Editor,

Whidbey Allied Artists is indeed a nonprofit organization and has been incorporated in the state of Washington as such.

Our mission “is to provide our community with a “floating gallery” of diverse, high quality art by local artists in a professional setting and to inspire, mentor and create educational and participation opportunities to artists in the community.”

Although our art is for sale, our members gain much more than financial remuneration through their participation in learning how to present their work for display and the many aspects of setting up and taking down an art show, working at the show as docents or cashiers and being good representatives of Coupeville to the visitors to our town.

I joined WAA as a very new artist and have learned so much from the mentoring of my fellow members.

We offer a scholarship to one new member per year and provide ongoing educational opportunities to our members throughout the year.

In regards to a statement in a March 24 article that, “even though they are local artists, there have been complaints from a brick and mortar gallery in town. They feel it is unfair competition,” I would like to state that several of our members are also members of the “brick and mortar” gallery in town and that WAA has a friendly working relationship with that gallery.

The training we provide to local artists could ensure that local galleries will have a source of artists who have gallery-like experience in the future.

WAA is currently holding four to five shows per year in the Rec Hall and does not have any plans to increase that number in the future. That is a maximum of 15 days out of 365 days per year.

We would like to welcome you to attend our shows and meet with our artists. I think you will find our organization to be an asset to our community.

Carole Dawes, president

Whidbey Allied Artists