Flying dreams

After a skiing accident left him paralyzed from the neck down, Marcus C. Thomas began painting with watercolors and a brush that he could hold in his mouth. “Since his first brushstrokes, he’s been creating art, delighting and inspiring viewers as he pushes the boundaries of what is possible in art and life,” says a press released for Flight of the Mind, a short film about the life of the local quadriplegic artist.

Bob Peck of Asheville Multimedia shot footage of Thomas painting in real-time, along with interviews with Thomas and his wife, Anne. The film will be entered in the Sundance and Cannes film festivals.

“The film is a short version of a DVD that complements and chronicles the artist’s 25-year retrospective, Flight of the Mind: A Painter’s Journey through Paralysis, which was released late last year,” says press. “The book, composed of the narrative story of Marcus’ life and full- color images of his artwork, conveys a message of hope and inspiration for fellow artists, art lovers, those who suffer a disability, caregivers, and anyone struggling to make sense of a world that is both heartbreaking and lovely.”

Flight of the Mind will be screened in the Cinema Lounge at Carolina Cinemas (1640 Hendersonville Rd.), followed by a Q+A with Thomas. Wednesday, July 24 at 8 p.m. Free.

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About Alli Marshall
Alli Marshall has lived in Asheville for more than 20 years and loves live music, visual art, fiction and friendly dogs. She is the winner of the 2016 Thomas Wolfe Fiction Prize and the author of the novel "How to Talk to Rockstars," published by Logosophia Books. Follow me @alli_marshall

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