Art Without Limits 2026
Art Without Limits will be held on October 14, 2026!
This day‑long event focuses on arts entrepreneurship and fostering an entrepreneurial mindset within the creative disciplines. Speakers will share their professional experiences and engage with attendees to help build skills, spark ideas and expand creative networks.
Guests will hear from speakers representing the fields of Theatre, Fashion, Art, Game Design, Dance, Music, Visual Communication Design, Digital Media and Marketing/Branding. These presentations on creative and arts entrepreneurship are designed to benefit students, alumni and the public alike. High school groups will attend the full program and receive customized sessions across Theatre, Fashion, Art, Game Design, Dance, Music, Visual Communication Design and related creative fields. These sessions are designed to engage and immerse prospective students in understanding viable pathways into the arts and the wide range of careers available within these disciplines.
- FREE event!
- Open to ALL KSU students, faculty and staff
- Open to the public – those around Northeast Ohio are encouraged to attend.
- Interactive activities and presentations for attending High School groups.
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Speakers and Presentations
JESSICA PINSKY | ART
Jessica Pinsky is an artist and educator from Akron, Ohio. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in studio art from New York University in 2006 and a Master of Fine Arts in painting from Boston University in 2009. In 2011, she relocated to Cleveland, where she joined the faculty at the Cleveland Institute of Art. In 2015, Pinsky founded Praxis Fiber Workshop, a community-based textile studio in Cleveland. As executive director, she has led the organization’s development with a focus on increasing access to contemporary fiber art practices and supporting artists working in textile media. “It has been a privilege to contribute to the evolution of the fiber program at the Cleveland Institute of Art and to establish Praxis in a city defined by its generosity, creativity, and strong sense of community,” Pinsky said. “I am grateful to the many individuals who have contributed to this work and to the artists who have engaged with the studio, each shaping the continued presence of textile practice in the region.” Pinsky’s work reflects a sustained commitment to arts education and community engagement, contributing to the visibility and accessibility of contemporary fiber practices in Northeast Ohio.
GIUSEPPE GUARRERA | MUSIC
Italian pianist Giuseppe Guarrera has earned recognition through major international competitions, including prize awards at the Cleveland International Piano Competition (2024), the Arthur Rubinstein International Piano Master Competition (2023), and the Montréal International Music Competition (2017). He has also been named a Rising Star at Klavier-Festival Ruhr and received the Tabor Award at the Verbier Festival. Critics have noted the breadth of his repertoire and interpretive range, with Scherzo citing “his domain of all styles” and Bachtrack referencing his “impetuosity of temperament.” Guarrera has appeared as a soloist at international venues and festivals, including the Dvořák Prague Festival, L’esprit du piano in Bordeaux, Munich’s Herkulessaal, Salle Cortot in Paris, Wigmore Hall in London, the Pierre Boulez Saal in Berlin, Teatro La Fenice in Venice, and Severance Hall in Cleveland. His international touring includes performances across China, culminating in Shanghai. Upcoming engagements include multiple appearances throughout North America, with a spring tour in Canada, including Bourgie Hall and the Canadian Opera Company, and an autumn residency in Cleveland. In Europe, he is scheduled to perform in France at Piano en Valois, the Festival des Abbayes, and in Paris. His chamber music collaborations have brought him to venues such as the Concertgebouw Amsterdam, Philharmonie Köln, Festspielhaus Baden-Baden, Konzerthaus Wien, and the Jerusalem Chamber Music Festival. He has also appeared at the Tokyo Spring Festival, Heidelberg Spring Festival, and Grünwalder Konzerte, collaborating with artists including violinist Julian Rachlin, horn player Ben Goldscheider, and violinist Mayumi Kanagawa. As a soloist, Guarrera has performed with major orchestras including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra under Vasily Petrenko, the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Orchestre Symphonique de Montréal under conductor C. P. Floor, the Orchestra del Teatro La Fenice, and The Cleveland Orchestra. A significant milestone in his career came with an invitation from Daniel Barenboim to perform in the opening concert of the 2017–18 season at the Pierre Boulez Saal. He subsequently returned for multiple engagements and joined the faculty of the Barenboim-Said Akademie. He is also a former Young Classical Artists Trust (YCAT) artist. Guarrera’s work reflects ongoing contributions to the international performance landscape, with sustained engagement across major venues, festivals, and educational institutions.
