BAFA History

Salinas Art Festival History

1981 – 1981
The first Salinas Art Exhibit was held at the Emporium (corner Main and Pine). Tommy Vasquez, a descendant of Porfirio Salinas, had the idea to honor Bastrop’s native artist with a lively fiesta. The paintings were borrowed from their owners for the exhibit. Dr. Joe Emmert and Jo Ann Cantrell were major workers for the event. Several members of the Salinas family were there. Refreshments were provided by Clara Curtis and the Extension Service Homemakers Club.
1982 – 1982
Salinas Exhibit at the Emporium
1983 – 1983
Salinas exhibit at the Citizen State Bank (now Victoria Bank)
1984 – 1984
Salinas Exhibit done by Tommy Vasquez and his brother at the Laake Building on Spring Street, then owned by Jerry Wagner.
1985 – 1985
Salinas Exhibit at the Elzner Corner (then owned by Jerry Wagner). In 1985, Harriet Worrell, Director of the Bastrop Chamber of Commerce, formed a “Salinas Festival Board”.
1986 – 1986
“Salinas Bluebonnet Festival” was held at the First National Bank Community Room. Guests of honor were the Nerias Bagel family of Holland – descendants of the Baron de Bastrop. The festival was a weekend celebration. The Celebration Festival began on Friday night at “Le Pot Marie” with an artist’s reception. This was the first year of the Youth Art Contest in the schools. The awards were presented at the Hands around the World children’s art gallery, which was directed by Suzi Sarett. There were refreshments and a Salinas Exhibit Reception at the First National Bank Community Room. The Bastrop Historical Society sponsored a home tour, and Main Street was lively, with artists in many of the places of business. On Sunday several of the businesses had receptions for their artists. A poster was printed for the advertisement with Susie Trigg in the Bluebonnets. Three corporate sponsors funded the festival.

Salinas Bluebonnet Festival Committee Members: Carole Brown, Ken Wilson, Jane Hunt, Harriet Worrell, Shawn Pletsch, Virginia Grief Pinky Smith, Brenda Wagner, Minifred Trigg
1986 – 1987
Brenda Wagner was the first president of the Salinas Bluebonnet Festival Committee, and this was the year we changed the name of the festival to the “Salinas Bluebonnet Festival of the Arts”. Again the Salinas reception and exhibit was held at the First National Bank Community Room. Music and food was provided by the Festival Committee. The art was provided by Pinky Smith’s niece, Elizebeth Moore, who worked for the Connally Alterman Gallery of Houston. This year festival was a two-day event with a Parade of Homes tour and receptions for the various artists in the local businesses. Another poster was printed for advertisement and sale with John Hunt in the bluebonnets. The second youth art contest was held at the “Hands Around the World” children’s art gallery. Entertainment was provided by the Bastrop Children’s Choir.

Officers and Committee Members of the Salinas Bluebonnet Festival of the Arts : Linda Potter, Shawn Pletsch, Carole Brown, Pinky Smith, Carole Bryant, Brenda Wagner Charlene Cully, Ken Wilson, Virginia Grief, Harriet Worrell Chloe Monroe, Minifred Trigg Sondra Hunt
1987 – 1988
Virginia Greif was the second president. She changed our name to “Bastrop Association for the Arts”. We received the Hotel-Motel tax for the first time. We planned a fall folk art festival (much like Yesterfest) at the Crocheron Compound. We abandoned those plans and had a fun “Non-Art” festival at Tommy Hoover’s empty building (a.k.a.: The Plantation, Tack-Room, Vic’s Oasis…) We had an auction of crazy things and made a little money. We had the Mona Lisa T-shirt for this event. The Salinas Festival was again at the First National Bank Community Room. Art was provided by the Connally Alterman Galleries of Houston. The Youth Art Awards were at Calvary Episcopal Church. Mayor David Lock has always given the Medallions to the winners and Hollis Wayne has always made the medallions. The entertainment was a Marionette show done by Don Harms. “Bloom where you are planted” was the theme of the Salinas Youth Art Contest. This was the first year of Yesterfest. What started out as a handful of people hosting an art showing has grown into a citywide celebration of the visual and performing arts. Gary Greif did a Bluebonnet Botanical for our 1988 poster. In the summer of 1988 we rode in the homecoming parade. In the Christmas parade, we had a BAFA banners made for our kids to carry.

