MER/made, by spoken word artist Alli Marshall, is a multimedia exploration of sinking and swimming, and water as metaphor for change. The nonlinear narrative is presented through a series of videos that incorporate imagery, spoken word, music, and fantastical characters.

The 16-minute film will be presented as part of a triple bill at the 2021 online edition of the Asheville Fringe Arts Festival. It screens on Thursday, Jan. 21 and Saturday, Jan. 23, at 7 p.m. Buy tickets here.

Also included in the show: Being B.A.D, by activist artist Brittney S. Harris, explores the lengths one woman goes to take that power back after years of physical and emotional abuse at the hands of her family and romantic partner.

And, in PICNIC IN THE TIME OF COVID-2, by dance collective Taproot CLT, two friends who can’t gather in person must find each other in an absurd, silent film themed virtual reality picnic that takes place in a future that no longer recognizes the norms of eating real food.