Area residents are in for a real treat on Monday, Aug. l2, when the Southport Historical Society brings renowned maritime artist and Southport resident Ed Parker to the Southport Town Hall for a talk.

Parker, who is a visual story teller, will present a program of the inspirations behind his unique and humorous paintings as part of the Southport Historical Society lecture series.

Parker likes a good story, one with a twist or one that might be called a tall tale. He also loves anything to do with the sea; animals, exotic ones like sea serpents, and ordinary ones like dogs, cats, whales, and polar bears; and history, especially the l9th century. He is also one of America's leading marine painters.

A signature member of the American Society of Marine Artists, Parker combines a respect for traditional maritime history with his own imaginative and often whimsical take on the stories that inspire his art. Parker's art has been shown in private collections, galleries, and museums around the country, including the Mystic Seaport Museum, the Norman Rockwell Museum, and the Copley Society of Boston. He is represented exclusively in Maine by Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. and the talk is free. All are welcome. The Town Hall is at 361 Hendricks Hill Road/Route 27, Southport.