Join artists Liz Trapp and Callan Prakel and nonprofit leader Sandy Libertini for an evening of discussion exploring nature-based artwork and local artist opportunities. Experience the colorful layers of Liz Trapp’s artwork while learning more about what inspires her work. Hear from Callan Prakel as they describe the natural fiber dyeing process using organic materials. And engage with Sandy Libertini from the Grange Audubon Center to discover upcoming community programs including Art at Audubon.

Callan Prakel

Callan Prakel is an artist working with natural dyes, quilts, and painting, Callan appreciates materiality founded in craft, tradition, and an inextricable duality of experimentation and analytical thinking. Their practice considers plants as tools to admire, quilts as archives, storytelling as an act of history, contemplative labor, and reverence. Currently, they use organic materials to dye linen and canvas, which are then sewn into quilts.

Callan holds an MFA in Visual Art, where they studied painting, paper, and queer theory, and a BA in Art Therapy and Psychology. They are the Senior Academic Advisor at the Columbus College of Art & Design and spend weekends at a local sewing shop working as a sewing machine repairman. Community spaces are critical to their studio practice, which flourishes most when in the sewing shop, dye studio, and weekly virtual creative sessions. In the last year, they have found belonging at cultural arts centers and folk schools, particularly Green Door Folk School in Cedar, Michigan.

Liz Trapp

Liz Trapp is an artist whose work explores the intersection between nature, fashion, fantasy and everyday life in whimsical scenes and a vibrant color palette - often using the language of paint, but utilizing textiles and pattern design in her practice as well. Liz holds her MFA in painting, MA in the History of Art, and BFA in painting and drawing.  Additionally, she was a painting fellow at the Pont-Aven School of Contemporary Art in Brittany, France and a fellow with the Gabr Foundation Fellowship in Egypt and her work has been exhibited internationally and featured in the publication New American Paintings.  Liz is Associate Professor of the History of Art & Visual Culture at Columbus College of Art & Design, where since 2011 she has taught courses which range from Contemporary Art to the History of Fashion. Liz’s research on contemporary street art in Egypt has been published by Routledge press and she regularly writes for the Columbus Underground as an art critic. Liz lives and works in Columbus, Ohio and loves exploring nature with her family.

Sandy Libertini

Sandy is the Senior Community Building Manager, Ohio Centers. Sandy is responsible for managing communications, public relations, events, public engagement, and Art at Audubon programming. Prior to Audubon, Sandy was the Arts Director for the Ohio State Fair where she managed all programming and events for three arts divisions (Fine Arts Exhibition, Youth Arts Exhibition and Creative/Culinary Arts Competitions). Earlier in her career, Sandy led creative marketing and events as co-owner of Grand Scheme Promotions LLC, specializing in the development, promotion and management of community-based art festivals and fundraisers for non-profit organizations. Company projects included developing and managing the Granville Art Affair & Wine Festival, project management of the Dublin Art Fair and artist booking contractor for the Dispatch Shows group and the Riverfront Arts Festival.  Sandy's background also includes multiple corporate advertising positions with Fabri-Centers of America Inc. (dba Jo-Ann Fabrics stores) and employment as Marketing Director/Asst. Manager of several shopping centers, malls and outlet centers for retail developers, Forest City Enterprises and Prime Retail.