Artists who live in/near White Center, as well as those who “love” the greater/unincorporated area are invited to a Community Artist Meeting facilitated by White Center for the Arts on Tuesday, March 16th at 7pm at Proletariat Pizza, located at 9622-A 16th Ave SW (206-432-9765).

This meeting is intended for ALL artists, including those involved in music, dance, film, theater, visual, 3-D, photography, written, mixed media, new media, and more; including young, old, in-between, students, emerging, established and others.

Basically, if you live ’round these parts and love art of any kind, you’re invited!

Here are the details:

WHAT: Community Artist Meeting facilitated by White Center for the Arts.

WHEN: Tuesday, March 16th at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Proletariat Pizza, located at 9622-A 16th Ave SW, Seattle; (206) 432-9765

INFO: From an email:

Who is invited? Artists who live in and those who love the GREATER White Center Area/ Unincorporated King County, and a little bit outside that line. That means ALL artists. Music, dance, film, theatre, visual, 3-D, photography, written, mixed-media, young, old, in-between, student, emerging, established, etc.

What is this about? This is about continuing the conversation about art and it’s impact in White Center. About creating your opportunities. What do you want/need from your community in order to further your work/goals? What can you give to your community to help strengthen it? White Center for the Arts is opening the line of communication. This is not a formal, stuffy meeting, but the third meeting of many where your voice can be heard, where new connections can be created, and we can figure out how to best accommodate you, the artist, in our own neighborhood.

If you can, please RSVP so that we know how much pizza to order for you!

CONTACT: Shelli: crimsonpark@whitecenterforthearts.org.

Our friend Shelli Park of White Center for the Arts tells us that their one-year anniversary is fast approaching, and they’ll be celebrating it at their Third Saturday Art walk on Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm in various businesses in White Center.

The photo at left was shot by Brian Barr, whose work will be on display at WCFTA’s new community gallery, DREAM.

Here are the details:

WHAT: WCFTA monthly Art Walk, celebrating their one-year anniversary.

WHEN: Saturday, Feb. 20th, from 6pm to 9pm.

WHERE/FEATURING:

• Salvadorean Bakery: Chuck Northcutt – photography on canvas
• Café Rozella: Carole Ellis – photography
• Triangle Tavern: Chase Evans – Spoken Word @ 6:15 DJ sets @ 7:00
• Full Tilt Ice Cream: Julie Luke – Acrylic on Canvas
• Proletariat Pizza: Baso – photography
• Dzul Tattoo: Urban and Tattoo Art
• Dream Community Gallery: Fusion Dance Crew @ 6:30; Brian Barr – Portraits of White Center; Amanda Helmick – Mixed Media; Amanda Pickerel-Winer – paintings
• Big Al Brewing: Raina Anderson – photography
• DubSea Café: Hye Young Kim – dyed yarn and acrylic, Micheal Olson – DJ –reggae/dub plus more!

INFORMATION: More info available at www.whitecenterforthearts.org.

And here’s a letter regarding accomplishments made during WCFTA’s first year:

“Dear Lovers of Art in White Center,

White Center for the Arts (WCFTA) believes that the White Center community’s rich tapestry of culture and local arts should be shared with everyone. Our work to establish a permanent home for the arts in the neighborhood is off to a great start! In the past six months we:

• Established an after-school art program in the local Highline District Middle and High School
• Established the Third Saturday Art Walk, exhibiting more than 25 local artists in 9 months time.
• Are hosting Community Artists Meetings to open the lines of communication
• Established a working relationship with local, county, and state arts organizations and continue to identify and foster new partnerships within the community to create a web of services and support for artists and youth.
• Partnered with the YWCA at Greenbridge to showcase local artists in the lobby on a quarterly basis, and are working with Youth Media Institute and the Highline School District to implement non-violent extracurricular creative youth activities in the schools and in the White Center Downtown Business District.

