On Friday, December 11, from 6:00pm-7:30pm, Key West Art & Historical Society welcomes the public to the opening of its newest exhibit at the Custom House Museum— “Islands in the (Gulf) Stream: A photography exhibit of Key West & Cuba by Rob O’Neal.” The exhibit, set to run through April 19, 2016, will showcase more than 40 images of his vibrant work.

For over 20 years, the professional photojournalist’s images have regularly appeared worldwide via the Associated Press— and for 16 of them, he has captured the heart and soul of both Key West and Cuba. Armed with a press pass, incredible talent and attitude, and consummate technical skill, he has ventured off the beaten path to collect images that demonstrate the spirit of these Gulf Stream islands.

“Rob is comparing and contrasting the cultural differences between our islands,” says KWAHS curator Cori Convertito, PhD. “He’s been to Cuba more than thirty times. Every time he goes, he finds Cuba has its own strong identity, whereas people tend to want to make it synonymous with Key West. Key West has certainly borrowed some of Cuba’s culture, but Rob’s work and this exhibit puts an emphasis on each having their distinct culture.”

O’Neal culled through hundreds of thousands of images to prepare for the exhibit, “trying to find a middle ground to start from and how each culture interprets politics, landscape, art, and industry,” says Convertito. With Convertito’s assistance, they narrowed it down to just over 40, with plans to set up an electronic slideshow to help deliver the impact of the scope O’Neal covers in his work as a photojournalist.

“This way, a good representation of all the crazy stuff I shoot can be seen enlarged and on the wall, as the actual breadth of subjects I shoot every week can be seen on a smaller scale, electronically,” he says. “At times it can range from a newborn baby to a horrific scooter accident to a plate of hamachi to a Playboy playmate to a perp walk all in the same day. It’s kind of hard to process at times.”

Much like his work in print in the daily Key West Citizen newspaper and for the Associated Press via the Florida Keys News Bureau, each image will be accompanied by a caption exploring how he captured the image and the story within it, with anecdotal stories and O’Neal’s interpretation of particular events or interactions with people. Gallery visitors can anticipate images that captured rallies in Cuba with Fidel and Raul Castro, former President Bill Clinton’s visit to Key West, rendezvous with Key West’s Captain Outrageous and the celebration of Pope Francis in Cuba.

“There are a few editorial images, several portraits and also some stuff from my “Florida Keys and Key West” calendar projects, now in their eighth year,” says O’Neal.

“The exhibit is a wonderful way to appreciate the work Rob has done for the community and the Cuba/Key West relationship,” says Convertito. “He’s been able to report from the front lines because he’s had a lot of access in Cuba, but he underplays it. He’s just pleased that he’s able to do it and never boasts about it. The show is really a great look through his humble eyes about what makes Cuba and Key West so special.”

“Islands in the (Gulf) Stream” is sponsored in part by The Trophia Butterfly Foundation, the Westin Key West Resort & Marina, Tom Sawyer’s Keyboard Advertising Specialties, and the Gardens Hotel. For more information, contact Curator Cori Convertito, Ph.D., 305.295.6616 x 112 or visit KWAHS.ORG.

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