Popular Overlea Artsfest Goes Virtual

Overlea, Maryland

In Overlea, Maryland, summer isn't the same without the popular Overlea Artsfest, "We thought we would push it back," says Carol Stover, board president, but instead, "we invented a new festival." This year, instead of the usual, all-day physical festival with an art show, a film festival, live bands, a beer and wine tent, food, art activities for kids, families, and art vendors, it's being held virtual because of the coronavirus. "Our computer people, staff, and artists said okay how can we do this," says Carol as excitement builds in her voice during the phone interview. "Each day, we will release different aspects of the Artsfest online. We have music, poetry readings, juried art set up so you can vote virtual for your favorite painting, film festival curated by filmmaker Mkawasi Mcharo Hall of Howard University". What's different about the Overlea Artsfest is that artists pay no fee to participate. "In some cases, artists don't have the money to submit to a juried show; we want to make it more accessible for everyone," says Stover. You can see over 50 artists' work during the week-long festival. Count on activities for kids and interaction. Looking at the group's Facebook page, comments from last year's event, all positive, shows just how important the Overlea Artsfest is to the community. Now running five years, the Overlea Artsfest brings communities together, showcases art, and inspires students and young people to express themselves through art. In a weird twist, having to change to virtual, Carol says going online, "will help us build our database and years from now you can look back and see how we did it during the coronavirus of 2020." Carol mentions it's hard to believe that she and co-founder, Mark Sanders, came up with the Overlea Artsfest from scratch and now it's turned into a positive event with local sponsors and support. The show kicks off Saturday, August 15th and runs for a week. Participate through any or all of the links listed below and tell a friend.

https://www.facebook.com/OverleaArtsFest/about/

https://www.instagram.com/overleaartsfest/

http://overleaartsfest.org/blog/index.php/2020/04/13/artsfest-2020/