The 2025 BCCI Best Practices Art Contest is a title that’s almost as big as the hill country sky, but the amount of creative inspiration and collaboration that it sparked was even bigger. The theme this year was Land + Wildlife, and Blanco County artists of all ages packed the Blanco Library gallery with works showcasing the land, water, wildlife, and the deep connections between them.
To make this contest and celebration possible, the Blanco County Conservation Initiative (BCCI) teamed up with Bamberger Ranch Preserve, the Blanco- Pedernales Groundwater Conservation District, the Blanco Library, and the Johnson City Library. Artists were invited to reflect on what land and wildlife conservation means in our community. Submissions ranged from preschool finger paintings to intricate works by experienced local artists. Many of the entries arrived at the Blanco Library right at the deadline on October 31st, where costumed staff handled the final surge of entries with good humor, because nothing pairs with a deadline quite like a librarian dressed as a pirate.
Organizers spent the following weeks curating both an online gallery and a fall exhibit at the Blanco Library, which ran from 2 to 8 p.m. on Friday, November 14. Throughout the afternoon, visitors browsed the artwork, met the artists, and enjoyed refreshments. They also had the opportunity to bid on several pieces in a silent auction, featuring works by Lyrae Perry, Zoe Dudley, Damien Harris, Autumn Seltzer, Erica Smith, Tammy Corbette L., Greg Jones, and Pete Garcia. These funds will go towards even more conservation- through-education programming planned for 2026.