But we have more work to do, and we are in urgent need of your support so that we can create the anchor of our vision and visiability, DREAM Community Gallery. We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 from 100 people, a $15.00 donation from 55 people, and 10 $100.00 donations. You will be supporting the entire White Center Cultural Community, helping to give visibility to local artists in all media, ages, and neighborhoods. A gift right now will assure that WCFTA can continue on our mission to be a catalyst for the coming together of the arts and cultural community of White Center. The time has come for a permanent home for the arts in White Center. Our current projects are:

• DREAM, a Community Gallery sustained by an in-house Coffee House, providing un-juried exhibition space for local artists and performers, and providing a safe gathering place, and empowering activities, for youth
• Development of our arts education programming
• Collection of oral histories and artifacts for a permanent local history collection
• Facilitating cross medium and cross cultural collaborations, and continuing to bring positive business to White Center through the Art Walk

We appreciate gifts of any amount, and in return WCFTA is working hard to promote art and culture in the daily life of White Center residents. We are to receive a $5,000 grant. We need more to open our Community Gallery by February 20^th, the first anniversary of White Center for the Arts. We have scheduled two dance performances, a musician, and two artists for the evening of February 20^th, and they are counting on your gift to help make this happen. When combined with the work of our dedicated volunteers, established, emerging, and students artists, the community as a whole will benefit from seeing our mission to bring art, and the celebration of culture and heritage to all of White Center and its neighbors, succeed.

To give a tax deductible donation, visit our website: http://www.whitecenterforthearts.org/

Sincerely,
Shelli Park
Chair, White Center for the Arts

P.S. You may be fortunate enough to have an employer that will match your gift. This is a great opportunity to give maximum impact with your gift to White Center for the Arts.

Even if you don’t live in White Center, but know that this is a worthy cause, please donate and know that you are supporting strong work in a beautiful community.”

(Photo by Brian Barr)

Our friends at White Center for the Arts (WCFTA) tell us that they’re trying to develop a local Art Gallery/Coffee House that could be used as a “home” of sorts for our community’s culture and arts.

WCFTA will be celebrating its one-year anniversary on Feb. 20th, and over its short lifespan has provided monthly art walks, after-school art programs, galleries for local artists and much more.

They’re looking for donations, starting at just $10 and continuing up to whatever you can give – here’s a link to their website where you can safely and securely donate online. Some employers will even match your gift donations.

And here’s an email sent out by WCFTA Chair Shelli Park:

Dear Lovers of Art in White Center,

White Center for the Arts (WCFTA) believes that the White Center community’s rich tapestry of culture and local arts should be shared with everyone. Our work to establish a permanent home for the arts in the neighborhood is off to a great start! In the past six months we:

• Established an after-school art program in the local Highline District Middle and High School
• Established the Third Saturday Art Walk, exhibiting more than 25 local artists in 9 months time.
• Are hosting Community Artists Meetings to open the lines of communication
• Established a working relationship with local, county, and state arts organizations and continue to identify and foster new partnerships within the community to create a web of services and support for artists and youth.
• Partnered with the YWCA at Greenbridge to showcase local artists in the lobby on a quarterly basis, and are working with Youth Media Institute and the Highline School District to implement non-violent extracurricular creative youth activities in the schools and in the White Center Downtown Business District.

But we have more work to do, and we are in urgent need of your support so that we can create the anchor of our vision and visiability, DREAM Community Gallery.  We are asking for a small donation of $10.00 from 100 people, a $15.00 donation from 55 people, and 10 $100.00 donations.  You will be supporting the entire White Center Cultural Community, helping to give visibility to local artists in all media, ages, and neighborhoods. A gift right now will assure that WCFTA can continue on our mission to be a catalyst for the coming together of the arts and cultural community of White Center.  The time has come for a permanent home for the arts in White Center. Our current projects are:

DREAM, a Community Gallery sustained by an in-house Coffee House, providing un-juried exhibition space for local artists and performers, and providing a safe gathering place, and empowering activities, for youth

Development of our arts education programming

Collection of oral histories and artifacts for a permanent local history collection

Facilitating cross medium and cross cultural collaborations, and continuing to bring positive business to White Center through the Art Walk

We appreciate gifts of any amount, and in return WCFTA is working hard to promote art and culture in the daily life of White Center residents. We are to receive a $5,000 grant. We need more to open our Community Gallery by February 20th, the first anniversary of White Center for the Arts.  We have scheduled two dance performances, a musician, and two artists for the evening of February 20th, and they are counting on your gift to help make this happen.  When combined with the work of our dedicated volunteers, established, emerging, and students artists, the community as a whole will benefit from seeing our mission to bring art, and the celebration of culture and heritage to all of White Center and its neighbors, succeed.

To give a tax deductible donation, visit our website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org.

