow so much and to see it meet that demand in creative ways is very satisfying.”
But when you look at the virtues of the artform, it’s not surprising it is quickly becoming a crowd favorite among wounded warriors.
Zentangle is low pressure. As Moore says it is “free from expectation of what the artwork should look like.” For people whose jobs demand they seek perfection and mastery of skills on the daily, this is quite a relief.
And you cannot make a mistake.
“We say there are no mistakes there are only mis-tangles,” Moore says with a smile. “It’s a meditative artform in that we can just go with the flow. There are so many possibilities it also promotes a flexible mindset.”
After completing a small square of watercolor paper during a single class, participants come away with a calmer mind, but also with a sense of accomplishment.
“There is instant gratification, and they leave with a piece of original art,” Moore says.
Though Moore has offered 100-plus outreach programs this year alone through ArtsReach, when it comes to making a big impact, for this art educator sometimes less is more.
“Quality doesn’t always mean quantity. We work with small groups and that’s a strength of the Warrior Arts Program, because they get to know one another, and they can learn alongside their peers while receiving personal attention,” says Moore.
And also, expert care.
“I take care of drawing and art instruction and a professional therapist is there to support their therapeutic needs,” Moore says. “It’s a perfect combination.”
Because the program was offered virtually during the pandemic, it has expanded and reached audiences across the U.S. and beyond. Now after five years, Moore is able to take instruction for returning veterans to the next level.
“It’s heartening to see participants go on to create artwork on their own and bring it to share with us and others. Some give Zentangle kits to their veteran friends because they love it so much. I think that’s the greatest reinforcement — to see people show up repeatedly, really take it on as their personal artistic and meditative practice.”
Zentangle isn’t the only MKAF offering for local vets and military. Moore is partnering with award-winning artist Estelle Grengs to offer painting classes out of the artist’s new Freeport Studio. For those who cannot travel to Freeport, she also hits the road bringing her creative talents to local veteran centers.
“We are thrilled to partner with Estelle Grengs Fine Art to offer easy to learn acrylic painting to veteran support groups in Bay County. We expect this offering will be popular, too.”
