The joy of the holidays is a constellation of music, food, parades and visual delights, which is most notably the holiday tree and the ornament auction at Islamorada’s Holiday Fest on Dec. 1.
Islamorada’s favorite holiday tradition wouldn’t be the same without the focus on art, which the ornaments auction encapsulated. Judy Hull, Islamorada Chamber of Commerce executive director, said the holiday ornament auction is an annual favorite.
“This year was no exception,” Hull said. “The ornaments were spectacular, and we are so incredibly grateful to our amazing art community for supporting our event.”
Nearly 60 artists lent their talents to adorning the orbs. These ornaments were judged by a panel who selected the best in several categories. Six days before the event itself, the online auction kicked off and anyone near or far from Islamorada could bid on these one-of-a-kind holiday ornaments. Bidding ended on the night of Holiday Fest at 9 p.m.
Artist Jul Jankowski won Best Holiday Tropical Bird Theme with her ornament “Flight Festivities.”
“Painting on a sphere isn’t easy, but it does force you to think outside the box … or canvas,” Jankowski said. “Being a part of the Islamorada Chamber’s ornament display/auction is always a treat. It’s a chance for the serious artist to be funny, whimsical or lighthearted and (the auction) raises a good chunk of cash for the chamber to continue doing all the great things they do.”
Old World Gallery’s Cindy King won the People’s Choice Award with her “Meet me Under the Mistletoe” angler fish. The angler fish, a menacing creature normally not seen but in the depths of the ocean, has an elongated luminescent promontory jutting out of its head resembling a fishing rod which it uses to attract prey, hence its moniker. In King’s reimagined version, the angler fish is golden, a touch friendlier with its marbly eyes, and sports a mistletoe as a lure at the end of its rod.
Hundreds of bidders competed in the online and live auction, and the lucky winners got to bring a piece of Islamorada artistry and holiday spirit home with them.
Holiday Fest Ornament Show Winners
- Best Traditional Holiday Theme – Osvaldo Fernandez Diaz
- Best Adherence to Parade Theme (“Happy Holidays and Best Fishes”) – Monica Bankowski
- Best Keys Holiday Theme (aquatic) – Shay Morris
- Best Keys Holiday Theme (terrestrial) – Susi Trottnow
- Best Children’s Holiday Theme – Janice Nagel
- Best Use of Humor – Barbara Bernstein
- Best Animal Holiday Theme – Julie Austin
- Best Holiday Sea Creature – Brandon Bennett
- Best Holiday Tropical Bird Theme – Jul Jankowski
- Most Creative Use of Talent – Amy JoAn
- Best Ocean “FantaSea” Theme – Ginger Hill
- Best in Show – Jason Barth
- People’s Choice – Cindy King
- Honorable Mention – Bree Hayhoe-Geiss
