May 6, 2005

Keeping the Arts Alive

By Bea Baechle
Editor

It’s been said that the arts are the glue that hold a community together.

Yet with dwindling government and education budgets, the arts often take a back seat to what some view as “necessary” to have versus “nice” to have.

The Evergreen Times is launching a regular series of articles recognizing the efforts of community leaders, residents, teachers and students whose passion for the arts provides an inspiration to keep our community balanced and strong. Inside this issue you’ll find stories about:

- James F. Smith Elementary School’s belief that Music Matters in response to the Evergreen School District’s decision to eliminate band as an elective in fifth and sixth grades.

- Local artist I-Fang Wen who will be exhibiting her expressionistic paintings in her Evergreen-area studio and gallery on May 21 and May 22 as part of Silicon Valley Open Studios 2005.

- Evergreen’s first fine arts festival on Memorial Day weekend May 28 – 29.

“It is art that makes life, makes interest, makes importance, and I know of no substitute whatever for the force and beauty of its process.”

—Henry James, American writer, (1843-1916)