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Sunday, August 16, 2020

D&R Greenway Land Trust and Garden State Watercolor Society Announce “WILD ART” Virtual Happy Hour with Juror and Prized Artists


Dorris Ettlinger, Eaglets

GSWS 50th Anniversary Virtual Exhibition: Out of the Wild

WHEN: Wednesday, August 26, from 5 until 6 p.m. 
WHERE: via Zoom
ADMISSION: free
rsvp@drgreenway.org
 
D&R Greenway’s virtual happy hours are quickly becoming a popular, healthy way to engage with communities of like-minded new and old friends via Zoom. 

The Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) and D&R Greenway Land Trust invite the public to this celebration involving GSWS’ juror and top award winners from Out of the Wild, their 50th Anniversary virtual juried exhibition. Discover which wild settings and what interactions with wild creatures inspired the chosen winners of the exhibit’s top prizes. Be present for the first presentation of the land trust’s new D&R Greenway James Fiorentino Nature Award that evening.
 
GSWS President Tess Fields will discuss the role of art in 21-st-Century Conservation, and address art in the time of COVID. D&R Greenway CEO & President Linda Mead will moderate the nature-focused discussions. She will speak about how the land trust’s management of their preserves uses conservation data to ensure protection of wild creatures. Internationally renowned artist and D&R Greenway Trustee James Fiorentino will speak of bird-watching and bird-banding expeditions with Conserve Wildlife Foundation of New Jersey and the Raptor Trust, which inspire his action paintings of New Jersey animals including threatened and endangered species. 


Recovery by James Fiorentino
The watercolors of Out of the Wild were selected by Steve Zazenski, renowned for his own award-winning landscapes. Zazenski will share insights on his process of jurying a show, which intrigues both artists and non-artists. Exhibit prize-winners who will co-create this insightful conversation include Joan Capaldo, Doris Ettlinger and Richard Hoffman. 
 
“Our virtual happy hours are fun ways, in their brief format, to learn about places and people who care about the conservation of land in our region, in our state,” says Linda Mead. “Now that the virtual has become the norm, D&R Greenway is increasing the conservation community through opportunities that prove pleasant, informative, and restorative at the end of complex days. We are told that our happy hours catalyze interesting dinner conversations!”
 
GSWS President Tess Fields looks forward to hearing of the prize-winning artists’ inner realities as they worked on Out of the Wild.  "I always find it interesting to hear stories about how artists create. Feelings, atmosphere and technique combine to produce fresh, sometimes unexpected, results that speak to a specific time and place. This happy hour with our friends at D&R Greenway and their audience will allow artists to connect newly during this time of seclusion."
 
At any hour of any day or night, GSWS’ vivid array of Out of the Wild's intense nature art may be enjoyed, indoors or out, with piano accompaniment, through September 30. http://www.drgreenway.org.

The Garden State Watercolor Society was founded in 1969 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. 
 
D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, home to its art galleries in Princeton, is currently closed to ensure health and safety due to COVID. Visit www.drgeenway.org to learn about the organization’s latest news and virtual programs. D&R Greenway Land Trust, One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540