On Saturday, August 29, from noon to 7 p.m., the Baltimore County Department of Recreation and Parks is set to host its very first ArtFusion: Earth, Moon, and Stars festival, taking place at the Holt Park and Center for the Arts in Overlea.
This complimentary, immersive arts festival and gallery will spotlight a diverse group of artists from the region, showcasing their unique visions of the cosmic, natural, and metaphysical realms. Attendees can look forward to a variety of art installations, live music, activities suitable for families, as well as numerous vendors and food trucks.
“The arts play a crucial role in uniting people, igniting our creativity and helping us view the world from different perspectives,” said Baltimore County Executive Kathy Klausmeier. “I am excited that Baltimore County is initiating ArtFusion at Holt Park, which perfectly blends art with nature. I look forward to seeing visitors of all ages immerse themselves in the creativity, vibrancy, and exceptional local talent that this festival will present.”
The juried art gallery will open at noon on August 29 and remain on display until Friday, October 2, operating daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This exhibition will include the works of ten artists, each chosen from a pool of 22 submissions. In addition to the gallery, there will be public sculptures, interactive activities, and live performances.
One of the notable exhibits is Compass, a large-scale sculpture by Laure Drogoul, which draws inspiration from Earth’s magnetic fields and contemplates themes of migration, location, and our instinctual sense of direction. Another featured work, Rainbow Rider from Bike Powered Events, encourages participants to pedal on stationary bikes to generate power for luminous LED sculptures, creating a stunning interactive light display.
“ArtFusion presents local artists with a platform to showcase their work while allowing our residents to come together, explore creativity, and draw inspiration from their community,” commented Bryan Sheppard, acting director of Recreation and Parks. “We appreciate the ongoing efforts of the Holt Park and Center for the Arts team in developing an outstanding program focused on art and nature throughout the year.”
The festival will feature a comprehensive schedule of performances held at both the solos stage and the amphitheater. The entertainment kicks off at 12:30 p.m. with Kevin Sherry’s puppet show inspired by the theme of space exploration. Other featured acts include Mind on Fire, presenting contemporary classical music, and Afro House, who will perform their Astronaut Symphony, a captivating blend of jazz and opera. The show wraps up at 6 p.m. with Sun Ra Arkestra, a renowned jazz ensemble known for its innovative fusion of genres through an Afrofuturist perspective.
Children and community-oriented activities will include projects such as community fiber weaving, jewelry crafting, planet-themed printmaking, cyanotype art, and button creation. Additionally, attendees can enjoy a variety of culinary options, with several food trucks and vendors present, including Clear Skies Meadery, Glizzy’s Wagyu Dogs, Ministry of Brewing, and Once Upon a Potato.
Parking at the festival is free, and shuttle service to and from the venue is also provided at no cost. Shuttle buses will run every 15 minutes starting at 11 a.m. Visitors can park their vehicles at Overlea High School, located at 5401 Kenwood Avenue, Baltimore.
A detailed list of public sculptures, interactive features, and performance schedules is outlined below.
Public Sculptures and Activations:
- Fission, The Cosmic Inquiry and Celestial Assembly, by Scott Pennington
Three 9-by-9-foot sculptures crafted from vibrant painted wood, inspired by the beauty of stars, meteors, and the imagination of 1950s science fiction. - Compass, by Laure Drogoul
A large-scale sculpture that delves into themes of Earth’s magnetic fields, migrations, location, and humanity’s quest for direction. - NEOM, by Adewale Alli
An 8-foot sculpture resembling an alien form, accompanied by three paintings, displayed within the trellis at Holt Park. - Rainbow Rider, by Bike Powered Events
Participants engage with stationary bikes to generate energy for towering LED sculptures, resulting in a captivating interactive light installation.
Performance Schedule:
- 12:30 p.m. | Kevin Sherry
Kevin Sherry entertains festival-goers with whimsical puppet performances, featuring a new show themed around space travel. - 1:30 p.m. | Mind on Fire
This innovative group combines contemporary classical music with Baltimore’s experimental arts community. - 2:30 p.m. | Amy Reid
Amy Reid is a talented electronic musician whose work reflects on the natural world and the spaces bridging different realms. - 3:30 p.m. | Afro House
Baltimore’s very own Afro House presents their memorable Astronaut Symphony, blending elements of jazz and opera. Recently, they were honored as the “Best Performer” by Baltimore Magazine. - 4:30 p.m. | Herald
Herald, the solo project of musician Lawrence Worthington, produces psychedelic alternative pop sounds. - 6:00 p.m. | Sun Ra Arkestra
This groundbreaking jazz ensemble integrates jazz, blues, rock, and improvisation through an Afrofuturistic lens, and was nominated for a 2026 Grammy Award. - 7:00 p.m. | Festival concludes
