D&R Greenway, Garden St. Watercolor Society Announce Art Scavenger Hunt; Art Installation Outdoors Princeton
BEAUTIFUL CREATURES & IN THE WILD
The Garden State Watercolor Society’s (GSWS) 2nd Annual Art Installation invites the public to participate in “a fun activity for all ages.” The Society has designed a unique, family-friendly scavenger hunt, with their “Beautiful Creatures” exhibit throughout the town of Princeton and Exhibit Scavenger Cards at Greenway Meadows park, surrounding D&R Greenway. Challenged by COVID limitations, these artists have conceived of this socially-distanced and engaging new way of viewing their 50th Anniversary installation that is part of its “Out of the Wild” juried exhibit. In this family-friendly game, participants will enjoy the hunt for “Beautiful Creatures,” and Scavenger Cards outside, IN the ‘wild’.
Six special prize cards, depicting forests and meadows preserve locally by D&R Greenway Land Trust, can be found hidden at the land trust’s Johnson Education Center campus on Rosedale Road and in the surrounding Greenway Meadows park. D&R Greenway, a partner with GSWS for this celebration of art and nature, preserves and cares for land where real-life beautiful creatures make their homes in wild habitats.
Forty-three GSWS artists created 90 Beautiful Creatures paintings, limited to secondary colors of green, orange and purple. These 5x7-inch paintings were to have been displayed in the D&R Greenway galleries in the Johnson Education Center. Instead, the “Beautiful Creatures,”–as ninety numbered, laminated art cards--, have been placed throughout the town of Princeton and on the grounds surrounding D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, for the public to “seek and find.” Participants are invited to follow safety guidelines and put on a mask, gather family members or travel as a single on a “Beautiful Creatures” safari to find these whimsical creations that are sure to bring a smile. All are encouraged to post their “findings” on Instagram, with the hashtag #gswsbc.
The Scavenger Hunt is open and available from Saturday, August 29 through Sunday, September 13, 2020. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center is located at One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road, in Princeton 08540. Greenway Meadows park can be accessed from the land trust’s parking lot or directly on Rosedale Road.
“We couldn’t let our Beautiful Creatures go unseen. We have created a delightful show on GSWS’s YouTube channel. For the first time in GSWS’s 50-year history, we will take to the streets!” explains Tess Fields, GSWS President. “I suggest you see the virtual Beautiful Creatures online show before you go out on the hunt. Make sure you have your sound on, to hear our Beautiful Creature’s songs.”
“What could be more fun than discovering artists’ renderings of beautiful wild creatures while outdoors in nature, learning about wild wonders right in our own backyard,” enthuses Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO. “Everyone who submits entries will have the added benefit of learning from the prize cards about nearby trails rich in birds, butterflies and maybe even a fox or rabbit.”
Purchase of prints or original paintings may be arranged through D&R Greenway by contacting info@drgreenway.org. Purchases help to support D&R Greenway Land Trust’s active land preservation and habitat restoration.
“Every day, D&R Greenway receives notes from people, telling us how much our preserved lands mean during this challenging time,” says Linda Mead. “We increasingly steward our preserves—with new trails and for the sake of all native species who belong there. This art exhibition and its accompanying installation heighten awareness in visitors of all ages, of the urgency of keeping open space open, for humans and the wild creatures.” She adds that, “Since the beginning of 2020, despite COVID, D&R Greenway has added four more parcels of preserved land, surpassing 310 parcels preserved since our founding thirty-one years ago.”
Information about the scavenger hunt including maps, how to win one of six special prizes and how to purchase prints and original artwork is available at www.gswcs.com and at www.drgreenway.org.
Six prize cards have been hidden among the greenery of Greenway Meadow, surrounding D&R Greenway’s iconic 1900 barn. Find all six prize cards, featuring nearby Preserves. E-mail your name, address, phone number, prize card names and numbers and the locations where each card was found to info@drgreenway.org. The first six correct entries will receive a gift certificate to D&R Greenway’s Fall Native Plant sale; an environmentally-themed book of your choice; or a print of your favorite among GSWS’ 90 Beautiful Creatures. Prizes will be awarded on September 15.
The Garden State
Watercolor Society was
founded in 1970 by Dagmar Tribble, a noted watercolorist. Over its existence,
GSWS has been a beacon whose award-winning artists have inspired generations.
The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media and
provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of
NJ, PA, NY or DE. Please visit www.gswcs.com for updates. View works of Steve Zazenski,
exhibit juror, at https://stevezazenski.com/artwork.
D&R Greenway Land Trust, an accredited nonprofit, is close to reaching a new milestone of 21,000 acres of land preserved since 1989. By preserving land for life and creating public trails, it gives everyone the opportunity to enjoy the great outdoors. The land trust’s preserved farms and community gardens provide local organic food for our neighbors—including those most in need. Through strategic land conservation and stewardship, D&R Greenway combats climate change, protects birds and wildlife, and ensures clean drinking water for future generations. D&R Greenway's mission is centered in connecting land with people from all walks of life.
