In this year’s Restore the Wild Art Competition, artists created and submitted more than 80 pieces that celebrate the majestic Atlantic sturgeon and reflect Restore the Wild’s mission to restore and create natural habitats vital to the survival of Virginia’s wildlife.

Atlantic sturgeon seem like a relic of the past, with their huge size and armor-like appearance. Inextricably linked with Virginia’s history, having played an important role for Native American and colonial populations, they were rarely seen in Virginia’s tidal rivers since the mid-1900s due to over-harvest and water pollution. With revitalization efforts underway for more than 50 years and their federally endangered designation, sturgeon have recently been seen breaching and swimming in the James and other rivers again. DWR encouraged artist to embrace this inspiring story to help showcase this extraordinary species.

The gallery exhibition begins on Friday, March 7 with a public reception from 6 - 8 p.m. at The Gallery at Main Street Station and continues through Sunday, March 30.