James Fiorentino’s “Portraits of Preservation” is the current exhibit in the Marie L. Matthews Gallery at the Johnson Education Center. Click here to learn more!
Princeton, N.J. — D&R Greenway Land Trust continues the celebration of its 30th year with a new, traveling exhibit, “Portraits of Preservation,” based on watercolor paintings by the noted, award-winning artist James Fiorentino. The exhibit highlights the iconic landscapes and treasured wildlife found on 20,865 acres and 308 properties permanently preserved by the D&R Greenway since its founding three decades ago.
The exhibit will launch on December 6 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm with an Opening Reception featuring an artist talk and special guests. The exhibit will remain on display at the Johnson Education Center weekdays through February 28, after which it will travel to other noteworthy locations throughout Central New Jersey and surrounding states. Open 9:30 to 5:00 p.m.; call to be sure galleries not rented at time of visit. For free reception, rsvp@drgreenway.org.
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 discover wildlife that can be found inhabiting these green spaces. Among the 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 will be bear, fox, wood frogs, eagles, hummingbirds, monarch butterflies and bees who depend on the habitats protected by D&R Greenway for their survival. With current numbers of bird species declining, “the preservation of these places is more important now than ever,” says artist Fiorentino.
“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.” Visitors can take some of the beauty home, since originals and reproductions of the art will be available for purchase, all proceeds to benefit the preservation of future lands.
“My family has made its home in Central Jersey in large part because of the beauty that 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,” said artist James Fiorentino.
The exhibit will provide holiday shopping opportunities as many of the paintings will be reproduced as giclees, on pillows, and on rustic wood panels, at a wide range of price points.
The Exhibit, including the Opening Reception, is free and open to the public. The second stop for this traveling exhibit will be at Studio 7 Fine Art Gallery in Bernardsville, NJ.
To learn more, please visitwww.drgreenway.org.