BAFA Board Members: Charlene Culley, Virginia Grief, Deborah James, Chloe Monroe, Brenda Null, Shawn Pletsch, Linda Potter, Betty Richie, Pinky Smith, Minifred Trigg
1988 – 1989
Minifred Trigg was our third president. We wrote and adopted our BAFA by-laws and had our first open membership drive. We had another silly occasion at the Oyster bar, our second “Non-Arts Festival”. We commissioned Austin watercolor artist Mary Curtis to do a painting of Main Street Bastrop circa 1915. We persuaded Cecil Long, president of the First National Bank to have 500 posters printed for us. The bank used the painting for the its’ 100th anniversary celebration publications. In February of 1989, we had a beautiful “Winter Gala” Art Show and reception with food and music at the First National Bank Community Room. At this time we presented the original watercolor to the Bastrop Public Library. In 1989 the Salinas Festival was held on the property bordering the river on Alley B. This was the first year to have children’s hands-on art. The Salinas exhibits were at Main Street Gallery (1010 Main Street). Main Street was filled with art vendors. The theme was “Art in Action” and the awards were at the First National Bank Community Room. Entertainment was provided by Quin Cairo, a magic show. We teamed up with Yesterfest and did a joint publicity effort.

BAFA Board Members: Carole Bryant, Virginia Grief, Shawn Pletsch, Deborah James, Kim Kellar, Christi Nance, Brenda Null, Pinky Smith, Mary Speer, Minifred Trigg
1989 – 1990
Shawn Pletsch was our fourth president. We had our second “Winter Art Gala” at the First National Community Room. 1990 was the first T-shirt contest in connection with the Youth Art Contest. “Flowers Gone Wild” was the theme and Sonya Rangel was the winner. The Salinas Exhibit was at the Main Street Gallery (1010 Main). Carol Bryant had been in charge of the exhibit since 1988 and used Salinas paintings borrowed from various people. The Children’s Art Award Ceremony was held in the First National Bank community room. The entertainment was a marionette show by Don Harms. The children’s hands-on art was done in the First National Bank parking lot. The boys from Nebraska brought their Salinas paintings. We had our first membership meeting at the First National Bank community room. (We were about the only ones there!) During this year, we received our tax-exempt status. This was also the year of our first retreat to Rockport at Linda Borsheim’s place.

BAFA Board Members: Marie Blazek, Elizabeth Overholson Carole Bryant, Jan Redmond, Linda Borsheim, Pinky Smith, Joyce Gay, Mary Speer, Pat Hall, Claudia Swartling, Minifred Trigg, Shawn Pletsch, Susan Cartelli, Barbara Whitehead Virginia Grief
1990 – 1991
Susan Cartelli was the fifth president. We had a set of three art lectures in the fall of 1990. We commissioned Ernestine Meadows to do a pen and ink rendering of the Mt. Rose Baptist Church. In the spring we had our second series of art lectures. The 1991 Festival was on the Colorado River behind the city offices. “Fiesta” was the theme of the youth art contest and Chris Clark was the winner of the T-shirt design division. We decorated the Chamber of Commerce Stage and provided entertainment and activities of the children at the site. The Salinas Exhibit was inside the Victoria Bank. Andreas Segura and Mrs. Ruth Goddard each gave a lecture at the First National Bank Community Room. The “boys from Nebraska” came again. We had the note cards with a youth art design made also during this year. This was the second year for our annual membership meeting, which was held at the farm of Bob and Joyce Gay. We also held our second retreat at Linda Borsheim’s in Rockport.

