Next week, a new player will be introduced to the Oxford festival scene, and it is sure to be a game changer. The Art-er Limits, Oxford’s first fringe festival, will be making its debut on Friday, Aug.1 and Saturday, Aug. 2. More than80 events will occur during this two-day span, transforming the city into an art lover’s paradise.
Southside Gallery. (Photo/Grace Lovvorn)
Although Double Decker and the Blues Festival take precedence where cultural events in oxford are concerned, other festivals have come and gone. In this case, two festivals were lost this year, leaving Oxford barren compared to its normally full event schedule.
“We lost the triathlon and the Shakespeare festival and needed to fill the gap,” said Stacey Sanford, program and outreach coordinator for the Yoknapatawpha Arts Festival.
The plan for a fringe festival emerged with this need for a new event. The idea was simple: host a festival that exemplifies all the arts the Mid-South region has to offer. With this concept, the varying events cater to every taste and interest, whether it is food, poetry, music, dance, art or film.
Visit Oxford. (Photo/Grace Lovvorn)
Oxford’s fringe festival is concurrent with the definition of the term. Fringe festivals originated in the mid-twentieth century from festival-style theatre, but have further evolved over the past decades. Fringe events do not follow certain guidelines or genres, and usually strive to be as “out of the box” as possible.
The name of the festival suggests the same uniqueness. Oxford’s fringe festival is named the Art-er Limits, which is a play on the name of the television show “The Outer Limits,” according to Sanford. Indeed, Art-er Limits will definitely be located on the fringe of Oxford’s cultural scene.
All of next weekend’s events will not be 100 percent accessible: with such a large number of performances, workshops, and exhibits occurring, many will overlap. Festivalgoers are advised to plan ahead of time and schedule their weekend according to the events most interesting to them.
“There are two ways to festival,” Sanford said. “There’s the totally free way — explore, discover, hangout and experience — and there’s the second way, which is to purchase a festival schedule with bands, showtimes, venues, and descriptions of each performance.”
The festival schedule can be purchased for $5, and allows individuals to plan their weekend with knowledge of all performances, events, and workshops. All of the proceeds from the schedules directly fund next year’s fringe festival. Those who choose not to buy a schedule can instead track their favorite performing artists for details of certain performances, or simply just explore Oxford to find interesting events.
Locality is key with this year’s performers. One performer to note is Lacey Roop, a nationally recognized slam poet and Tupelo native. Roop will be leading two different events — a spoken word performance and a book signing. Memphis will be represented with performances from Fresh Ground and Johnson and Pounders. Longshot Improv, a group hailing from the Mississippi Coast, will have a show during the festival.
Louisiana-based Moonbot Studios will help bring a theatric edge to Art-er Limits by hosting a movie screening and a Q&A session. Jeremy Fisher, known for collaborating with Adult Swim’s Robot Chicken, will continue this trend by hosting both a demonstration and workshop.
The Powerhouse. (Photo/Grace Lovvorn)
One existing event that will be joining the Art-er Limit’s lineup is the yART Sale. Literally meaning a yard sale for art, the yART Sale started last year as a way for people to sell or get rid of art and supplies. Held at the Powerhouse, it was unexpectedly successful with a turnout of over 600 people. According to Sanford, the yART Sale is a great opportunity for art students, since it is an easy way to sell unnecessary supplies and artwork from classes. Not only is the yART Sale a wonderful networking opportunity, but the proceeds from the event go to 9 Lives Cat Rescue.
Taking center stage during Art-er Limits are the venues hosting the variety of events. Venues include the Powerhouse, the Courthouse lawn, Visit Oxford, the White House on South Lamar. Southside Gallery, McEwen’s, City Grocery, the University of Mississippi Museum, Cicada for Him, Burns-Belfry Church and more.
Burns-Belfry Church. (Photo/Grace Lovvorn)
“It’s a way to get our business community involved with hosting events they wouldn’t otherwise,” Sanford said.
Not only are local businesses benefitting from Art-er Limits, but also the many organizations in the Oxford-Lafayette County area. Venues will take minimal proceeds, and the rest will benefit the performers and local organizations.
“The goal is to try to pair up with as many organizations in Oxford to make a true community event,” Sanford said.
Art-er Limits will do more than just entertain festivalgoers. It will enrich the community and those who receive the fringe experience. With an expected turnout of 2000 people, Art-er Limits is sure to become a staple in the Oxford festival scene.
Tickets can be purchased online at oxfordfringefest.com. The festival will be from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Aug. 1-2. Individuals with any questions are encouraged to call the YAC office at 662-236-6429.
