D&R Greenway Land Trust and Garden State Watercolor Society Announce Virtual Art Exhibit and Scavenger Hunt
Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) partners with D&R Greenway Land Trust to
mount a wildlife-focused 50th Anniversary Juried Exhibition online
OUT OF THE WILD
WHEN: August 4 through September 30, 2020.
A
virtual Awards Ceremony will include a special new award on occasion of GSWS’
50th Anniversary, the D&R Greenway James Fiorentino Nature Art
Award. Opportunities to experience the exhibit include a virtual gallery, a
virtual talk with featured artists, and a fun family-friendly scavenger hunt. (Left: It Takes Two by Cynthia Smith)
Art has depicted our place in the world since
prehistoric man imprinted hand-prints and animals on cave walls. Now, as then,
art is an important tool for sharing our observations and feelings. Current
virus restrictions add to our collective cabin-fever and need for connection.
This exhibit celebrates the natural world with a sense of urgency to save it
from loosened regulations and increasing environmental concerns. It recognizes
the value found in the lands of D&R Greenway that have become a critical
connection for people, for inspiration and restorative meditation.
Garden State Watercolor’s exhibit Out of the Wild portrays human relationships with the wild landscape, flora and fauna with
creative imagination. Artists illustrate natural beauty, as well as the
disconnect felt when civilization and nature are out of balance. Whether the
trauma of suburban or industrial encroachment or the restorative bliss of land
reclaimed to wildflower meadows, this deeply contemplative exhibit will
showcase what Out of the Wild signifies to each of us. This exhibit was
juried by Steve Zazenski, AWS, who is known for his colorful landscapes
depicting coastal New England, Europe and the Caribbean. Art is available for
sale online, with part of each purchase a donation to support D&R
Greenway’s charitable mission of preserving and caring for land, and inspiring
a conservation ethic.
‘Beautiful Creatures’ Scavenger Hunt later in
August. These little creatures are sure to engage and delight.” Speaking of the partnership with D&R
Greenway that began at its Johnson Education Center art gallery, she continues,
“I want to thank Linda Mead and her wonderful staff for working with us on
these projects. I think we make a great team!" (Above: Batsto Lake by Richard Hoffman)
“Every day, D&R Greenway receives notes from
people who tell us how much our preserved lands mean to them during this
challenging time,” says Linda Mead, D&R Greenway President and CEO.
“Getting outdoors and looking at art are both activities that calm our mind and
provide respite in an uncertain world. Combining those with the unique
opportunity to discover art in our community with a scavenger hunt is my
favorite aspect of this exhibit.”
Featured in the outdoor scavenger hunt is the
second annual mini-art exhibit “Beautiful
Creatures” that includes ninety 5”x7” images of earth’s
creatures created by 47 artists. Artists were challenged to paint using only
secondary colors of orange, green and purple. This special exhibit follows the
popular 2019 challenge that focused on primary colors of red, yellow and blue.
The community is invited to wear a mask to seek and find this year’s “Beautiful
Creatures” as laminated art placed throughout the town of Princeton and at
D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center campus that includes Greenway
Meadows on Rosedale Road. This unique and fun way to learn fascinating facts
and enjoy depictions of wild creatures provides an educational activity for
school-age children and a socially-distanced outdoor excursion for art and
wildlife lovers of all ages. (Right: Still Waiting by John Wolff)
Start and
end dates for the scavenger hunt, along with special instructions and clues,
can be found on the organizations’ websites at www.gswcs.com and www.drgreenway.org.