A massive three-week exhibition of art and architectural installations in a downtown warehouse, including a week of theater, poetry, dance and music performances, supplemented the 14th annual Virginia Film Festival. Dubbed the "Fringe Festival," the special program was co-sponsored by the Virginia Film Festival and U.Va.'s McIntire Department of Art. The happening took place at the Frank Ix building from October 19 through November 11. All of the exhibits and performances addressed this year's film festival theme: "Masquerades." This "Fringe Festival" was introduced as a major new supplement to the annual Film Festival. "The idea was to give each department within the arts at U.Va. an evening to showcase work on the Film Festival theme," said William Bennett, chair of the Studio Art Department

As part of the "Fringe Festival," the Frank Ix Building housed a new installation created by Finnish artist Marja Kolu. A spectacular architectural design, incorporating fabrics produced in the Ix Building, formerly a textile factory, was created by architecture graduate student Andrew Burdick. Students and faculty of the McIntire Department of Art also contributed art works in a variety of mediums.

Nightly performances included "Some Kind of Pink Breakfast," a one-man show written and performed by drama graduate student Chris Harcum, accompanied by a light show from students of drama associate professor Lee Kennedy.

A dance performance featured Mark Magruder, chair of the dance department at Sweet Briar, and Amy Mullen, a senior dance major at Sweet Briar. Also featured were Charlottesville's Zen Monkey Dance Project. Sagé Blaska, visiting dance lecturer in the art department and production coordinator of the "Fringe Festival," showcased two new works, including a group dance piece in collaboration with the U.Va. Drama Department costume shop.

A "Carnevale Performance and Dance Party" featuring late-night dancing, took place on Friday, October 26. The party was sponsored by the Biography Channel and Adelphia.

Other evening events included literature and poetry presentations coordinated by U.Va. poets Lisa Spaar and Greg Orr, as well as a night of "Sonic Masquerades" that featured innovative compositions by U.Va. McIntire Department of Music faculty and students. Original performances included "Glass Phase" by Matthew Burtner, "Improvisation as Masquerade" by Kyra Gaunt and a student performance directed by David Topper.

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