Selby Gardens Announces Winners of Virtual 44th Annual Juried Photo Exhibition

August 30, 2024 | Sarasota

Marie Selby Botanical Gardens’ 44th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, presented in partnership with the Observer Media Group, is now on view in a virtual gallery that can be accessed at selby.org.

The show includes nearly 300 photographs that were taken by photographers at Selby Gardens’ two campuses and selected for display by an expert panel of jurors. The jury awarded prizes to top photographs in the exhibition, with the Best in Show honor going to Christopher Harrington and his photo, Green Orchid Bee. The virtual exhibition will remain on view through September 30.

Selby Gardens President and CEO, Jennifer Rominiecki, stated, “We are so grateful that almost 300 exceptionally talented artists chose to share their vision of the beauty of our two bayfront sanctuaries through their entries. This virtual exhibition provides an awe-inspiring journey through the diverse nature and living art to be observed and experienced at Selby Gardens.”

In addition to Best in Show, awards for first place were given in each of the five exhibition categories:

·         Best in Show: Green Orchid Bee by Christopher Harrington

·         Living Art: Nature’s Back Lighting by Timothy Wolfe

·         Making a Splash: Reflections in the Rain by Amie Ryan

·         Plant Portraits: Meditation Under the Bonsai by Aaron Peter

·         Birds and the Bees: I Spy with my Little Eye by Jennifer Muller

·         Black and White: Lost in the Leaves by Ryan Lyding

                The jury also recognized three additional photos with honorable mentions.

·         Honorable Mentions:

o   “Spotted” on the Green by Wioletta Krajewska

o   Character of a Curl by Gunilla Imshaug

o   The Lizzie G by Lisa Harris

Selby Gardens received nearly 300 submissions to this year’s juried exhibition. Entrants could submit up to three individual photos, which had to be taken within the past year at either the Downtown Sarasota campus or Historic Spanish Point campus of Selby Gardens. All submissions were reviewed by a panel of jurors, who were invited for their expertise in plants, art, and curation.

“We thank our jurors for volunteering their time and enthusiasm in evaluating nearly 300 photographs for this show,” said Rominiecki. “Our judges were impressed by the talented photographers in our community, and we are delighted to share a diverse array of scenic moments from our two campuses in the resulting exhibition.” To view Selby Gardens’ 44th Annual Juried Photographic Exhibition, visit selby.org or yourobserver.com. This virtual exhibition is presented in partnership with the Observer Media Group.