We are just catching our breath as we sail into the holiday season, and we wanted to take a moment to thank everyone who came out to enjoy and support the Boerne Festival of Art & Music. At the art show this year, we saw a 60% increase in sales! Please remember that when you make a purchase from a working studio artist, you are making a difference in our culture. Your support allows that artist to keep working and surviving. Many would characterize art as a luxury. We see it as a necessity in a civilized and cultured world. Across time, surviving artworks have told the stories of cultures long disappeared from the face of the earth, and this continues to be so. . . .

The music was fantastic, beginning with concert violinist Stephanie Sant'Ambrogio of the Cactus Pear Music Festival on the evening of the gala wine dinner at Ye Kendall Inn. In addition to the great artwork, for the rest of the weekend we enjoyed a broad range of wonderful music from Mike Vanderberg Group, Rodney Joe Smith, Mystic Sister, Acoustic Jungle, Mesquite, The Stepsiders, The Derailers, and Small World. Attendance was markedly up across the board. We are proud to be able to say that this was a gift to the community. Everyone who wanted to was able to attend this festival FREE OF CHARGE.

The Directors of the Cibolo Arts Council and Shelly Grimm of Southwest Art Magazine announced our featured artist for BFAM 2007 - Bill Scheidt. Many of you are very familiar with Bill's wonderful paintings depicting wildlife and his beloved western landscapes. Bill will create the original painting to be featured in our limited edition print for 2007, and follows in a line of very fine painters including, Thom & Stevie Ricks, Jay Hester, and David MacSmith. Keep in mind that the Sponsorship opportunity for this piece of art is still available. Email Tami at ciboloartscouncil@mac.com for more details.