Dec. 1, 2020 (MIAMI) – The votes are in, and Miamians chose “The Stripper,” a one-minute PSA to convince people to wear masks during COVID-19, as the winner of the People’s Choice Award in Oolite Arts’ Masks Up Miami competition.

“The Stripper,” produced by filmmaker Katja Esson, features an exotic male dance with a captive audience – until they realize he isn’t wearing a mask. Watch the PSA now at oolitearts.org/masksup.

Oolite Arts, one of Florida’s largest artist service organizations, asked Miami filmmakers for their best ideas for encouraging mask-wearing. The five winners received $2,500 to produce their up to one-minute PSAs. Through online voting, Miamians chose their favorite. Esson is receiving a $1,000 award.

“The Stripper” shows that “in Miami you can take off everything, except your common sense,” Esson said of her piece.

In addition to Esson, the four additional jury award winners include Avram Dodson for “Green Flamingos,” Carla Jerez for “Mask Magic,” Christopher Lopez: for “Everybody in my Family got COVID…Except Me” and Kenny Riches for “Stop Spreading the Poop.” All of the PSA’s are available at oolitearts.org/masksup.

The Lynn and Louis Wolfson II Family Foundation generously provided funding for this program created by Oolite Arts, one of Florida’s largest artist service organizations.

About Oolite Arts
Oolite Arts helps Miami-based artists advance their careers and inspires the cultural community to engage with their work. Established in 1984, Oolite Arts is both a community and a resource, providing visual artists with the studio space, exhibition opportunities and financial support they need to experiment, grow and enrich the city. Through its educational programming, Oolite Arts helps Miamians learn about contemporary art and develop their own artistic skills. For more, visit oolitearts.org.