In response to Bev McQuary’s letter dated Sept. 7, “Hypocrisy seen in art events”: It seems to have become a sport of sorts by a handful of people including Ms. McQuary to personally attack James Moore and Sue Symons. Ms. McQuary clearly does not understand the difference between a private reception at one’s home and the operation of a commercial venue. It also appears she does not comprehend the difference between the “culmination of severe restrictions” (which implies something was taken away) vs. the granting of use by the county subject to conditions.

More to the point: are we really going to go down the road of denigrating people who support the local art school because of an unrelated property use dispute?

Ms. McQuary questions whether Moore should have recused himself from the painting competition because his “wife’s business sponsors the competition.” Let’s be clear here: Sue Symons is the executive director of the Pacific Northwest Art School which is not a private business, but a not-for-profit for which she works endless hours, many of which are unpaid. James Moore is a painter, which is the primary reason the Plein Air Painters’ Open exists. It is the brain child of Moore and Symons as well as Gary and Susan Winkler. Hundreds of thousands of dollars have found their way into to this community due to the effort of these good community members and many others.

There is no need for Moore to recuse himself from this competition. Every year there has been an independent juror, an established professional in the arts, who juries all art submitted. If the implication by Ms. McQuary is that James has received preferential treatment in years past due to his wife’s position, I strongly disagree with her assertion.

James Moore and Sue Symons have been vilified in the press by a handful of people in recent months over a land use dispute. But James and Sue are among the best of the best when it comes to serving this community. They have donated thousands of hours to organizations such as Navy League, The Historical Review Committee, Whidbey General Hospital Foundation, Whidbey Island Arts Council, and the Pacific Northwest Art School. James and Sue love this island and I believe our community is better because of it.

Mike Wise

Coupeville