In 1973, Phyllis Ennes met with Anacortes School Superintendent Walter Brodniak to discuss the state of arts education.
“I went to see him as a parent to tell him I was appalled at the arts opportunities for the children of Anacortes,” she said.
Before long, he put her in charge of an exploratory committee on enrichment programs and made her the School District’s first cultural education director, moves that led to youth art exhibits, cultural education performances, drama clubs, artists in residence, poetry workshops, strings programs and diverse after-school art classes that continue to inspire students today.
Ennes’ contributions to the arts in the community have led to her selection as the Anacortes Arts Festival’s 2008 Anacortes Patron of the Arts.
“It’s quite a surprise,” she said. “It’s been a long time since I’ve been exceptionally active. I thought everyone had forgotten about it.”
She said she has been moved by the arts “forever.” During her youth, arts were a priority both in the schools and in the home of her parents, Mary and Paul Luvera Sr.
“Things arts related were important in our family. There were opportunities at that time,” she said.
A graduate of the University of Washington and Western Washington University, she also earned a master’s degree at Montana State University. She taught for nearly a decade at Montana State before returning to her hometown.
When she become drama teacher and librarian at Anacortes Middle School, she found that the arts programs were limited. Anacortes had an arts specialist and a music specialist, but their time was limited. She said the situation was a stark contrast to the lively program her three children enjoyed in Bozeman, Mont. Although she took her children to shows and exhibits in Seattle, too many other children never had such opportunities.
“I was appalled at how many children had not been to live theater,” she said.
After Jack Mayer arranged for Brodniak and members of the School Board to attend a presentation about cultural enrichment programs available through the state, the superintendent turned to Ennes.
“There were all these things available at little or no cost to the district,” particularly in performing arts, she said. “It just needed someone to pull those pieces together.”
She worked closely with many others including Scott Gorman, Anne McCracken, Thelma Palmer and Michael Stark to make the arts intrinsic to school curriculum and a thriving part of the community at large.
“She was a grand drama teacher,” said Stark, a former middle school teacher and longtime head of Anacortes Youth Arts. “She’s been supportive of all the stuff that’s been going on throughout the years. She put in hours and hours of work.”
Stark said Ennes and Gorman were at the forefront of AYA’s creation when they organized a youth play to be performed at Anacortes Community Theatre.
“That was the first AYA activity,” he said. “It was the first thing we did.”
She supported programs in poetry, music, visual art and drama — “a little bit of everything. You’ve got to do it all,” he said.
Other than in drama, Stark said she rarely worked directly with students on art projects.
“It’s been behind the scenes. She’s been a mover and shaker in the community arts arena,” he said.
He said she initiated one of his favorite programs — the district’s annual student art purchase.
“She was the one who fought, at least locally, to get the School District to buy artwork from the kids,” Stark said. “It’s a really good recognition of their work. Many of these kids have gone on to bigger and better things.”
He said the results of her efforts continue to grow.
“Now the School District has taken over AYA and made it part of the school program. That’s been added on to the cultural education,” he said. “More and more is being done for the kids through her efforts.”
Ennes, who held the post of cultural education director until 1993, said Tina Franulovich-Martin is doing an admirable job doing the same sorts of things she did. To her, artists in the classroom are at the program’s heart.
During her career, she was also editor and advisor for numerous student publications, and she served in various roles with the Washington Alliance for Arts Education. She has been involved in the Anacortes Public Library’s Art Committee and Library Foundation. She published a book “From the End of 9th Street” in 2006, and has written and edited for numerous publications. Her writing focuses on narrative nonfiction, she said.
She said in 1973 state teaching requirements had nudged arts and other things to the side, but this seems to still be swinging the other way. She was involved in setting up the state’s first guidelines for arts education, and she keeps her eye on developing standards and assessments.
“I think it’s fine,” she said.
She stays active, working with a class at Fidalgo Elementary School.
“That’s just a joy to do,” she said.
She is also a member of the school district’s calendar selection committee, among other projects.
“I still have my hand in,” she said.
Ennes views the cultural education program as her most challenging and most satisfying contribution to local arts.
“It’s been gratifying to see it grow. This has always been an arts supportive community,” she said.
Whenever she needed help, she found people and organizations such as Rotary, Kiwanis and Soroptimists willing to contribute time and money.
“You can do a lot when you have that kind of support,” she said.
Ennes to be honored at Art at the Port celebration
Phyllis Ennes will be honored as the 2008 Anacortes Patron of the Arts during the Art at the Port opening night celebration 5:30 to 8 p.m. Friday, July 25 at the port warehouse.
Tickets, $15, include appetizers, no-host wine and entertainment. They are available at the door.
Art at the Port includes the NuArt ’08 juried competition, the Youth Art Show and Arnie Garborg’s sculpture exhibit in the John L. Scott Focus Gallery. Exhibits will be open during the Anacortes Arts Festival 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Friday and Saturday Aug. 1 and 2 and 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 3.
Anacortes Patron of the Arts: Ennes’ efforts still inspiring children
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Elaine Walker | Anacortes AmericanJuly 24, 2008 - 10:00 AM
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Longtime educator and cultural education advocate Phyllis Ennes is the 2008 Anacortes Patron of the Arts. She will be honored at an event Friday evening at the port warehouse.
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