BAFA Board Members: Linda Borsheim, Debbie Matherne, Kelly Borsheim, Debbie Ohnesorge, Susan Cartelli, Shawn Pletsch Shannon Crane, Jan Redmond, Deborah Decloux, Becky Rivers, Dorothy Dixon, Pinky Smith, Joyce Gay, Mary Speer, Virginia Grief, Minifred Trigg Nancy Hodges, Barbara Whitehead
1991 – 1992
Jan Redmond was the sixth president. This was our first year to sponsor the very successful after school art program. In March of ’92 we had a “Bubba Loves Art” exhibit and reception at the American Legion Hall in conjunction with the FFA and 4-H Livestock Show. Lisa Junot’s mother designed our great T-shirts. We had a very successful auction and made a little money at the gate at the “Bubba” dance at the Oyster Bar. The Salinas Exhibit was held in the First National Bank Community Room. The Salinas Youth Art Contest theme was “El Camino Real”. Sara Laird had the winning T-shirt design. The Youth Art awards were held in the Opera House. The children’s activities were between Dr. Emmert’s Dental Office and the R&D Lumber Company Building. Entertainment was given on the First National Bank Parking Lot. Food vendors were located on Spring Street and arts and craft vendors were in the IGA parking lot (now the post office substation). The membership meeting was held in the home of Stanley and Pinky Smith. We had our third retreat to Rockport.

BAFA Board Members: Dana Bacon, Debbie Matherne, Linda Borsheim, Debbie Ohnesorge, Carole Bryant, Shawn Pletsch Susan Cartelli, Adline Rathman Shannon Crane, Jan Redmond, Kay Lee Cox, Becky Rivers, Joyce Gay, Pinky Smith, Sheri Gershen, Jane Travis, Virginia Grief, Minifred Trigg Lisa Junot, Kay Wesson, Kathy Kerr
1992 – 1993
Pinky Smith was our seventh president. In the fall of 1992 we had our second “Bubba Loves Art” Exhibit and reception at the Electronic Service Shop of Debbie and Arnie Ohnesorge (now the Chamber of Commerce Office). Following the show we again shared the gate with the Oyster Bar and had another successful silent auction. Secember “92 we had our first “Heart of Christmas” exhibit and reception the Electronic Service. These trees were donated and decorated by local business and organizations and then given to needy families. Our thirteenth annual Salinas Festival was held by the side of the Opera House. The Salinas Exhibit was at the Main Street Bakery (1010 Main St.). The Youth Art Awards were held in the Opera House. The theme was “Spring has Sprung” and the winner was Seth Kibbie. After the awards it rained and we all went home. Our membership meeting was held at the home of Shelly and Charlie Mathews.

BAFA Board Members: Linda Borsheim, Shelly Mathews Kay Lee Cox, Marjorie McMurrey Shannon Crane, Debbie Ohnesorge Susan Crowe, Shawn Pletsch Sheri Gershen, LaTrelle Schieffer Diane Jeske, Pinky Smith Lisa Junot, Minifred Trigg Kathy Kerr, Kay Wesson
1993 – 1994
Pinky Smith was our eighth president. In the fall of ’94 we had a very well attended “Bubba Loves Art” exhibit and reception at the Bastrop Bakery. During the ’93 Christmas Season, we held our “Heart of Christmas” Exhibit and reception in the First National Bank Community Room. The trees were again distributed to local needy families. The Salinas Festival was held on Main Street between Chestnut and Pine Streets. There were hands-on activities for the children as well as food and crafts vendors. The Youth Art Contest theme for this year was “Bloom where you are planted”. The Salinas Exhibit was inside the Main Street Bakery at 1010 Main Street. Mrs. Ruth Goddard brought her Salinas biography tape “Porfirio Salinas, a boy born to paint”. It was a very good festival. We had our annual membership meeting at Shelly and Charlie Mathews again and we had our fifth retreat to Rockport.

