Daily Republic, The Other Side May 28, 2009


Support art, artists at event

By Kelvin Wade | | May 28, 2009 15:34

There's a party going on this weekend and you're invited. Archway Recovery Services is presenting a 'Celebration of Recovery' concert and art show this Saturday night at the Fairfield Center for Creative Arts. The show has been put together by my brother Tony and local music impresario Jeff Trager.

Archway Recovery Services is a local residential drug and alcohol treatment center for men that has worked to turn lives around for 13 years.

When you purchase a ticket to the show it benefits the community by helping people get back on track.

The legendary Lydia Pense of the Bay Area rock/soul band Cold Blood will perform. Also, the V101.1 Artist of the Year Aaron Young a.k.a. 'Baby Luther Vandross' will be on hand. This kid can sing.

They will be backed by an all-star band featuring members who have played with Stevie Wonder, Mariah Carey and Santana among others. Fairfield's own Nelson Braxton will handle bass duties.

There will be an art show featuring artwork by local artists. I've seen a sneak preview of some of the art and it is amazing.

It wasn't that long ago that members of the arts community packed a City Council meeting to plead the case for the arts in Fairfield amidst cutbacks. During that meeting a video was shown of a wonderful musical event at the Center. After the video ended, Councilman Chuck Timm asked how many people attended that performance. The hall wasn't full.

Our lack of support for the arts made things like the cutting of the Cultural Arts Award Program easier than it should've been. This show, incidentally, is sponsored in part by a CAAP grant.

And I'll be honest with you. I'm one of those who paid lip service to the arts and had never attended a show at the Fairfield Center for Creative Arts.

Maybe live music isn't your thing or you're just not interested in art. Or perhaps you already have plans for Saturday night. Or maybe you're like me. In the past, wonderful local nonprofit organizations such as Mission Solano and The Matt Garcia Foundation have held events and I've felt more comfortable donating than participating.

You can still participate by buying a ticket and giving that ticket to a friend. Or buy that ticket and let Archway give it to someone who would really like to attend the show.

The show is 8 p.m. Saturday at the Fairfield Center for Creative Arts. Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at the City Hall at the Mall, 428-7714; at Archway Recovery Services, 1525 Union Ave., Fairfield, 435-1804; or online at www.solanocreativearts.com.

How can you beat this? You get to help the community. You get to experience a killer show from a Bay Area legend and a brilliant newcomer. You get to support local art and artists. You even get to meet the most informative and funniest writer writing for the Daily Republic today. And you get to meet my brother Tony! See you there. Peace.
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