Sincerely,
Shelli Park
Chair, White Center for the Arts

P.S. You may be fortunate enough to have an employer that will match your gift. This is a great opportunity to give maximum impact with your gift to White Center for the Arts.

Dubsea Coffee, White Center’s hip, new and artsy coffeeshop (located at 9910 8th Ave SW in Greenbridge), has put out the following “call for artists”:

Call to ArtistsDubsea Coffee Art Submissions

Guidelines for All Artists

Dubsea Coffee is a new café and public art space located in White Center, nestled in the heart of the Greenbridge community. We are dedicated to bringing quality art and progressive content to the public. Our intent is to work with artists (of a variety of mediums), willing to share their work in a café/community setting. Our supreme hope is to share art that provokes positive energy and pride in the neighborhood. With this intent and these hopes it is possible for us to work with artists and be a catalyst for thought and positive creativity within our community.

<> We request that you send color copies, transparencies, digital files, or links to your website. Please do not send original work.
<> To make the nicest impression, you may want to send a cover letter and/or biographical content when submitting your art work. (OPTIONAL)
<> If you are mailing your submission please send an enclosed self addressed stamped envelope in a suitable size for the safe return of your art submission.
<> Send your submission to:

Dubsea Coffee

c/o Joerael Elliott

9910 8th Ave SW

Seattle WA 98106

* if you are emailing your submission please send to [ joerael@dubseacoffee.com ]

White Center for the Arts‘ next event is an “Art Walk” this Saturday, Nov. 21st, from 6pm to 9pm.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Walk

WHEN: Saturday, Nov. 21st, 6pm to 9pm

WHERE: Here’s what’s going on:

• SALVADORIAN BAKERY: RANDY NICHOLS – 1719 SW. ROXBURY ST.
• FULL TILT ICE CREAM: JILLIAN INGRAM AND DAVE RYAN – 9629 16TH AVE S
• PROLETARIAT PIZZA: MIKE MULLINS - 9622 16TH AVE SW
• CAFE ROZELLA: VICTORIA HEUMAN – 9434 DELRIDGE WAY SW
• BIG AL BREWING: BRIAN BARR – 9832 14TH AVE SW
• RANDOM STORE FRONT ON 16TH: STUDENT SHORT FILMS
• COME SEE WHAT’S HAPPENING IN WHITE CENTER…

INFO: More info available at their website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org

Our friends at White Center for the Arts want to be sure that everyone knows about a Community Artist Meeting that will be held this Thursday, Oct. 29th at 7pm at Full Tilt Ice Cream (at 9629 16th SW).

Here are the details:

WHAT: Community Artist Meeting, facilitated by White Center for the Arts

WHEN: Thursday, Oct. 29th at 7:00 PM

WHERE: Full Tilt Ice Cream Shop Extraordinaire, located 9629 16th Ave SW, Seattle (206-767-4811)

INFO: Who is invited? Artists who live in and those who love the GREATER White Center Area/ Unincorporated King County, and a little bit outside that line. That means ALL artists. Music, dance, film, theatre, visual, 3-D, photography, written, mixed-media, young, old, in-between, student, emerging, established, etc.

What is this about? This is about creating your opportunities. What do you want/need from your community in order to further your work/goals? What can you give to your community to help strengthen it? White Center for the Arts is opening the line of communication. This is not a formal, stuffy meeting, but the first meeting of many where your voice can be heard, new alliances can be created, and we can figure out how to best accommodate you, the artist, in our own neighborhood.

If you can, please RSVP to Shelli (crimsonpark@whitecenterforthearts.org) so that Justin knows how many people will be taking over his shop!

White Center for the Arts‘ next event is an “Art Walk” this Saturday, Oct. 17th, from 6pm to 9pm, with stops at numerous places in White Center.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Walk

WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 17th, 6pm to 9pm

WHERE: Here are the scheduled art stops

• The Salvadorean Bakery (1719 SW. Roxbury St.)
  Raina Anderson: photography
  They are running a special for those who stop by during the ART WALK:
  • Option 1: two pupusas and one tamale of your choice for $6.50.
  • Option 2: one pupusa, one tamale of your choice, rice and beans for $6.95.
  • The choices for pupusas are: pork, pork cheese and beans, chicken and cheese, cheese and beans, cheese and loroco; and zucchini and cheese.
  • The choices for the tamales are: chicken, pork and sweet corn.
• Full Tilt (9629 16th Ave South)
  Onion Carillo and Jody Luna Robinson
  With Music by Shit Gets Smashed and The Shiners
• Proletariat Pizza (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Amanda Helmick: mixed media
• Dzul (9622 16th Ave SW)
  Tattoo and Airbrush Urban Art
• Café Rozella (9434 Delridge Way SW)
  Robert Houk Jr.: Painting
  Carlos Espinoza: Carving
• Big Al Brewing (9832 14th Ave SW) – CLOSED ON THE 17th
  Julio Castro: photography

