“THE MAGIC OF VERNAL PONDS”: Art by young students of Heather Barros of Art Collaborations! is featured in this exhibit running through July 28 at D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery in the Johnson Education Center in Princeton.

The Magic of Vernal Ponds, by students of Heather Barros, fills D&R Greenway Land Trust’s Olivia Rainbow Gallery through July 28. The art may be viewed from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays. The Gallery is in the Johnson Education Center, One Preservation Place, Princeton 08540. There is no need to call to see if this gallery is open at the time of visit.

D&R Greenway contributor and Princetonian Suzanne Nash donated the vivid poster on life in and near vernal pools to the land trust in early spring. Heather Barros, of Art Collaborations!, immediately set her young students to work to study the vernal paradigm and recreate their varied population. 

Vibrant murals resulted, along with individual three-dimensional vernal pond creatures. Snakes and salamanders, cattails, and bears vie for viewer attention on Olivia Rainbow walls. This gallery was founded by Chris and Leslie Kuenne, in memory of their young daughter to whom nature was paramount, as exemplified in her own precocious artwork during her lifetime.

The poster was created by Ms. Nash’s son, Phillip deMaynadier, PhD, wildlife biologist with Maine’s Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife (MDIFW). Dr. deMaynadier is leader of the reptile/amphibian/invertebrate group at MDIFW. He grew up in Princeton, attending Princeton Day School. His undergraduate work took place at University of Michigan; his doctoral studies at the University of Maine.

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