Over the Town

Archival photographs come alive in their original locations through augmented reality technology, creating a dialogue between past and present. Over The Town takes place Sunday, April 27 at Dunn's Overtown Farm as part of the O, Miami Poetry Festival running throughout April.

This innovative digital ekphrasis workshop, led by Emmy-nominated poet Christell Victoria Roach, combines technology, history and creative writing in a walking tour of Overtown. Participants will view historical photographs in the exact locations where they were originally captured, using augmented reality to layer the past onto present-day settings.

The experience centers on Overtown's historic 9th Street, once a vibrant cultural corridor in Miami's historically Black neighborhood. Through guided close readings of archival images and on-site writing exercises, attendees will engage in what Roach describes as "a supernatural collaboration between the photographer, the subject and the poet."

As participants move through the neighborhood, they will explore themes of place, history, lineage and legacy while creating poetry that responds directly to these visual connections across time. This approach offers a unique perspective on the neighborhood's evolution and cultural significance.

Christell Victoria Roach brings personal connection to this project as a descendant of Miami's Black Pioneers. Her work as a poet and performer focuses on Blackness, the Blues and various expressions of love, providing context for this exploration of Overtown's heritage.

This free event will proceed rain or shine and requires light walking.