INFO: More info available at their website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org

White Center for the Arts‘ next event is coming Saturday, Sept. 19th, this time at a new venue – Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW.

Here are the details:

WHAT: White Center For the Arts 3rd Saturday Art Event, featuring:

• Photography exhibit by Alexander Meas and Ken Champoux
• Live bands, Proletariat Pizza, Full Tilt Ice Cream, Big Al’s Beer and “fun surprises”

WHEN: Saturday, Sept. 19th , 7pm to 10pm

WHERE: Big Al Brewery, located at 9832 14th Ave SW, Seattle;‎ – (206) 453-4487‎

INFO: Lots of art, artists, live music, pizza and microbrew, with a portion of the night’s take going towards funding WCFTA’s Community Gallery/Coffeehouse, and After-School Arts Education program.

Here’s more from their press release:

And now for something completely different…

At least the venue is different.

White Center for the Arts September Third Saturday Art Event is being hosted by Big Al Brewery!!

September 19th, 7PM until 10PM.

Come enjoy Art, Music, Food, Beverage, and Prizes; a rockin’ Saturday night, and help WCFTA reach it’s funding goal.

Please pass this along to all of your friends and make it a party!

Our friends at White Center for the Arts will be heavily represented at Jubilee Days this coming weekend (Saturday, July 18th and Sunday, July 19th).

For both days of the event, White Center for the Arts will have a booth in the community area where everyone can participate in a future public art project.  This will be the first of many community art projects that they’ll host, and will consist of a clay mosaic.

“Do what you want with your piece of clay, sign your name or initials, and we will make sure that your piece is placed in the finished mosaic,” they say in a press release. “Fun for one and all.  And you’ll be a famous artist!”

White Center for the Arts will also have a float in the parade, which starts at 1pm at the McDonalds on 16th Ave SW near 114th.  They’ll be handing out candy and flyers as they float towards downtown White Center on 16th Ave SW with the rest of the crew.

“You’ve got to see what we are making this time!” adds the press release with more than just a hint of intrigue.

White Center for the Arts is hosting another Art Event this coming weekend in conjunction with Jubilee Days in the parking lot of the Skate Building on 17th Ave SW.  They’ll be active for their regular hours of Saturday night from 5pm to 10pm, and encourage fairgoers to enjoy the nearby Beer Gardens, and the music flowing from the stage while you watch art in action!

For more information, visit their website here.

by Adam Hanes

Half of the band is drinking in the parking lot before the show and the other half shows up minutes before they go on stage – the night is off to a perfect start for a punk rock concert.

The four member punk band Rat City Ruckus played recently at Studio 7 with the headlining The Blanx from Renton in a show put on by Local Chaos Productions. Their hard and hilarious songs about partying and boasting self destruction also add a sense of hometown pride by including local landmarks in the lyrics in such songs as “Rat City” and “South Park Slam” from their first album Quartres put out by Rockin’ Stan Records. On stage antics and perform instrumental dynamics possessed by a seasoned nationally touring band gets the small but loyal crowd pumped up.

White Center has the punk band that has it all.

Brett, bass and vocals, pounds rhythm like Matt Freeman of Rancid and has a rebelliously adolescent mind of a young Fat Mike of NOFX and yes, this is a good thing. Dustin, the quiet drummer, looks as though he barely moves his arms yet Dustin hits harder and faster on the skins than I have seen in long time. Tony on guitar and bad pirate jokes according to the liner notes in Quartres, can hammer out on the six string without missing a beat and at the same time bring comedy by blowing in Brett’s ear when singing, challenging him to not botch the song. Lead guitarist and vocals, Phil screams lyrics with classic punk style and plucks his guitar that would make anyone want to join in the mosh pit.