LISA SMEDLEY-CALDERON | FASHION
Lisa Smedley-Calderon is a costume designer whose work spans the fashion, music, and film industries. She was raised in Cincinnati, where early exposure to the fashion industry informed her interest in visual culture and design. At age 18, she relocated to Los Angeles to pursue formal training in fashion, establishing the foundation for her career in visual storytelling. Smedley-Calderon began her career styling music artists for music videos, tours, red carpet appearances, and award shows. Her early work involved collaboration with performers, directors, producers, and record label teams, contributing to the development of artist image and visual identity across media platforms. She later expanded her practice to include commercial work and personal styling for athletes and other high-profile clients. Her transition into costume design for film and television included mentorship and training under established designers, supporting the development of her approach to narrative construction and production processes. This work led to contributions on multiple productions, including a film recognized on the Academy Awards shortlist. Smedley-Calderon’s portfolio includes projects across a range of genres, from contemporary narratives to period and stylized works. Her design approach emphasizes the relationship between costume and character development, with attention to narrative context, visual coherence, and performance needs. In addition to her professional practice, Smedley-Calderon maintains active involvement in industry and community organizations, including the Costume Designers Guild, the Black Design Collective, the International Society of Black Costume Designers, ForbesBLK, and The 100 Healthy Women community. She mentors emerging costume designers and stylists and participates in educational programming at colleges and universities. Smedley-Calderon’s work reflects an ongoing commitment to collaboration, mentorship, and the role of design in shaping narrative and performance across media.
CHRISTIAN WOLTMAN | VCD
Christian Woltman is a graphic designer and the founder of Reference, a branding and design studio. He is a graduate of Kent State University’s Visual Communication Design program. His work has been recognized by Communication Arts and The One Club. In addition to his professional practice, Woltman has served as an educator, mentor and advisor to emerging designers. Prior to establishing Reference, he worked at Little Jacket and Turner Duckworth, internationally recognized branding and design firms.
MIKEY BURTON | GAME DESIGN
Not quite a graphic designer, not exactly an illustrator, Mikey Burton has spent a decently long time toeing the rope between both disciplines. Mikey’s work is graphic and textural; it harkens back to simpler printing methods and the innocent doodles and dabbles of grade school. Don’t be fooled; there’s nothing amateur about it. Mikey’s skill is in designing captivating creations that look effortless. Whether brainstorming concepts for clients, sorting out words for letterpress, or just doodling breakfast foods, the thoughtfulness and wit in Mikey’s work sets it apart. Mikey has worked with many clients, including The New York Times, Apple, Meta, The Wall Street Journal, Forbes, and other impressive companies that make him seem accomplished. I assure you, he’s still figuring it out. He also works two days a week for the Emmy award-winning TV show “Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.” He grew up in Northeast Ohio and graduated with a master’s in Visual Communications from Kent State University. When he’s not creating he’s usually on a walk with his wife, Anna, and their dog Peggy. Also, he has a tuxedo cat named Louie.
AVEENA SAWYER | THEATRE/DANCE
Aveena is a New York native and a graduate of Kent State University’s Musical Theater program. She is a teacher, performer and arts educator with more than 11 years of professional experience in the performing arts industry. She began her professional career while still a student, earning her first paid regional engagement at Kent State’s Porthouse Theatre following her freshman year. Since that time, she has worked consistently across Broadway, Off-Broadway, national tours, regional theater, cruise entertainment and television. Her professional credits include Tammy Faye and A Beautiful Noise on Broadway; Little Shop of Horrors Off-Broadway; the national tour of Something Rotten!; regional productions such as Dreamgirls; guest artist performances with Disney Cruise Line in The Little Mermaid and Aladdin; and the television series Doom Patrol. Aveena originated her work with Little Shop of Horrors from 2020 to 2022 as Crystal and an Audrey II understudy. She has since returned to the production for a second engagement, serving as dance captain, Audrey II understudy, ensemble member and swing. In addition to her performance career, Aveena has developed a parallel practice in teaching and coaching. Her interest in education began at her childhood dance studio, where she assisted with dance, theater and summer programming. She now operates an independent teaching and coaching business, offering master classes, workshops, dance instruction, choreography and individual coaching sessions. Through her combined work as a performer and educator, Aveena remains committed to supporting emerging artists while continuing to develop her own practice as both an entrepreneur and performing artist.
MIKE CAPARANIS | MARKETING AND BRANDING
Mike Caparanis is founder and chief executive officer of JAC Creative, a Cleveland-based marketing agency that partners with nonprofit and purpose-driven organizations. His work focuses on developing communication strategies that support organizational mission through design, messaging, and storytelling. Over the past decade, Caparanis has worked with clients ranging from community-based initiatives to national organizations, contributing to efforts that strengthen audience engagement and brand clarity. He also serves as an adjunct professor in Kent State University’s School of Visual Communication Design, where he teaches brand design and mentors undergraduate students preparing for careers in the creative industries. Caparanis’s professional and academic work reflects an integrated approach to design education and practice, connecting applied industry experience with student learning and career development.
2026 Sponsors
Art Without Limits is presented in partnership with John S. and Marlene J. Brinzo Center for Entrepreneurship and the Arts Entrepreneurship Podcast: Making Art Work.