By Stephanie Barnes

Going to the Columbus Arts Festival, you get the classic festival vibes. Music and the scent of fried food waft through the air. Throngs of people seek any shade they can find as they walk amongst each other, gazing at what different stalls have to offer and stopping to enjoy live shows.

At the Arts Festival, you get something other than ordinary. You get a one-stop shop for all of the major performing arts groups in Columbus. Most organizations had wheels for festival attendees to spin and win prizes, and they all had fliers with the schedules of upcoming shows.

A few had activities beyond prizes that entire families could enjoy, such as Ballet Met’s dress-up photo ops. As well as being a fantastic, free opportunity to gain some swag and discover what is happening in the local arts community, artists from all over the country were highlighted.

One that stood out to this art lover was the drawings of Liza Compass of Tampa, Florida. As someone who loves color, a pastel piece that uses no black pigment immediately caught my eye. Talking to Liza about her unique art, I confirmed she only used metallic gold to contrast that particular piece. Elaborate sequined frames framed other drawings.

As a former art framer, Liza had not been satisfied with the appearance of existing sequin-fabric-covered frames that left seams and disrupted the flow of the sequins. She invented her method of covering an entire structure with one piece of fabric, creating a uniform look where all sequins on the frame could be freely flipped. It was stunning, and I couldn’t help but admire her ingenuity and artistic flair.

Liza’s pieces went for thousands of dollars, but there were less expensive art prints available for purchase. However, walking around the arts festival could give someone the impression that all art is expensive.

However, this is not the case! In an out-of-the-way festival branch, I discovered displays of arts and crafts from around $10 and up. So, if you are beginning your art collection and don’t have a large budget, remember to look at the outskirts of the festival for hidden treasures. At the Arts Festival, you never know what you will find, but a fun day out full of discovery is a guarantee.

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