If there is anyone looking out for a new sound, wanting to add more to their punk rock library or have the need to get rid of some angst I implore you to go see Rat City Ruckus. The band’s sophomore album, Mustard Shot, is due out by the end of June. You can see Rat City Ruckus tearing it up next at The Comet 6/11, Blue Moon 7/2 and Full Tilt 7/18 for Jubilee Days.

Here’s a track called “Out On The Streets” to whet your eardrums with:

[display_podcast]

Visit them at www.myspace.com/ratcityruckus.

[Are you an artist of any style or know someone who is from the Burien, White Center, Des Moines or Normandy Park area? Contact me if there is something you would like our community to be in the loop about what you are doing!]

This Saturday (May 16th) is the next White Center for the Arts Open Studio Art Tour, from 5pm to 10pm, at 9639 16th SW (map below), and here are the details:

Once again, it is time for the White Center for the Arts Open Studio Tour

This coming Saturday, May 16th, 2009 5 PM until 10 PM

Please join us as we present seven artists’ new work.

A wine and cheese event.

White Center for the Arts Building at 9639 16th Ave SW, White Center, WA

www.whitecenterforthearts.org

View Larger Map

The staff of The White Center and B-Town Blogs will have a table in the lobby of the Highline Performing Arts Center during Burien Arts‘ first-ever Highline Vintage Jazz Festival today (Sat. May 2nd), and we’d love to meet you!

Drive just over three miles down to Burien to the Performing Arts Center at 401 South 152nd Street (take a left on S. 152nd from First Ave South, then it’s on the right next to Highline High School – see map below) for this great all-day music fest, which gets underway at 2pm for the matinee three-hour performance, with the second starting at 7pm.

Some of the region’s most well-known jazz musicians will be playing Dixieland, swing, solo stride piano, gypsy jazz and more!

Tickets to the event are just $20 per show or $35 for a full day pass, and are available at the door.

The 2pm matinee performance will include:

• The Canote Brothers as MCs
• Bulldog Brass Band (Garfield High School New Orleans style band)
• Pearl Django (Gypsy Jazz)
• The Jangles (Western Swing)
• Dina Blade (“A Tribute to Dorothy Fields”)

The 7pm performances boasts a separate line-up of impressive jazz musicians including:

• Holotradband (Dixieland)


Hot Club Sandwich

• Paul Asaro (Solo stride piano)
• Hot Club Sandwich (Gypsy Jazz)
• Casey MacGill & Blue 4 Trio (Jump Swing & vocals)

The Festival will also feature:

• Outdoor musical entertainment
• Dancers
• Great food
• Raffle prizes
• Free transportation to and from local restaurants and bars (which will likely be having specials for festival-goers)
• And more!

To give you a taste of what kind of music and entertainment you can expect, here are some video clips of artists scheduled to appear:

View Larger Map

The White Center for the Arts group, which holds Open Studio Tours as well as the Rat City Rummage Sales in the historic former Southgate Skate Rink building, is seeking donations to help save the building.

According to a statement posted on their website, they need $300,000 by May 31st to save the building.

Here’s the statement:

Please Help!!!

We need your donation to help save our building.

We need to come up with $300,000 by May 31st so that the White Center for the Arts Building will remain in the hands of the COMMUNITY!.

Please contact us with any questions, or suggestions for finding this money.

Thank you.

To donate or suggest ideas, please email them at: crimsonpark@whitecenterforthearts.org

The group’s next Open Studio Tour event will be Saturday May 16th, from 5pm to 10pm at the building, which is located at 9639 16th Ave SW in White Center.

Tonight (Saturday, April 18th) is the next White Center for the Arts Open Studio Art Tour, from 5pm to 10pm, at 9639 16th SW (map below), and here are the details:

Come one, come all! White Center for the Arts Open Studio Tour is on Saturday, April 18th, 2009.

Enjoy art and the usual accoutrements, and support your local, hard-working artists.

It has been a very fun night for the last two months.

Isn’t it time you tried it?

Featuring:

• Carlos Espinoza
• Kim McCarthy
• Michelle Smith-Lewis
• Tina Routt
• Shelli Park
• Eleanor Pigman
• Brian Forrest, and
• Raina Anderson

More info at their website: www.whitecenterforthearts.org

View Larger Map

White Center for the Arts, the non-profit arts organization behind the Rat City Rummage Sale and open studio tours,  just launched their website, which can be found at www.whitecenterforthearts.org.

