What is Birds Inspire?
Birds Inspire is an irreverent romp into the ways birds inspire all kinds of creativity. Talks, interactive experiences and an exhibition will connect Photographers, Comic Artists, Illustrators, Naturalists, Community Organizers, Conservationists, and Kids of all ages. Held on the historic campus of Columbus College of Art & Design, anyone and everyone who appreciates birds are encouraged to pick a topic and attend a session (or two!)
Julie Zickefoose, Keynote, Sept 21st
Writer/artist JULIE ZICKEFOOSE is fascinated by the interface of birds and people. She is the author of Natural Gardening for Birds; Letters from Eden: A Year at Home, in the Woods; The Bluebird Effect: Uncommon Bonds With Common Birds; Baby Birds: An Artist Looks Into the Nest; and Saving Jemima: Life and Love with a Hard-luck Jay. She is the only person ever to specialize in painting the day-to-day development of nestling birds. She is Advising Editor and columnist for BWD Magazine, and lives and works from Indigo Hill, an 80-acre sanctuary near Marietta, Ohio.
Charlotte Belland, Event Organizer, Bird Ambassador Sketch Session Sept 22nd
Charlotte Belland is an illustrator of animals. Her work explores the blending of anatomical study with a little sparkle of mischief; the way an animal tilts its head, focuses its eyes, or how it leans into the pose. Her daily drawing practice includes a post to Instagram under the name bellandpixel. Charlotte is the Chair of the Animation program at the Columbus College of Art and Design. She is a Professor of Animation who teaches drawing for animation and color theory. Her work can be seen at: cbelland.myportfolio.com
Image credit: Ohio School of Falconry (Avian Ambassador Henson)
Rosemary Mosco, Comics Writing Workshop, Sept 21st
Rosemary makes books and cartoons that connect people with the natural world. Her Bird and Moon nature comics won the National Cartoonists Society’s award for Best Online Short Form Comic and were the subject of an award-winning museum exhibit. She makes best-selling science books for kids and adults and gives keynotes at birding festivals. She’s written and drawn for The New York Times, Audubon, PBS kids’ Elinor Wonders Why, Ranger Rick, and more. Her favorite glacial landform is the esker.
Nicole Jackson, The Joy of Birding & Nature, Sept 22nd
Nicole Jackson is an environmental educator, birder, and co-organizer of Black Birders Week. She’s also dedicated to connecting people to the environment and each other. As a girl, nature nurtured Nicole growing up on the east side of Cleveland, and much of her career is built around returning the favor.
Maris Wicks, Draw Along, Sept 23rd
Maris Wicks is a writer and illustrator of mostly science-y comics, whose work has taken her to the middle of the ocean, to the top of a volcano, and to the ice of Antarctica. Maris's books include art for the New York Times best-selling graphic novel Primates: The Fearless Science of Jane Goodall, Dian Fossey and Birute Galdikas, and Astronauts: Women on the Final Frontier, both written by Jim Ottaviani, as well as her solo books, Human Body Theater and Coral Reefs: Cities of the Ocean. She has also illustrated the picture books Dragon Bones and You and the Bowerbird for Roaring Book Press, and collaborated with Rosemary Mosco on the urban ecology webcomic Your Wild City. Maris is currently working on a graphic novel about what it's like to live and work in one of the most remote places on Earth: Antarctica! (spoiler alert: there are lots of penguins)
Manon VanSchoyck, Bird Ambassador Sketch Session, Sept 22nd
Manon VanSchoyck, or Mrs. Van to most, is the Founder & Executive Director of Ohio Nature Education. Manon has worked in the field of environmental education for more than 30 years and is passionate about educating people on how we can positively affect wildlife. She is an avid birdwatcher and also enjoys gardening and cooking.
The Inept Birder, Gallery Show and Reception, Sept 22nd
Karl Mechem is a freelance writer, Internet-renowned birder, and award-hoping photographer. He goes by @TheIneptBirder on Twitter and is the unwitting godfather of the #worstbirdpic hashtag. He promises he’s trying.
