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

Salinas Exhibit at the Emporium

1983

Salinas exhibit at the Citizen State Bank (now Victoria Bank)

1984

Salinas Exhibit done by Tommy Vasquez and his brother at the Laake Building on Spring Street, then owned by Jerry Wagner.

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

“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. 

1986 Salinas Bluebonnet Festival Committee Members
 

1986-87

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. 

1986-87 Officers and Committee Members of the Salinas Bluebonnet Festival of the Arts 
 

1987-88

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. 

1987-88 Bastrop Association for the Arts officers and board members
 

1988-89

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.

1988-89 BAFA Board Officers and Members 
 

1989-90

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.

1988-89 Board Officers and Members
 

1990-91

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. 
 

90-91 Board Members
 

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. 

1991-1992 Board Members
 

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. 

1992-1993 Board Members
 

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. 

1993-1994 Board Members
 

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. 
 

1994-1995 Board Members
 

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. 

1995-1996 Board Members
 

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. 
 

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. 
 
 
 

1997-1998 Board Members
 

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. 

1998-1999 Board Members
 

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. 
 

1999-2000 Board Members
 

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. 

2000-2001 Board Members