BAFA Board Members: Linda Borsheim, Debbie Ohnesorge Kay Lee Cox, Shawn Pletsch Shannon Crane, Susan Savage Susan Crowe, Pinky Smith Sheri Gershen, LaTrelle Schieffer Amy Hughes, Martha Trigg Deane Jeske, Minifred Trigg Lisa Junot, Kay Wesson Kathy Kerr, Shelly Mathews
1994 – 1995
Pinky Smith was our ninth president. We continued our Art After School Program and held our fall membership drive in conjunction with the “Bubba Loves Art” Exhibit and Reception. The Exhibit was held at the 1010 Main Restaurant. The “Heart of Christmas program was held inside the Oyster Bar and the trees were displayed in conjunction with the Christmas Parade. The Salinas Festival was held once again on Main Street and the Salinas Youth Art Contest Award Ceremony was held inside the Opera House.

BAFA Board Members: Pinky Smith, Shannon Crane, Shelly Matthews, Susan Savage, Kay Lee Cox, Diane Tilly, Amy Hughes, Linda Borsheim, Minifred Trigg, Deborah James, Martha Trigg, Bethany Rowan, Lisa Junot, Diane Jeske, LaTrelle Schieffer, Sheri Gershen
1995 – 1996
Pinky was our tenth president. We continued with the “Art after School” Program. For our membership drive, we had a costume Halloween Party and a pumpkin – decorating contest at the Oyster Bar. The drive was not well attended. The “Heart of Christmas” tree project was held again at the Oyster Bar. We had a float this year in the Christmas parade. BAFA donated money to the CASA playhouse that was built and raffled to benefit CASA. Some of our board members organized a trip to New Orleans to see the Monet Exhibit that was being shown there. The Salinas Festival was once again held on Main Street. The Theme for the youth contest was “Bastrop in Bloom”. BAFA approved a $1,000 scholarship for a BHS graduating art student. The Salinas Art Exhibit was held at the First National Bark Community Room. The retreat was again in Rockport.

BAFA Board Members: Shelly Mathews, Sheri Gershen Minifred Trigg, Lisa Junot, Pinky Smith, Susan Paramore Cheryl Green, Jan Pierce Amy Hughes, Shawn Pletsch Linda Borsheim, LaTrelle Schieffer Kay Lee Cox, Deane Tilly Shannon Crane, Martha Trigg Robin Workman, Ruthe Tucker
1996 – 1997
Shelly Mathews was our eleventh president. The Art after School program continued. BAFA donated $500 to CASA. We also renewed our logo ad on the curtain of the Opera House. The HeART of Christmas tree project was held in the Oyster Bar. The spring Salinas Art Exhibit was at the First National Bank Community Room. The Festival was held on Main Street with vendors and hands-on activities. Entertainment and the youth art contest award ceremony was held in the Pearl Dance Hall of the Oyster Bar. The theme for the youth contest was “Art takes you places”. BAFA gave a $500 scholarship to a graduating BHS Senior. The annual membership meeting was held at Shawn and Bill Pletsch’s home.

BAFA Board Members: Shelly Mathews, Minifred Trigg, Pinky Smith, Cheryl Green, Amy Hughes, , Linda Borshiem, Shawn Pletsch Kay Lee Cox, LaTrelle Schieffer Shannon Crane, Diane Tilly, Sheri Gershen, Martha Trigg Lisa Junot, Rieba Tucker Susan Paramore, Robin Workman Jan Peirce
1997 – 1998
Shelly Mathews was our twelfth president. BAFA assisted with the opening and start-up of The Gallery, which was a co-op of local artists. The partnership did not work out and BAFA eventually withdrew its support from the co-op. BAFA did continue with the Art after School program, which was overflowing with applicants. HeART of Christmas was once again held in the Pearl side of the Oyster Bar. The Salinas Festival was held on Main Street with children’s activities and vendors. The youth art contest theme for ’98 was “Viva la Art” and the award ceremony was held in the Oyster Bar and the Salinas Exhibit was held in the City Council Chambers. The annual membership meeting was held at the Tahitian Village Clubhouse. The annual retreat was held at the home of Shelly and Charlie Mathews.

