Student Profile: Natalie Callahan
Perhaps one of the most valuable aspects of the Chatham experience is the community. In such unprecedented times, I (Abigail Kneuss ‘23), have become increasingly grateful for this community and its members. In an effort to showcase just a few of these great people, I’ll be doing a series of student interviews in the coming weeks. These highlights are for students, about students, and by students. This week features Natalie Callahan ‘23.
Natalie is highly involved in the arts here at Chatham. She is an Arts Management major, the Arts Editor for The Minor Bird, and is an artist herself. Additionally, she is spearheading the creation of a fashion club to celebrate fashion as a form of self-expression and art in the spring semester. Learn more about Natalie, her artistic inspirations, and her plans for the future below!
Natalie Callahan
Q: What kind of career do you want to pursue?
A: Recently, for one of my classes I had to research a nonprofit. I chose this group that goes into communities around the world that rely on their art for their economy. This nonprofit makes their art available for sale online and gives all the profits back to the artists. Not only does it help these communities, but it introduces their culture to places that might have never experienced it otherwise. I would really like to do something along those lines as well; it combines both my interest in art and international studies and helps others.
Q: Favorite class or professor you’ve had?
A: Rich Brown is my favorite teacher ever, so of course I love my printmaking class with him. He’s also acting as the faculty advisor for the fashion club I am starting. Besides that, I really enjoyed my international relations class. The content of the course helped me be more informed on interpreting the news. Today, a lot of things that are plain logic or facts get twisted by politicians and people believe them. I think it’s really important as a member of the public to understand what’s really going on.
Q: How did you get interested in fashion?
A: Fashion is a really big part of my personality. I use it as a form of self-expression and to introduce myself before I even talk to people. I first started getting into it in late middle school when I started experimenting with some looks. Today, I feel really drawn to vibrant colors and it’s really easy to work with that in fashion. I feel like it gives me an opportunity to express unique aspects of myself and see what makes others unique as well. I actually have made a small business out of it for fun.
Q: What’s your business?
A: It’s called The Vogueabond. My friend, Audrey and I resell vintage and current fashion clothing pieces that we rescue from house sales or pay-by-the-pound Goodwills. They’re clothing that otherwise would get thrown out. The local store that we shop at spends something like $30,000 a month on garbage services to get rid of clothing there. We give them a second life and make fun outfits with them and sell them. There are never shortages of clothes (quite the opposite) and to save anything we can feels like one of the few ways we as individuals can tackle textile waste.
Q: Has COVID affected your creative process at all?
A: I’ve definitely had a lot more time to draw. It’s really led to some interesting developments in my style. I used to do a lot of my art in graphite, but quarantine has gotten me into pen and ink and I’ve even gotten a job from that new art form! But, I really miss bouncing ideas off of other people. One of the things I love about art is the community, it’s not the same over text to talk to other artists. It’s also affected where I do my art. I used to do art at coffee shops or do live sketches out and about, but there’s nothing to see or draw now. So, I’ve been utilizing my home for sketches these days.
Q: Who is someone you look up to in life?
A: Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, I think she’s such an inspiration. I’ve taken some women in leadership courses here and they’ve made me realize the barriers women still face in the workplace. With my career on the horizon, it’s scary to realize that’s going to become my reality. AOC has gone through those struggles and is continuing to go through them in her political career. She is so empowering. She’s for the people and that’s something that’s really lost in our current political scene.
Q: If you could give one piece of advice to your past self, what would it be?
A: I wouldn’t want to go back and correct mistakes in my life because they’ve brought me to where I am today. But if I were to give past me advice, I would say, hold onto the things you value most in your life. And if some of those things are people, make sure they know how important they are to you.
Know a student that should be featured or would like to be featured yourself? Email us or shoot us a DM! We’re happy to hear your suggestions.