The Mobile Arts Council (MAC) is celebrating the arrival of spring with two new exhibitions highlighting the beauty of the natural world.

Cherie Peters’ exhibit, "At the Water’s Edge," features mixed-media compositions that blend found objects with wood, paper and plexiglass. Using ancient encaustic techniques, Peters creates textured modern pieces that evoke an earthy aesthetic. She has showcased her work in juried contemporary art shows across the country, earning recognition and awards for her distinctive approach.

Meanwhile, botanical artist Derek Norman returns to the MAC Gallery to present "Homage to the Trees of DeTonti," which also features work by his students in the Mobile Botanical Gardens’ Art Program. The collection draws inspiration from the towering live oaks and lush magnolias of Mobile’s DeTonti Square Historic District. Visitors will see oils, pastels, watercolors and pen and ink works by local artists Elisa Baldwin, Joanne Brandt, Earl Clark, Jane Clark, Christy Hatcher, Ricia Hendrick, Charmain Mann, Missy Patrick, Melissa Root and Norman himself.

Sponsored by the National Endowment for the Arts, the exhibit was curated by Norman, a recipient of Gold and Silver Gilt Medals from the Royal Horticulture Society in England. His work is represented in private and permanent collections worldwide, including the Library of Congress, the British Museum and the Hunt Institute for Botanical Documentation in Pittsburgh.

Both exhibits will be on display for free public viewing from March 4 through March 28. A joint opening reception is scheduled during LoDa ArtWalk on Friday, March 13, from 6 to 9 p.m. at the MAC Gallery, Room 1927, 6 S. Joachim Street in downtown Mobile.

For more information, visit www.mobilearts.org.