To the editor:

The first annual Whidbey Festival of the Arts, Arts + Education, held recently at South Whidbey High School, was a rousing success!

The two-day festival exemplified community participation bringing student, teachers, businesses and community members a free festival, open to all.

Special thanks to the Whidbey Island Arts Council, South Whidbey Elementary PTA and the South Whidbey School District for sponsoring the event and to the members and donors of the Whidbey Arts in Education Community Consortium, supporting quality K-12 arts education in our schools.

Special thanks for booth participation:

Artists of South Whidbey, Edward Jones Freeland, Carol Way Ceramics, LaChausseé Glass, Libby Berry Oil Painting, Howard Hamsa Pottery, Yvonne Palka Author/Illustrator Sumi-e, Doe Starr Ceramics, Nubian Jewelry, Michel Tsouris Jewelry, Sharon Anderson Glass, Whidbey Children’s Theater, Island Strings, Whidbey Island Center for the Arts and the Island Shakespeare Festival.

Thanks also to our South Whidbey High School “artists in action” Holly Huey, Laura Smith, Meaghan Wright and Paige Farmer for their on-site demonstrations.

Special recognition goes to SWEPTA art docents, Mary McLeod, South Whidbey Elementary School visual arts specialist, for the student art displays and hands-on demonstrations, and to Kimmer Morris, elementary music specialist, for the music video with her students.

The festival also wishes to thank the groups performing at the festival: Dana Moffett’s marimba groups, Sommar, Island Strings, Comedy Island Improv, Jim Freeman’s poetry slam, Young Nordic Dancers, WCT’s “Treasure Island” Cast, SWHS Jazz Band, SWHS Choir, LMS Jazz Band, the South Whidbey Youth Chorus and WICA Chamber Singers.

The festival wants to thank barbecue organizer Meme West and her team of volunteers for the “courtyard cookout” which included Kiwanis and SWEPTA too! Thanks to Steve Springer and Red Apple for help with food supplies. Your time and expertise is invaluable!

And what festival is complete without sweet treats! Thanks to the fifth-grade bake sale coordinated by Dawn Marsh, students and their parents, raising money to fund the annual fifth-grade arts field trip. The group also wishes to thank JW Desserts for their raffle donation!

This year’s festival theme, “Where there’s ART, there’s HEART” was apparent throughout the festival. Proceeds from the event will support the K-12 art docent and artists in residence programs in our schools.

With the success of this first festival plans are already underway for an even bigger and better festival in 2012! For more information about the event, contact www.islandartscouncil.org.

FRANK ROSE, Festival Committee Chairman

ROB PROSCH, Co-Chairman

BETSY USHER GMEREK

DON WODJENSKI

MARTHA MURPHY

JOE MENTH

Whidbey Festival of the Arts