Best known for his captivating realist paintings, Alan Magee also creates works that delve into the darkest aspects of human nature. His arresting images which comment on corporate greed, on cruelty and gun violence, and on civilian and military victims of war seem at odds with his serene paintings of nature and found objects, but through his distinctive visual language and interconnected themes, Magee suggests that these dual realms are inseparably interwoven. The documentary from David Berez and David Wright explores the Magee’s subjects, locales, and the historical sources which have sustained his work for five decades, asking viewers to consider the breadth of human behavior and experience.

 

​Shot on location, from Pemaquid Point, Maine to the streets of Berlin, the film examines the ways in which art can address the great challenges we face as a society. It features long-time friends and collaborators, including writer Barry Lopez, Berlin-based cellist Frank Dodge, labor-union director and historian Harris Gruman, curator/director of the Center for Maine Contemporary Art Suzette McAvoy, and artist Robert Shetterly, creator of the Americans Who Tell the Truth project.

 

“Ultimately this is the story of an exceptional artist whose timeless art explores what it means to be human, whose art invites empathy, hope and understanding.” Suzette McAvoy, former chief curator and executive director, Center for Maine Contemporary Art.

 

“Art is not a Solace” will screen at Lincoln Theater, located at 2 Theater St. in Damariscotta, for one screening only, Thursday, Aug. 25 at 7 p.m. Tickets for this special film event and post-screening talkback are available in advance through the theater’s website at LincolnTheater.net and will also be available for purchase at the door beginning 30 minutes before showtime.