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title: "ACAP Latest News’ favourites from the 2nd Annual Friends of Midway Atoll Art Contest"
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# ACAP Latest News’ favourites from the 2nd Annual Friends of Midway Atoll Art Contest

*![Untitled Artwork](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Art_Competition_2026_Pat_Latas.jpg)Artwork by ABUN artist Pat Latas  
“This art, named ‘Treasures,' depicts, Wisdom, her chick, a ghost crab and a plastic army man figurine. It represents the past, present and future of our marine treasures: the beauty, the resilience, the squandering.  Wisdom is the epitome of resilience, beauty, and wisdom of the sea.  The chick is the present and the future, if it survives.  The crab shares its treasure, an immortal plastic toy which itself represents conflict at all levels: human battling human, human and nature, generosity and greed, the wars waged on Midway and other Pacific islands.  We need to have the wisdom, science, knowledge and perseverance to protect these irreplaceable jewels”  
Medium: digital using Procreate and traditional art techniques on iPad.*

 The winners of the 2nd Annual [Friends of Midway Atoll](https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=friends%20of%20midway%20atoll%20national%20wildlife%20refuge) Art Contest have now been released. A total of 61 artworks was submitted in adult and Under 18 categories “each sharing their creative perspective on Midway Atoll.”  *ACAP Latest News* has looked at all the [submissions](https://friendsofmidway.org/2026-art-contest-winners-submissions/?) and chosen four of its favourites to show here.

 *![Art Competition 2026 Winner Nadia Borg](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Art_Competition_2026_Winner_Nadia_Borg.jpg)  
Nadia Borg - Over 18 Category First Place Winner depicting Short-tailed, Black-footed and Laysan Albatrosses  
“They say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, and I can’t help but wonder at what beauty an albatross beholds on its wild journey between the sky and seas traveling thousands of miles amidst the decades it lives”*

 **![Art Competition 2026 Kitty Harvill Top 10](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Art_Competition_2026_Kitty_Harvill_Top_10.jpg)*  
“‘Circle of Life’ [by Kitty Harvillis an acrylic painting on a circular canvas 20” (50 cm) in diameter. I used several reference photos offered by FOMA to create this work. My objective was to show the vibrant life of Kuaihelani, the vast marine life of the ocean, the beauty and myriad colours of a setting sun, the courtship of a Laysan Albatross couple, and a chick representing new and continuing life with the glow of the setting sun on his forehead. The inclusion of the Ilima (*Sida fallax*) surrounding the chick is a nod to this indigenous groundcover and the great efforts of eradicating its competitive invasive species,*Verbesina*, by the FOMA [and Midway Atoll] team”*

 Kitty Harvill, Co-founder of Artists & Biologists Unite for Nature ([ABUN](https://abun4nature.org/)), with which ACAP has collaborated to produce albatross and petrel art over seven years, says that she is ”proud and happy” that six ABUN members entered the competition - Deepti Jain, Andrea Siemt, Katja Fletcher, Pat Latas, Sarah Youngren and herself.  Deepti’s contribution won the ‘People's Choice Award’ and Kitty’s painting was placed in the ‘Top 10’.  Both are illustrated here**.**

 *![Art Competition 2026 Deepti Jain s Peoples Choice winner](https://www.acap.aq/images/stories/acap/Birds/Art_Competition_2026_Deepti_Jain_s_Peoples_Choice_winner.jpg)People's Choice winner by ABUN artist, Deepti Jain*

 *“Life at Atoll celebrates the extraordinary wildlife of Midway Atoll, home to millions of seabirds and many unique marine species. The artwork brings together an endangered Hawaiian Monk Seal with a Black-footed Albatross family capturing a small glimpse of the life that unfolds on this remarkable island. I haven't had the opportunity to visit Midway Atoll yet, but it has become one of those places I truly hope to see some day. Standing on its shores and witnessing these remarkable species in their natural home would be a dream come true. Media: Soft pastels and pastel pencils on pastelmat*

 Selected artwork may be featured on future Friends of Midway Atoll online store items, including shirts, hats, stickers, posters, note cards, and more.  Profits from merchandise sales directly support conservation projects on the atoll.

 *John Cooper, Emeritus Information Officer, Agreement on the Conservation of Albatrosses* *and Petrels, 14 August 2026*