For the first time in its 60 years holding a juried art show, photography was the winning category in the annual Art Guild of the Purple Isles’ show.
Titled “Rescued and Released,” the drone photo was taken by Jason Rafter, a budding professional photographer whose day job is as a law enforcement officer with Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. The photo featured a mother manatee and her baby being released back into the wild after being rescued and rehabilitated. It was one of 90 entries in the annual show, chaired by artist Karen Kubacki of Tavernier.
“The correlation of the piece and our new show location at Dolphin Life Hospital is so cool,” Kubacki said. “Our best-in-show winner shows precisely the mission of Dolphin Life and members of their staff were involved in the rescue and release.”
Artist Andres Lopez of Miami spent nearly six hours judging the show.
“I am impressed with the quality and execution of all the work,” he said. “It was not easy to select winners with all these amazing works.”
Of Rafter’s photo, Lopez said, “It tells the best story, explodes with emotional impact. It is an image but the movement is like a video. Jason’s piece looks like a National Geographic photo.”
“It was definitely a surprise and honor,” Rafter said of the award. “I started taking photography seriously more than 10 years ago, opening my photography business just last year. That this was my first time entering and the first time in 60 years a piece from the photography category won is just astonishing.”
Rafter said he appreciates his coach/mentor Sandra Lee, a professional photographer in Marathon.
“Composition and storytelling have always been my strong suit, and Sandra has taught me about editing, lighting and some basics. I didn’t know all that I didn’t know.”
Dozens of members of the art guild and their guests came together for the most anticipated announcements of the year — the top finishers in several distinct media categories — pastel drawing, plein air, watercolor, mixed, digital, photography, acrylic and oil, during a private reception before the public opening night reception.
Of the nearly 120 members of the Art Guild, nearly half submitted one or more of the 90 pieces for the show.
The top three winners in the photography category went to Subrata Basu for “Roadside Shrine,” Jeannie Reman for “Fledgling,” and Jessyne Peterson for “Life in a Bubble,” first, second and third place respectively. An honorable mention went to Bruce Chambers, who passed away just days before the show opened, for his piece “Timeless.” Peterson is his daughter-in-law.
Kaya McCoy shared a touching story of purchasing his entry from the 2025 show. He told her it was the first he’d ever sold.
“He touched me so deeply. I love that photo and him,” she said. “I will buy this year’s entry and always cherish his memory.” That piece is titled “Forgotten.”
The People’s Choice award will be announced at the show’s conclusion based on the most votes from the general public. The show is on display through Monday, March 30. Dolphin Life is at 82748 Overseas Highway, Islamorada. The show is free and can be viewed daily from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Additional art guild works can be viewed in the Tassell Building at Mariners Hospital and on Saturday, Feb. 28 during the one-day botanical show at the Frances Tracy Garden Center, MM 94, Tavernier.
Other winners
Acrylic
First place: Gloria Avner, “Ring Around a Roseate”
Second place: Karen Kubacki, “Crinium Symphony”
Third place: Jacqueline Campa, “Sweeter Than a Peach”
Honorable Mention: Susan Kay Holler, “Spotted Elk”
Digital art
First place: Louise Lindsay, “Goodnight Moon”
Mixed media
First place: Christine O’Neill, “Two Wake Surfers”
Second place: Diane Whitney Smith, “Seahorse in Paradise”
Third place: David O’Neill, “Lots A Leg”
Oil
First place: David Bader, “Falling for the Tropics”
Second place: Mary Bonde, “Navel Gazing”
Third place: Deborah Spencer, “Surf’s Up”
Pastel and drawing
First place: Marcia Kreitman, “Coconut Cascade”
Second place: Gisela Llorens, “Springtime in the Tropics”
Third place: Kay Morrow, “Two Kayaks”
Watercolor
First place: Yvette Cotera, “Barrier Reef”
Second place: Monica Bankowski, “Water Lilies”
Third place: Peter Turner, “Zen Bloom”
Plein air
First place: Monica Bankowski, “Greenberg Grove”
Second place: Peter Turners, “Solstice”
Third place: David Bader, “Turtle Flats”
