Kakania by Karen Aqua.

By Charlie Lynch

Somerville in Shorts returns to Union Square on Friday, July 8. The outdoor film festival is free to the public and will be showcasing over 20 experimental and animated short films.

The event will begin with the Kristen Ford Band playing an outdoor stage at 7:30 p.m. When the sun sets, around 8:30 p.m., the films will begin and run until 10 p.m. They will be projected on a large outdoor screen right in Union Square.

This year’s entries include: several films from the Harvard animation program; an episode of It’s Jerry Time; the SCATV produced, Changing Gears: A Love Story, about two bicycles falling in love, filmed around Somerville; and selections from the work of Karen Aqua, for whom the event is dedicated.

“The idea for this event arose two years ago,” says Jessica Barnthouse, organizer for SCATV, Somerville Community Access Television.  “SCATV’s director, Wendy Blom, was looking for ways we could be more involved with Somerville’s art community. She organized a meeting between Rachel Strutt from the Somerville Arts Council and I to talk about doing an animation festival and the rest is history. It was decided that an animation, experimental festival was the best way to go because Somerville has such a large artist community, and Karen Aqua could help us find animators to reach out to.”

“I’m really excited to be screening Karen Aqua’s final film, Taxonomy,” says Barnthouse.  “It just screened at the MFA not too long ago, so it’s very timely as well.”

Aqua passed away this May.  She was an award-winning filmmaker. Her films have been screened internationally, and her animation can be seen regularly on Sesame Street. She taught classes at SCATV, and helped organize and judge 2009’s first Somerville in Shorts.

The event is sponsored by The Somerville Art Council’s ArtsUnion Project, an initiative designed to expand the cultural and economic development in Union Square.

Additional work by Karen Aqua will be on display at the Brickbottom Gallery from June 30 through July 10. A memorial tribute for the artist will take place on July 10 at 2 p.m. at the Center for Arts at the Armory.

“The screening is going to be great and everyone should come out,” says Barnthouse, “Kristen Ford Band is kicking off the night, so get ready for an awesome night.”

The rain date is July 9.

Photo caption:

Kakania by Karen Aqua.