Press – Contact for an interview or story:  GSWS: Margaret Simpson, Publicity, 609-462-5984 or

                Tess Fields, President, 609-286-2323, tessiefields@gmail.com

                D&R Greenway Land Trust: Deb Kilmer, Executive Assistant to the President & CEO, 609-924-4646

For Immediate Publication:

D&R Greenway Land Trust hosts

GSWS Juried Exhibition on Migration

D&R Greenway Land Trust is hosting the Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) for its 53^rd Annual Open Juried Exhibition, “Migration: Movement for Survival.” GSWS artists created their art to contemplate migration and change – a growing phenomenon in today’s world. Whether figurative or abstract, realistic or fanciful, this thoughtful art will inspire and cause the viewer to think and reflect on the state of the world’s people, wildlife and climate.

This exhibition is on display May 3 through Sept 24, 2023, as well as online at www.gswcs.org. The exhibition at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Johnson Education Center is at One Preservation Place, Princeton NJ 08540. The public is invited to visit the art galleries, weekdays 10 am – 4 pm. Open select weekends, hosted by GSWS artists, July 8-9 and August 5-6 from 10 am – 4 pm. Closed holidays. Visit www.drgeenway.org or call 609-924-4646 for more info.

GSWS will host two Zoom Happy Hours with D&R Greenway Land Trust and the Conserve Wildlife Foundation of NJ which are open to the public with preregistration, on May 25 and June 22, 5-6pm. Each will be a mashup of art and science highlighting Migratory Bats and Birds as well as artists discussing their work. Data will be included on bats and birds observed during early data-gathering at D&R Greenway’s newest Hillside Farm Preserve in Hopewell.

You are invited to a Zoom Happy Hour
When: May 25, 2023 05:00 PM Eastern Time

Click below to register in advance for this Zoom Happy Hour:

https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZwof–orDMjG9RquOyIRT6gBtRJqTMa4dYy

After registering, you will receive a confirmation email
containing information about joining the meeting.

The Juried Exhibition’s Opening Reception and Awards Ceremony will be held June 11, 2-4 pm. GSWS is grateful to the New Jersey Audubon Society for several new artist awards this year.

Juror for acceptance and awards is Michael Kowbuz. Discover more about him at https://tinyurl.com/4vv7xnvk.
The award winners are:

Award                                                                         Artist                          Painting Title

Best in Show – Dagmar Tribble Award                          Kristen Birdsey               It’s Time for School

Nummie Warga Award                                                        Gloria Wiernik               Shifting Sands

Cotswold Industries Award                                               Joanne Bodnar                For the Birds 2

Albert Hunker Memorial Award                                      Zina Umyn                     Voyagers

NJ Audubon – Northern Harrier Award                        Peter Zdenek                   Wildebeest Migration

NJ Audubon – Red Shouldered Hawk Award               Doris Ettlinger               Snow Geese

NJ Audubon – Piping Plover Award                                Joanne Amantea              Fueling Migration

NJ Audubon – Peregrine Falcon Award                         Catherine Gowen             Herbarium at the Little Colorado River

Golden Artist Colors Materials Award                            Medha Atre-Kulkarni    Pursuing Sweetness

GSWS Silver Memorial Award – Marthe McKinnon   Kathleen Wert                Storm

NJ Watercolor Society Award                                            Kara Coleman                Park Landscape

Holbein Artists Materials Award                                      Barbara March               And Just Like That, Winter Melts Into Spring

People’s Choice Award – Jerry’s Artarama (Visitors votes will be tallied and award will be given September 24.)

Poetry workshops, led by renowned local poets in partnership with D&R Greenway, will result in a Poetry Reading on the theme of migration, and a Gallery Walk hosted by GSWS, on September 21, beginning at 6:30 pm.  

An Artist Demo, by award-winning GSWS artist Ann Greene, will take place as a culmination of the exhibition, September 24, from 2 to 4 pm. New awards donated by the New Jersey Audubon Society will be added to the Awards Ceremony June 11. For most recent information, visit www.gswcs.org.

Artists researched and learned about the complex phenomenon of migration to create work that is meaningful to the exhibition theme. Migration is most often thought of as the seasonal movement of animals. Species in all major animal groups migrate. Some species travel astounding distances to reach environments that provide food and conditions for successful mating. Migration also relates to the movement of people. Currently and throughout history, people have left their homes voluntarily or involuntarily to seek safety and opportunity. Climate change is affecting the earth’s inhabitants globally and regionally at a quicker pace than anticipated. As glaciers melt and sea levels rise, weather patterns have become dangerous and unpredictable. As a result, whole communities of people, animals and even plants migrate in order to survive.

Linda Mead, President and CEO of D&R Greenway had this to say: “Among the most electrifying movements of our time is the migration of plants due to climate change and the effect on birds and wildlife that have evolved with these plants for their very survival. Likewise, human populations are migrating in great numbers. All of this has an impact, from what we see today on D&R Greenway preserves, to the survival of many species of the Earth. Remember, we are the top of the food chain and if we don’t do something to care for our natural and social climates, our own survival is at stake, too.”

A unique display upon entering the Johnson Education Center lobby will be GSWS’ 5^th Annual Art Installation, “Going, Going, Gone…” “Fifty-three GSWS artists created 123 beautiful small works that call attention to New Jersey species identified by NJDEP as in greatest need of our conservation efforts. Artists submitted paintings of animals using a designated color scheme. GSWS is proud to partner with the D&R Greenway Land Trust to inform and inspire people into action.” said Tess Fields, President of GSWS. “This exhibit is another exciting intersection of science and art that will capture wide audience attention.”

BACKGROUND

Garden State Watercolor Society has led a community of artists and inspired generations of art enthusiasts. The society’s founding goal is to encourage painting in watermedia and provide educational and exhibition opportunities for artists and residents of NJ, PA, NY or DE. GSWS holds three exhibitions a year including our largest endeavor, the Annual Open Juried Exhibition (hybrid); an online Members Exhibition; hybrid Small but Mighty Exhibition, and a live Art Sale via pop up gallery in Princeton. In May 2023, they will showcase a permanent exhibit of botanical-style watercolors inside of the Discovery Center at the former estate of Joseph Bonaparte at Point Breeze, Bordentown, NJ.

Over its existence, GSWS has been a beacon for award-winning artists to inspire generations. The nonprofit organization’s goal is to encourage painting in water media, provide educational and exhibition opportunities for adult artists of NJ, PA, NY or DE. Please visit www.gswcs.org.

D&R Greenway Land Trust is an accredited nonprofit that has reached a new milestone of over 22,000 acres of land preserved throughout central New Jersey since 1989. By protecting land in perpetuity 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 residents of the region—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 on connecting land with people from all walks of life.