How was your Independence Day? Did you hang out independently by yourself? Or was it more of a social scene of friends, family and community?

George Bernard Shaw said “Independence? That’s middle class blasphemy. We are all dependent on one another, every soul of us on earth.”

When you break it down, ‘independence’ is really not an emancipation onto one’s own self. ‘Independence’ is a breaking from oppression. Whether the stronghold is from another country’s rule or from a mindset of negativity, independence is taking that proverbial ‘road less traveled’ - - - the tougher path. Oft, the more rewarding. And that ‘road’ is all the richer when shared with another soul.

In terms of the Suffern Music and Arts Festival, we are celebrating the independence to ‘THRIVE’ and not just ’survive’ this economy by bringing forth an event of commercial and community transformation driven by culture. That’s a change of mindset! In on the SMAF 2009 festivities are independent (indie) artists sharing their gifts of song and visual art without the constraints of the BIG Label. That’s a change from dominant rule!

But to George Bernard Shaw’s point, indie artists are dependent on a circle of fans (loyal and new) to keep the arts alive. To that end , anyone looking forward to SMAF 2009 is IN-Dependence of a more united community.

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