“BLUE-SPOTTED SALAMANDER”:  Oishee Sinharay, a student at a student at Stony Brook Elementary School in Pennington, won first place for Mercer County in Conserve Wildlife New Jersey Foundation’s 16th annual “Species on the Edge” art and essay contest. The works of county winners are on display at D&R Greenway’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery through October 31.

D&R Greenway’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery presents the works of the county winners of Conserve Wildlife New Jersey Foundation’s 16th annual “Species on the Edge” contest through October 31.

The annual juried exhibition features art and essays on New Jersey’s threatened and endangered species. Spirited versions of creatures — from Gloucester County’s bog turtle to Passaic County’s Kennedy’s emerald dragon (dragonfly) to Mercer County’s blue-spotted salamander — are on display from 9:30 a.m.  to 5 p.m. each weekday.

The students became virtual wildlife biologists through research and unique art for this statewide educational contest. Open to all fifth-graders, this display of winners launches the fall season of D&R Greenway’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery.

“We display exceptional student art throughout each year, conveying the urgency of protecting nature to the preservationists of tomorrow,” says Linda Mead, president and CEO.

For the contest, students are given the list of New Jersey’s more than 80 endangered and threatened species. Each composes an essay on factors contributing to the animal’s endangered situation, and suggestions on how to protect it. The essays are often written in the first person – each student having effectively “become” the creature.

The “Species on the Edge” art and essay contest encourages students to learn about local environmental issues. All are encouraged to express their concerns for the world around them, think creatively about ways to improve it, and consider how their own actions impact the natural world.

Submitted art is judged by artists; essays by scientists. Students must win in both categories. Each county’s winning essay is displayed for reading in the exhibit. The contest attracted more than 2,800 entries. Since 2003, over 15,000 New Jersey children have entered the “Species on the Edge” art and essay contest.

“These talented children poured their hearts into the ‘Species on the Edge’ contest, creating vibrant artwork and passionate essays about these rare wildlife species,” said David Wheeler, executive director of Conserve Wildlife Foundation. “We are inspired to connect the next generation of New Jersey conservation leaders with their natural world. Both their art and essays illustrate nature’s wonders — and reveal many of the challenges we must overcome to help vulnerable wildlife survive in our densely-populated state.”

The Olivia Rainbow Gallery is in the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road, (above Johnson Park School). For more information, call (609) 924-4646 or visit www.drgreenway.org.