"All those smiling faces, that's what makes it all worth it for me!" says Denise Bearden, who has been organizing the Reflections art contest for Colorado's Jefferson County schools for the past six years.

With government funding for schools being cut ever more aggressively, the arts programs are the first to suffer. When the arts are cut from school programs, what does that say to these artistically minded students? Thankfully, people like Denise exist to maintain the importance of the arts in our lives, especially for youth.

Something to See

In January 2010, over 1,000 pieces of literature, photography, paintings and drawings were on view at Red Rocks Community College. Music, video, film and dance were also included, some students excelling in multiple categories. Judges were selected with professional arts experience in the category they juried. Each piece was judged based on artistic merit, creativity and interpretation of the theme. For each age group of each category, four Excellence awards and one Merit award were given. Those artist's pieces will continue on to a state level of judging. "Beauty is..." is the theme of this year's Reflections contest. Standing amongst the many pieces, one senses the individual creative minds striving to express something valid. While there are plenty of rainbows, flowers and butterflies, there are also some cases of beauty that surprise you and many that evoke smiles and chuckles. These innocent and charming works of beauty may remind viewers of themselves as budding personalities. As in the words of poet Kenneth Koch, "You aren't just the age you are. You are all the ages you ever have been!"