TARLETON CASTLE VOLUNTEERS & INTERNS

Kristin McLane is a former software sales consultant who is now the membership and communications coordinator at the Green Mountain Club in Vermont. She worked at Tarleton Castle Arts in between her Appalachian Trail and Pacific Crest Trail thru hikes, and as part of her transition to non-profit work.

“Living and working at the castle was my introduction to the north country. I came to know and love that environment, and later permanently moved to northern Vermont from the Philadelphia area. I was happy to be a part of helping Tim’s dream become a reality after so many years of him working on the project solo. It’s a wonderful addition to the north country community and I enjoy watching the program and support continue to grow.”

Rebecca Flis is an avid bowler who enjoys spending her summers running a sculpture shop at a visual arts camp for children. She is fervently interested in the casting process. Using non-traditional materials, she explores sensory play, materiality, and the relationship between texture and form in her work. Rebecca has taught many workshops, both nationally and internationally, on dung-molding, a form of natural mold-making used in some ancient casting processes. Rebecca was born in 1992 and received her BFA with minors in Art Education and Art History from Alfred University (2014) and her MFA in Sculpture from the University at Albany – SUNY (2018).

“Tarleton Castle is a magical place. I was there in its beginning stages and helped put lath on the outer side of the building. The windows were just holes in the wall at that point, but I still remember the view from the top. I could almost see above all the treetops like I was flying. Even in its unfinished state, Tarleton Castle had a serenity about it. The building was in-progress, yet it was sage, like an old soul in a young body, like it knew how important it would become. The surrounding land, too, had an energy to it. The air buzzed, the earth vibrated, and the constant sounds of life happening around you—birds singing and insects humming—filled you to the core. Tarleton Castle is truly a place where you can reach inward and draw from yourself that which drives you to create. I hope to return one day when I need to rediscover my passion.”

Aaron Woodruff is a native of north country New York, born in 1985.   He volunteered at the castle (TCA) briefly in 2004, and from autumn 2014 to Christmas 2015.  A traveling tradesman, he is currently circling North America, slowly.  Aaron enjoys being in nature and changing landscapes, as well as working with his hands and listening to audio books.

“My work at the castle was mostly building and labor, but my exposure to Tim and the mentality fostered at TCA broadened my appreciation for art and beauty in the world around us.  I see much more beauty in everyday life we often take for granted and notice details I would have otherwise overlooked.  TCA always feels welcoming and inspiring at the same time.”

Shanice Medeiros is from Rhode Island. She is graduating in 2019 from Rhode Island College with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Art Education and hopes to teach soon. She loves making large sculptures comprising of wood and metal. Her work explores the performance and aesthetic values of Tuner cars; her goal is to capture and convey the physical and visual motion seen in the vehicles that inform her sculptural works. She enjoys making art, teaching art, and learning from those around her.

“Tarleton Castle is an amazing venture that is and will be a wonderful place for artists of all ages and stages in their careers to thrive. Tim Dailey is an amazing man who has taught me so much in the little time I got to spend Volunteering this past summer/fall. I look forward to helping again and learning from the very wise Tim Dailey. I am so grateful for Tarleton Castle; I have learned so much and have met some amazing people.”

Grace Shelton is a Freshman Nursing student at the University of Vermont. She has known Tim since she was very young, but the summer of 2018 was the first time she actively volunteered time to help with construction at the Castle. She has a multitude of interests in so many fields including health care, drawing, painting, music, pottery, and now construction!

“As much as I put into volunteering at Tarleton Castle, it could never have matched what I got out. Whenever you go there, you’ll be met with generosity, kindness, and wisdom.”