Their next event is on Saturday, April 18th from 5pm to 10pm at the White Center for the Arts Building, which is located at 9639 16th Ave SW (map below) right here in the Dub-C:

View Larger Map

[EDITOR'S NOTE: The following is a guest column from Highline School District Music Teacher and jazz artist Sandra Locklear. The White Center Blog welcomes all Writers and Opinions, and if you have something to say...email us!]

by Sandra Locklear

Remember middle or high school choir?

That’s a thing of the past in our school district!

But because of the current budget crisis and the need to determine how next year’s district budget will be spent, there now exists a window of opportunity to restore our cut music programs! On behalf of the students in our district, let’s show our School Board how serious we are about getting back our choirs and keeping our band programs functioning during the regular school day. Bernie Dorsey, our new School Board President, is a Highline High School graduate and is open to change. He said that the more people that show up to fill the room, the more likely we are to get results!

Tell everybody you know and bring others with you – please read on and try to come to this very important meeting:

WHO: Highline School District School Board

WHAT: Fine Arts Programs Work Study Session: http://www.hsd401.org/ourdistrict/board/boardmeetingschedule.htm – see specs below

WHEN: Wednesday, April 15th at 6pm (confirm on website or call district office at 206.433-2217)

WHERE: ERAC (HSD district offices next to Hi-Line Lanes bowling alley, across from Azteca), located at 15675 Ambaum Blvd. SW in Burien.

WHY: To find solutions to reinstate music programs in our school district. Due to No Child Left Behind, Small Schools, the WASL, and site-based decision making, our district has lost all choral programs (except at Mt. Rainier HS and Pacific MS). Additionally, the Fine Arts Director position was axed in 2005 as well as the centralized music budget. What we are requesting: a HSD policy advocating music during the regular school day at every grade level K-12; reinstatement of our choral programs at the middle and high school level; reinstatement of a Fine Arts Director (part-time is better than nothing); reinstatement of a centralized music budget for instrument and music purchases and repairs. For a more extensive analysis, see the links below.

Important Note Regarding Work Studies: Unlike school board meetings, people are not allowed to speak at Work Study Sessions unless specifically called upon by a Board Member, i.e., to answer a question a Board Member may have. Please do not allow this to deter you from coming! The Board is very interested in seeing exactly how much community support there is for determining a new direction for the arts and music programs in our district.

Upcoming Board Meetings: If there is something you have to say to your School Board between now and April 15 regarding music programs in our district, you have 3 opportunities: at the Mar. 11, Mar. 25, and April 8 School Board Meetings. Please note: Those who want to share their thoughts with the School Board can do so as a “scheduled” speaker during the Communication portion of the agenda. Scheduled speakers must call the District Office at 206.433.2217 by 12 p.m. on the day of the meeting in order to be included on the agenda, and are allotted 5 minutes to speak. Those who wish to address the School Board but have not called to sign up to speak by the noon deadline may sign-up to speak for 2 minutes during the Unscheduled Communication portion, toward the end of the meeting.

WHY “NOW IS THE TIME!”: Upcoming HSD Budget Work Study Sessions: The window of opportunity exists now to reinstate music programs, as our state and school district are facing unprecedented budget cuts, to the tune of $5-8 million.

How will cuts be determined?

Proposed cuts will be based on:

• School board direction
• Community and parent input
• Analysis by staff

What can you do?

• Voice your opinion on proposed cuts
• Complete a survey now
• Fill out online comment form at www.hsd401.org
• Comment at a school board meeting
• Attend a board budget work session: March 25, April 22, May 27 – Budget Plan to be Finalized in June 2009
• Communicate with your legislator. Online: www.leg.wa.gov By phone: 1.800.562.6000

To get the full scope and gist of Fine Arts issues in the HSD, read Sandra’s article she wrote for the Highline Times on Oct. 22, 2008: http://www.highlinetimes.com/articles/2008/10/20/interact/columnists/column03.txt

Research backing: There is a lot of research out there validating the importance of music in public education, here are a couple of them:

• http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/arts/locklear.htm
• http://www.edutopia.org/arts-music-curriculum-child-development

Sandra Locklear has been a music educator in our district since 1991 and now finds herself in the role of arts activist due to the “dismal state of the arts in our district.”

She can be contacted through her website at www.sandralocklear.com.