Pages

Wednesday, July 12, 2017

VERNAL PONDS MAGIC ON DISPLAY @ D&R GREENWAY IN PRINCETON THROUGH JULY 28

Vernal Pond Creatures by Heather Barros Students

The Magic of Vernal Ponds
by Students of Heather Barros

WHEN: through July 28, 9:30 to 5, weekdays
WHERE:
D&R Greenway’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery, D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton
Not necessary to call in advance of visit.  For further information: 609-924-4646

Vernal Pond Snakes by Heather Barros StudentsBrilliant art catalyst, Heather Barros, turned her students loose on vernal ponds and their creatures. The Olivia Rainbow gallery is shimmering with life, as do those ponds in early spring. 

A gift poster of life in and near vernal pools inspired Ms. Barros’ students to create murals and individual 3-dimensional creatures, from bears through salamanders to cattails. 

Vernal Pond Turtles by Heather Barros StudentsD&R Greenway contributor, Princetonian Suzanne Nash, donated the vivid poster on life in and near vernal pools to the land trust in early spring. Heather Barros, of Art Collaborations!, immediately set her young students to work to study the vernal paradigm and recreate their varied population. Vibrant murals resulted, along with individual three-dimensional vernal pond creatures.  Snakes and salamanders, cattails and bears vie for viewer attention on Olivia Rainbow walls.  This gallery was founded by Chris and Leslie Kuenne, in memory of their young daughter, to whom nature was paramount, as exemplified in her own precocious artwork during her lifetime.

The poster was created by Ms. Nash’s son, Phillip deMaynadier, Ph.D., Wildlife Biologist with Maine’s Departmet of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW).  Dr. deMaynadier is leader of the Reptile/Amphibian/Invertebrate Group at MDIFW.  He grew up in Princeton, attending Princeton Day School.  His undergraduate work took place at University of Michigan; his doctoral studies at the University of Maine.

Dr. deMaynadier’s enthusiasm for his subjects translated intensively to Heather Barros’ young pupils. 

D&R GREENWAY LAND TRUST IS IN ITS 27TH YEAR of preserving and protecting natural lands, farmlands and open spaces throughout central and southern New Jersey. Through continuous preservation and stewardship -- caring for land and easements to ensure they remain protected and ecologically healthy in perpetuity—D&R Greenway nurtures a healthier and more diverse environment for people and wild species in seven counties. Accredited by the national Land Trust Accreditation Commission, D&R Greenway’s mission is to preserve and care for land and inspire a conservation ethic, now and for the future. Since its founding in 1989, D&R Greenway has permanently recently exceeded the 20,000-acre mark, an area 20 times the size of Central Park. 

The Johnson Education Center, a circa-1900 restored barn at One Preservation Place, Princeton, is D&R Greenway’s home. Through programs, art exhibits and related lectures, D&R Greenway inspires greater public commitment to safeguarding land.