Artists participating in the Maine Art Gallery’s annual Paint It Maine! plein air event will paint in Midcoast Conservancy nature preserves as MAG marks its 10th anniversary, with concurrent The Art of Alchemy collage and mixed media show, both opening July 30 and running through September 6, plus a reception August 1 featuring jazz pianist Sean Fleming. The exhibition will feature works connected to legacy MAG artist Joseph Fiore, whose trails and vistas influenced by the preserves are represented alongside contemporary pieces, with a panel on plein air painting planned for August 13. Sponsorships from Barnes Custom Window Treatments and J. Edward Knight Insurance support the two shows, which include discussions and events like the August 13 panel on why artists enjoy painting outdoors. Separately, Katharine Cartwright’s botanical and musical-vegetation paintings are showcased at Rockport Public Library for SEED FEST, highlighting her Organic and Music Makers series and her blend of art with science. Cartwright’s background spans art and earth sciences, including studies in climatology and geology, informing her explorations of how seeds, growth, and environment inspire her work. Both articles underscore a regional arts culture that ties outdoor inspiration, scientific curiosity, and community events to celebrate nature in Midcoast Maine and Spruce Head.