SCAVENGER HUNT: Artist James Fiorentino is shown with one of the cards hidden at D&R Greenway Land Trust and Greenway Meadows Park. Information about the “Beautiful Creatures” scavenger hunt is available at www.gswcs.com. 

The Garden State Watercolor Society (GSWS) invites the public to participate in a fun activity for all ages. GSWS has designed a unique, family-friendly scavenger hunt, with their “Beautiful Creatures” exhibit throughout the town of Princeton and exhibit scavenger cards at Greenway Meadows Park, surrounding D&R Greenway Land Trust.

Challenged by COVID limitations, the GSWS artists have developed this socially-distanced and engaging new way of viewing the 50^th Anniversary installation that is part of their “Out of the Wild” juried exhibit. 

Six special prize cards, depicting forests and meadows preserved locally by D&R Greenway Land Trust, can be found hidden at the land trust’s Johnson Education Center campus on Rosedale Road and in the surrounding Greenway Meadows park. D&R Greenway, a partner with GSWS for this celebration of art and nature, preserves and cares for land where real-life beautiful creatures make their homes in wild habitats.

Forty-three GSWS artists created 90 “Beautiful Creatures” paintings, limited to secondary colors of green, orange and purple. These 5×7-inch paintings were to have been displayed in the D&R Greenway galleries in the Johnson Education Center. Instead, the “Beautiful Creatures” — as 90 numbered, laminated art cards — have been placed throughout the town of Princeton and on the grounds surrounding D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center, for the public to “seek and find.” Participants are invited to follow safety guidelines and put on a mask, gather family members, or travel as a single on a “Beautiful Creatures” safari to find these whimsical creations that are sure to bring a smile. All are encouraged to post their “findings” on Instagram, with the hashtag #gswsbc. 

“We couldn’t let our ‘Beautiful Creatures’ go unseen,” said Tess Fields, GSWS president. “We have created a delightful show on GSWS’s YouTube channel. For the first time in GSWS’s 50-year history, we will take to the streets! I suggest you see the virtual ‘Beautiful Creatures’ online show before you go out on the hunt. Make sure you have your sound on, to hear our ‘Beautiful Creature’s’ songs.” 

“What could be more fun than discovering artists’ renderings of beautiful wild creatures while outdoors in nature, learning about wild wonders right in our own backyard,” said Linda Mead, D&R Greenway president and CEO. “Everyone who submits entries will have the added benefit of learning from the prize cards about nearby trails rich in birds, butterflies, and maybe even a fox or rabbit.”

The scavenger hunt is open and available through Sunday, September 13. D&R Greenway’s Johnson Education Center is located at One Preservation Place, off Rosedale Road, in Princeton. Greenway Meadows park can be accessed from the land trust’s parking lot or directly on Rosedale Road.

Information about the scavenger hunt including maps, how to win one of six special prizes, and how to purchase prints and original artwork, is available at www.gswcs.com and at www.drgreenway.org. Purchases help to support D&R Greenway Land Trust’s active land preservation and habitat restoration.