BAFA Board Members: Shelly Mathews, Minifred Trigg, Pinky Smith, Amy Hughs, Cheryl Green, , Linda Borshiem, Pam Burchett, Jan Pierce Janice Butler, Shawn Pletsch Kay Lee Cox, LaTrelle Schieffer Shannon Crane, Diane Tilly, Sheri Gershen, Martha Trigg Lisa Junot, Rieba Tucker Susan Paramore, Robin Workman
1998 – 1999
Minifred Trigg was our thirteenth president. The youth art contest was held at Christmas time rather than in the spring. The theme was “The HeART of Christmas”. The award ceremony was held in the Pearl. Mayor Tom Scott presented the awards. Haiden Trigg was the T-shirt design winner. The Heart of Christmas trees were displayed at the awards ceremony before being distributed. In the spring of ’99 we had our first spring Salinas Gala, which was also held in the Pearl. The gala had a beautiful serving table and lots of artwork by local artists were displayed and sold. Patty Green was in chair of the event. We had a number of corporate sponsors such as the LCRA, Kay Wesson Real Estate, and the Voss Charitable Trust. The Art after School program was discontinued during this year. Members instead opted to lobby the school board to hire teachers for all of the school in the district. BAFA gave two $500 scholarships. BAFA participated in Yesterfest by designing Indian drums that the students could decorate and take home. The annual membership meeting was held at the Pecan Street Inn Bed and Breakfast. The annual retreat was held again at the home of Shelly Mathews.

BAFA Board Members: Minifred Trigg, Rebecca Jones, Patty Green, Lisa Junot, Amy Hughes, , Lori Berdoll, Ellen Moore, Linda Borshiem, Jan Pierce, Pam Burchett, Shawn Pletsch, Jancie Butler, Missy Schuelke Glenda Crysup, Pinky Smith, Cheryl Green, Jill Steiner, Jackie Martsching, Diane Tilly, Shelly Mathews
1999 – 2000
Rebecca Jones was our fourteenth president. The board decided to combine the Salinas Youth Art contest awards night and the Gala into the same weekend. Both events were held at the Opera House. The theme for the children’s contest was “Celebrate Bastrop”. Two $500 scholarships were again awarded to BHS art seniors. BAFA also sent checks to both the Elgin Hog Eye Art Exhibit and the newly formed Bastrop Fine Arts Guild to assist them with their efforts. We also worked in conjunction with the PTA and the Bastrop Federation of Teachers and successfully lobbied the school board to hire certified art teachers for all BISD schools. To further assist the schools, we sent $200 checks to all of the newly formed art departments. Yesterfest was not held in 2000. This was the year BAFA started its newsletter, written by Patty Green.

BAFA Board Members: Rebecca Jones, Patty Green, Janice Butler, Jill Steiner, Jackie Martsching, , Lori Berdoll, Donna Smith Pam Burchett, Pinky Smith Jan Emmerson, Tuula Sullivan Liz Keegan, Shawn Pletsch Ellen Moore, Minifred Trigg
2000 – 2001
Patty Green is our fifteenth president. BAFA will again hold its Gala and Youth Art Award during the same weekend. The month of March will be proclaimed “Youth Art Month” by both mayor Tom Scott and our county judge Ronnie McDonald and the Bastrop County Commissioners Court. BAFA will give two $1,000 scholarships to two Bastrop Country H.S. Seniors this year. We will again have corporate sponsors for the gala and will display youth art along Main Street. Our membership meeting will again be held again this year at a yet to be announced location. Our annual retreat was held at the Voss Ranch. During the 2000-2001 year board members voted to set aside monies to use for the funding of a museum or gallery space for Bastrop. We are also working to develop and establish art enrichment programs in our schools such as the highly successful “Artist in Residency” programs found in other Texas schools. Our annual membership meeting was held at the Pecan Street Inn.

