Saturday, November 14, 2026
El Levy:” Seafoam at Sunset, 2025.” Archival Inkjet Print, 11 x 14; $80, unframed print.
Anthony Alexander’s steel sculpture of a displaced rattlesnake: “Diamondback Rattlesnake, 2025.” Steel; 20” x 20” x 4.5”; $1,600.
Abbigail Steward: “Moon Dancer, 2025.” 23.5 x 34 x 5 inches; Wood, Metal, Plastic; NFS.
Eva Petrovski’s “Endangered Empress” captures the rare and commanding presence of the Florida panther, an iconic species with fewer than 200 individuals remaining in the wild. Through intricate mixed media, the piece draws urgent attention to the fragility of this elusive feline and the growing threat to its survival. “Endangered Empress, 2025”; Mixed Media; approximately 39 x 17 x 3 inches; $2,580.
Donovan Souppa: (Athene cunicularia floridana), 2024; Archival Inkjet Print; 11 x 14; $150, unframed print.
Gopher tortoises, a native keystone species in Southwest Florida, play a critical ecological role by creating burrows that shelter a wide range of wildlife. “Keystone species” highlights the tortoise alongside the many species - burrowing owls, rattlesnakes, rabbits, skunks, and frogs - that rely on its underground refuge for survival. Anna Veretees: “Keystone species, 2025”; Acrylic on wood; $68.
Steve Hughart II, FGCU Adjunct Sculptor Professor; Raquel Herrera, Program Manager, Friends of Rookery Bay, and Athan Barkoukis, Executive Director with the Friends of Rookery Bay.
Eva Petrovski's "Endangered Empress" won Best in Show at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center's Art Reception.
Makeila Gonzalez's photography piece "Marsh" was inspired by her firsthand experience of watching Florida's native beauty being developed over the years, hoping to inspire conservation.
Kailyn Uria's "Water Garden" won Honorable Mention at Rookery Bay's Art Reception.
Diana Talavera's mixed media piece "Pink Sphinx Moth" won second place for its unique perspective on the "strange parts of nature".
Caitlin Delamo's "Spatterdock" is a mixed media piece representing Florida's wild fauna.
Madison Wilcox's "Swamp Puppy" won Honorable Mention for her mixed media piece.
Nature and creativity collide in Art in the Wild, a new exhibition on view at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center featuring photography and sculpture by students from Florida Gulf Coast University (FGCU). The works highlight not just the beauty of Southwest Florida’s ecosystems but the power of visual art to prompt reflection, reverence, and environmental awareness.
Organized in partnership with Friends of Rookery Bay, the exhibit showcases work by students in Professor Hannah Harley’s History of Photography course and Professor Steve Hughart’s Sculpture II course. Each artist responded to the unique landscapes, wildlife, and ecological concerns of the region using distinct artistic methods and media.
“The artworks were aimed at connecting viewers with Southwest Florida’s dynamic coastal environment and celebrate the long-standing relationship between art and environmental stewardship,” said Athan Barkoukis, executive director of Friends of Rookery Bay.
Many of the sculptors used material choice as a commentary on the human impact on the environment. Anthony Alexander’s steel sculpture of a displaced rattlesnake evokes industrial disruption and the loss of native habitat, while Abbigail Steward’s Moon Dancer, created from wood, metal, and plastic, uses everyday materials to symbolize the serenity and emotional grounding found in coastal spaces.
Other students described the inspiration behind their pieces. Photographer El Levy’s Seafoam at Sunset is a tribute to Fort Myers Beach in the aftermath of Hurricane Ian. “As someone that grew up in Lee County, my heart was shattered following the destruction… I believe that as artists, we have a responsibility to use our skillset and our eyes to find the beauty in chaos and devastation,” she said.
“Through this collaboration, we’re seeing real-world integration of what we teach in the classroom and how it can be applied to the communities in our Southwest Florida region,” said Harley.
The exhibition is on view through August 1 at the Rookery Bay Environmental Learning Center, located at 300 Tower Road in Naples. The center is open Tuesdays through Saturdays from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Admission is $10 for adults and $5 for children ages four to 12.
Whether you’re an art lover, a nature enthusiast, or simply curious about how the two can intersect, this exhibition offers a meaningful reminder of the power of creativity in environmental outreach.
Learn more by visiting rookerybay.org or calling 239-530-5972.
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