New Twists and Turns for the Art-er Limits Arts Festival August 7-11, 2019

Whether you’re into dance, music, comedy, or drinks, there is something for everyone at this year’s Art-er Limits Fringe Festival.

Iron Bartender returns on Thursday with cocktail crafters from Starkville, Clarksdale, Tupelo, Oxford, and Taylor. Sixteen bartenders from across the state will make cocktails for the crowd!

“We will have a dance workshop for free with Jen Mizenko on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday that will culminate in a public performance,” said Yoknapatawpha Arts Council Director Wayne Andrews. “Learn how to tell a story through movement.”

The festival has regrouped performances, with dance and literature on Friday night. See a performance by dance companies from across the state on Friday night culminating in a live literature event hosted by The Oxford Comma.

Saturday during the day will be family art day with the Makers Market hosting a pop-up market at The Powerhouse and free art projects, games, lessons from the artists starting at 9 am. The popular community photography event will be open to both writers and photographers this year. Join up for breakfast to hear pointers from our professional writers and photographers. Then get your challenge, and submit your work by the end of the day.

Saturday evening will feature a variety of comedy events starting with Special Features Improv, followed by stand-up from Oxford Comedy, which has sold out its last three shows, and ending with Spillit. Spillit is a true storytelling contest. The audience is given a topic and has the chance to tell a true story related to the topic. The winner was invited to the championship in Memphis last year!

Saturday evening features the return of the Project(ion), hosted by The Growler and Uptown Coffee and organized by local artists Jon Rash and Valarie Polgar. Fourteen artists will be projecting moving images, digital works of art, and mini movies on buildings. The event is open to the public and is a great way to stroll the square with ice cream, a coffee, or sit on the patio at The Growler.

Thursday, August 8, 2019 Highlight
7–9 pm Iron Bartender (Powerhouse) Mississippi Bartenders will compete for the title!

Friday, August 9, 2019 Highlights
7–9 pm Evening Dance Showcase (Powerhouse) featuring Kinetic Etchings and Intersect Dance Company
9–10 pm Oxford Muse (Powerhouse) a night of literary readings!

Saturday, August 10, 2019 Highlights
7 am–9 pm Blind Book Exchange (Uptown Coffee) We have wrapped new and gently used books donated by Square Books and labelled it with genre and age range. Grab a wrapped book and discover an author. Wrap a book you would like to share and let the exchange begin.
9 am–4 pm – Paint by Numbers (University Museum, The Growler, Powerhouse, Visit Oxford) Participate in a community painting project! Stations at each location listed here!
9 am–5 pm Stellar Selfie Micro Museum Snap a selfie in our Stellar Selfie Micro Museum! Email them to yacoperations@gmail.com, and they’ll be printed and displayed at the Art Crawl on August 27 at the Powerhouse!
9 am – My Mississippi Literature and Photo Contest (Powerhouse)
10 am–4 pm – Oxford Makers Market Pop Up Market (Powerhouse)
1 pm – Mississippi Presenters Networking Roundtable (University Museum)
1–2:30 pm – Storytelling workshop with Daniel Johnson (University Museum)
2–4 pm – Weaving Demonstration & Activity (Cedar Oaks) See a loom over 200 years old and learn its history. Visitors will be able to weave on a smaller loom as well as create their own weaving craft to take home.
2:30–4:30 pm – Phenomorphology of the Human Body Demonstration (drawing the human body) (Powerhouse) by Dr. Said Bouftass
5:30–6:30 pm – Mississippi Dance Company: Community Movement and Theatre Presentation (University Campus)
6–9 pm – Comedy Showcase (18+) (Powerhouse) A comedy showcase featuring Special Features Improv, Oxford Comedy Stand Up Showcase, and Spillit
8:30–10 pm – Project(ion) (The Square) Featuring Oxford Film Festival animated classics and Project(ion) at Lafayette County Courthouse and the Breezeway by Uptown Coffee! Interactive light and projection display!