BAFA Board Members: Patty Green, Janice Butler, Jill Steiner, Jan Emmerson, Jackie Martsching, Ginger Coplan, Tuula Sullivan Rebecca Jones, Donna Smith, Liz Keegan, Chris Tunks, Jean Levering, Pam Vear, Ellen Moore, Suzie Sarett, Shawn Pletsch
2001 – 2002
Janice Butler was our seventeenth president. The High School Art Mural Project was approved by the National Endowment for the Arts. The project was funded for the fall of 2003. Meanwhile, BAFA again organized a Gala benefiting BAFA at the Cid Chris Center, owned by Dr. Desmar Walkes. Once again, the Salinas Youth Art contest would coincide with the Gala, and the fabulous art pieces created by the students were greatly admired by gala guests. The theme for the youth art contest was “Picture the Past”. Amateur and professional artists from the Bastrop area were also displayed, resulting in sales for a number of them. BAFA continued to partner with BISD again in 2001/2002, offering $200 cash donations for art supplies to each BISD art teacher and again offered

BAFA Board Members: Janice Butler, Ginger Coplan, Chris Tunks, Jean Levering, Jan Emmerson, Shelley Mathews, Patty Green, , Suzie Sarrett, Ellen Moore, Jackie Martsching, Rebecc, a Jones Pam Vear, Pinky Smith Lea Cundy, Latrelle Shaeffer
2002 – 2003
Ginger Coplan was our 17th president. Our planning retreat was held at Ginger’s lovely home in the hills above Bastrop. We began work on an NEA grant to fund an artist in residence to instruct students painting a mural for Bastrop High School. We were granted funding in May 2003. Our Salinas youth art contest theme was “Wild On Art” and our scholarships were increased to 3. We gifted $200 to each BISD art teacher for supplies. Our gala was held at the Cyd Chris building with catering by Monzi’s and music by the Bastrop Saw Sages. The Bastrop Fine Arts Guild was invited to join our gala and 20 pieces from the guild along with the youth art winners were featured. We started researching a project to porvide concrete benches to the schools for tile projects.

BAFA Board Members: Ginger Coplan Ellen Moore, Suzie Sarrett Rebecca Jones, Shelly Matthews Jane Hunt, Jean Levering Latrelle Schieffer, Janice Butler Samantha Shub, Patty Green Dawn Vinclark
2003 – 2004
Suzie Sarrett was our 18th president. Our retreat was held in August at Joe Small’s cabin on Lake Travis. Our project to provide benches for tiling to 9 BISD art classes started with delivery of the benches in September. Our Salinas youth art contest theme this year was “Art Happens”, and we were able to give three $1,000 scholarships, two in honor or Porfirio Salinas and 1 honoring Leon Smith. Our High School mural project funded by the NEA was successfully completed and unveiled at the Salinas awards ceremony. In May we hosted soul singer Ruthie Foster at a Mother’s Day concert at the Sacred Heart Parrish Hall. Other projects included continuing yearly funding for supplies for our 12 art teachers, scholarships for 25-30 students at Lea Cundy’s studio, partial funding for lights for the Bastrop Guild gallery, and a donation to the Harvest Art Festival.

BAFA Board Members: Suzie Sarrett Latrelle Schieffer, Shelly Matthews Patty Green, Janice Butler Ginger Coplan, Jean Levering Chris Klink
2004 – 2005
Patty Green was our nineteenth president. Our annual retreat was held at the home of Mary Voss. New for 2004 was BAFA’s involvement as a sponsor in a new event launched by the Bastrop Fine Art’s Guild called the Iron Bridge Festival. The festival featured area and regional artists as well and food and gift vendors. It was a huge success. BAFA also became an official sponsor of the Harvest Art Fest, held Thanksgiving weekend in Bastrop. In the spring, BAFA was again busy organizing the Salinas Youth Art contest. The theme for the contest in 2005 was “Art Rocks!” Three $1,000 scholarships were again awarding to Bastrop area art seniors. In addition to these activities, BAFA donated to the empty bowl project with art supplies and donated monies to each of the local art programs for art supplies. BAFA also donated to the Hog Eye Fests’ “Pearls before Swine” scholarship fund. During this year, Judy Ing donated her time and talents to create a brochure for BAFA that gives basic information about BAFA and helped tremendously with keeping our purpose and activities known in the community. Our annual membership party was held at the home of Janice and Max Butler.

