This year, 31 award-winning artists have been selected to bring their plein air talents to Cape Elizabeth for Paint for Preservation for the weekend of July 17-19. The Cape Elizabeth Land Trust’s only annual fundraiser, the weekend culminates on Sunday, July 19th when the new artwork will be auctioned at a benefit reception. (Tickets on sale June 7, 2026!)
For many years, this event has been recognized as one of the premier art sales in Maine. It is a juried event, in which jurors drawn from the local arts community select the artists to participate.
Congratulations to the selected artists! Click on the names below to visit their websites and see samples of their work.
This year’s jury featured Dinah Minot, Executive Director of Creative Portland. A former producer at Saturday Night Live and Paramount Pictures, Minot moved to Maine and joined Creative Portland in 2016 as Executive Director. Soon after, she was featured in Maine Magazine’s 2021 inaugural issue Mainers of the Year. Minot manages a monthly convening for artists and cultural stakeholders as well as a biennial Arts & Culture Summit. A designer, artist, and community organizer, Ms. Minot has curated municipal art exhibits in Los Angeles County and served on several arts education committees in the Santa Monica public school system, the PTSA, and public art committees. Minot’s focus is on the sustainability and vibrancy of the local arts ecosystem.
She reflected, “The jury process is tricky because of all the diverse styles, mediums and range. Selecting art is subjective. It was an honor to review samples of the stunning images submitted and to imagine the range of styles, movement, light and emotions that each artist will carry back on their canvas to the auction.”
Once selected, the artists will choose from a list of Cape Elizabeth’s landscapes including CELT conserved lands. All paintings must be made entirely outdoors (en plein air) over the three-day weekend, with no studio work allowed. The public is welcome to tour painting locations, meet the artists and watch them work. A list of locations will be made available in July. To support CELT’s fundraiser, artists donate at least 50% of their art sales to benefit CELT’s land conservation, trail and habitat stewardship, and community education programs.
Paint for Preservation is widely supported by a number of business sponsors, whose financial contributions help defer the many upfront costs of such a large and complex event and help more funds go to CELT’s conservation programs.
We are grateful for our sponsors!
Conservation Sponsors:
- Attos Estate Jewelers
- GoGo Refill
- Progressive Dental Care
- Rarebreed Veterinary Partners
Stewardship Sponsors:
- Casco Bay Frames & Gallery
- Heather Shields Maine, Sotheby’s International Realty
- Knickerbocker Group
- Tammaro Landscaping & Property Services, Inc.
- Veterinary and Rehabilitation Center of Cape Elizabeth
- Woodhull
Thanks also to the Rotary Club of South Portland-Cape Elizabeth volunteers who will provide parking coordination.
