Continuing to celebrate its 30th year of land preservation, D&R Greenway Land Trust in Princeton, will highlight its properties with a new exhibit called, “Portraits of Preservation,” starting this Friday.
— Provided photo
Based on watercolor paintings by the noted, Award-winning Artist James Fiorentino, his exhibit, “Portraits of Preservation,” highlights the iconic landscapes and treasured wildlife found on 20,865 acres and 308 properties permanently preserved by D&R Greenway for three decades now.
So, from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Dec. 6, the exhibit will feature an Opening Reception with the artist’s talk and special guests at the Johnson Education Center at D&R Greenway.
“We are incredibly fortunate to have a renowned artist like James Fiorentino help us celebrate the beauty of the lands and wildlife that the D&R Greenway Land Trust has preserved,” said CEO Linda Mead.
“The public will enjoy seeing the art and learning the stories of these special lands at the exhibit. In our 30th year, this is an opportunity to raise awareness about not only what we have accomplished but also about what there still remains to do,” she states.
Consisting of nearly 30 works of art, the exhibit will allow visitors to tour preserved lands of the D&R Greenway through the eyes of an artist, and to discover wildlife that can be found inhabiting these green spaces.
Among lands featured in the exhibit are: Greenway Meadows in Princeton; St. Michael’s Farm Preserve in Hopewell, the Abbott Marshlands in Bordentown, Capitol City Farm in Trenton, Steel Gap Preserve in Bridgewater, Goat Hill Overlook in Lambertville, and Sourland Mountain Preserve that spans several area towns.
Among the wildlife species portrayed are bear, fox, wood frogs, eagles, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies and bees that depend on the habitats protected by D&R Greenway for their survival.
With the current number of bird species declining, “the preservation of these places is more important now than ever,” says Fiorentino.
His artwork proceeds will also benefit the preservation of future lands.
Meanwhile, visitors can also take home some of his beautiful pieces, since originals and reproductions of the art will be available for purchase as well.
Fiorentino further comments that, his “family has made its home in Central Jersey in large part because of the beauty surrounds us here. I’m proud to be associated with D&R Greenway as a member of the board, and now as an artist helping to celebrate the fact that these beautiful places will be protected forever.”
To learn more, please visit www.drgreenway.org.