I was wondering if any of the users here know of a good, free software for creating highly customizable slideshows/video packages? I have Windows Live Movie Maker, but I find it to be a bit clunky. My goal is to find software that can allow me to create a dynamic slideshow/video with music of my art work.

Have a look here.
http://www.techsupportalert.com/content ... ftware.htm

If you want a free video editor try, "VideoPad Video Editor". From my past experience with NCH, be AWARE when you are installing, un-check any additional software it may offer. After install check your start menu for any additional shortcut other than, "VideoPad Video Editor". For example, "NCH Software" and/or "Video Related Programs". Both those are only shortcuts to download more NCH software and safe to delete.
http://www.nchsoftware.com/index.html

As with anything a lot depends on how interested you are & Best is subjective.

For Windows?, things I have used in the past.

DVDslideshow gui, this is a front end for a lot of stuff, so it will download all sorts, avisynth, ffmpeg etc. All valid stuff nothing to be worried about. It has more transitions than you will ever need. It says it can now incorporate video clips. I have only used it for images.
http://download.videohelp.com/tin2tin/

Photofilmstrip. A nice simple application, that can zoom in (ken burns effect) on an image.
http://www.photofilmstrip.org/2-1-Features.html
The page starts in German, language toggle is very small, top right corner.

Foto2Avi, I did try this one relatively recently, and can't remember much about it other than it works.
http://www.videohelp.com/tools/Foto2Avi
Thats the videohelp site and is worth a trawl around for all things video.
start here: http://www.videohelp.com/tools

Avidemux, Simple NLE if you need to chop-n-join or change the audio of your slideshows. Can do simple effects such as adding subtitles, logos.
http://avidemux.razorbyte.com.au/

Thanks for the links, peeps!

for slideshow Xnview ( www.xnview.com ) may show as slideshow on the fly any chosen group of images ,( not necessarily from the same folder 9 and save the slideshow

I seldom used the function to save the slideshow so now i can't remember the details but i remember that worked well, there is also option for several types of transitions

but the bigger point is that is really simple to use ,just click on the slideshow icon you may go