BAFA Board Members: Patty Green, Latrelle Schieffer Chris Klink, Sheri Gilmore Shelley Mathews, Martha Gonzales Jean Levering, Janice Butler, Ginger Coplan, Suzie Sarrett
2005 – 2006
Chris Klink was our 20th president. BAFA again sponsored the Bastrop Fine Arts’ Guild fall art festival, which changed its’ name from “Iron Bridge Festival” to “Art on the Bridge” The event was well attended and it was a very worthwhile endeavor. In November, BAFA again sponsored the Harvest Art Festival, with assistance on signage and advertising. It too, was extremely well attended and was a great success for both the participating artists and BAFA. BISD teachers were again supported with funds from BAFA to help with much needed classroom art supplies. In the spring the perennial Salinas Youth Art contest also went smoothly and again Main Street shined with the wonderful artworks created by local student. Three $1,000 scholarships were also once again made available by BAFA for graduating high school art students. Our annual membership party was held at the home of Janice and Max Butler.

BAFA Board Members: Chris Klink, Martha Gonzales Shelley Mathews, Sherri Gilmore Janice Butler, Jean Levering, Suzie Sarrett, Patty Green
2006 – 2007
Chris Klink was nominated for and accepted a second consecutive term and was our 21st president. Our annual retreat was held at the Voss Ranch. Our by-laws were reviewed and updated. In addition to assisting BISD art programs with donations, other ways to assist in community art programs were explored. One such way was partial sponsorship of the International Women’s Day art competition. In addition to this contest, the Bastrop Fine Art Guild’s “Art on the Bridge” was again sponsored in part by BAFA. A large crowd-drawing event, The Harvest Art Fest was largely supported by BAFA in 2006, and was one of the best attended arts and crafts events of the season. The Salinas Youth Art contest, which celebrated its’ 20th year in 2006, was coordinated in partnership of the newly completed Hyatt Regency Lost Pines Resort. The Salinas family was in attendance and was very impressed when they were given the opportunity to tour the Salinas Suite at the resort, which was named in honor of Porfirio Salinas. The theme for the 2007 contest was “About Bastrop” and the tee-shirt design was won by BHS student Dylan Suttton. Our annual membership party was held at Baxter’s Restaurant, where an abundance of wonderful appetizers were enjoyed by BAFA’s guests and members.

BAFA Board Members: Chris Klink, Martha Gonzales Patty Green, Vicki Barker Taylor Sherri Gilmore, Donna Huff, Suzie Sarrett, Martha Gonzales, Janice Butler, Jean Levering
2007 – 2008
Patty Green was our twenty-second president. Our annual planning retreat was held at the Hyatt Resort. BAFA once again supported the “Arts on the Bridge” fest with support for advertising and BAFA members enjoyed the day handing out information on BAFA. We also again generously supported the Harvest Art Fest but were disappointed when weather, for the fist time ever, forced the cancellation of the second day of the event. The Salinas Youth Art contest was well received by community members and the theme “Artrageous!” was well expressed by the students. Two $1,000 scholarships were awarded to local art students. The High School Mural, funded by BAFA and the National Endowment for the arts back in 2003, caused a stir when several community members called for it’s removal. The matter was resolved by the BISD School Board and the mural was allowed to remain hanging in the school.

BAFA Board Members: Patty Green, Judy Ing, Donna Huff, Suzie Sarrett, Sherri Gilmore, Vicki Barker Taylor, Chris Klink, Jean Levering
2008 – 2009
Donna Huff is currently our 23rd president. Our annual planning retreat was held in the home of Greg Warner and Patty Green.

BAFA Board Members: Donna Huff, Jean Levering , Cheyl Koch, Chris Klink , Suzie Sarrett, Sherri Gilmore, Vicki Barker Taylor, Patty Green