In the recently published Of Texas Rivers and Texas Art, Andrew Sansom, a leading Texas conservationist, and William E. Reaves, an influential Texas art collector and historian, have teamed up to showcase some of the finest contemporary river art detailing the gorgeous traits of Texas landscapes. The featured artwork comes from Randy Bacon, Mary Baxter, David Caton, Margie Crisp, Keith Davis, Fidencio Duran, Jon Flaming, Charles Ford, Pat Gabriel, Hunter George, Billy Hassell, Lee Jamison, Robb Kendrick, Laura Lewis, William Montgomery, Noe Perez, Jeri Salter, Erik Sprohge, Debbie Stevens, and William Young.

Art in service of conservation is nothing new, as Sansom and Reaves note in their introductions. And rivers have figured prominently in the artistic imagination for all of recorded history and probably before that, as evidenced by flood stories and myths preserved in almost all the religious and folk traditions of the world. The collection of work included in this book is exemplary of the strong inspiration that rivers have provided for a vast current of literature, music, and art, in turn shaping their place in life and culture and bringing about a greater appreciation of the stunning beauty of our natural world.

ANDREW SANSOM is executive director of The Meadows Center for Water and the Environment at Texas State University-San Marcos. The author of Scout, the Christmas Dog and other titles, he previously served as executive director of The Nature Conservancy of Texas and the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department. WILLIAM E. REAVES is co-owner of Reaves-Foltz Fine Arts in Houston and is also the author of Texas Art and a Wildcatter's Dream. He has been an avocational art historian and collector for more than thirty years.