It’s said that the Caddo Native American tribe welcomed Spanish explorers to the Piney Woods region in the 16th century with the greeting “taysha,” meaning “friend” or “ally.” Over time, Tejas, the Spanish spelling of the word, was changed to Texas—and eventually became the name of the 28th state in the Union. Likely as a nod to these roots, the Texas state legislature adopted “Friendship” as the state motto in 1930. On the following pages, you’ll find a dozen of our talented Lone Star State friends whose creative works showcase a wide variety of genres and styles.