Binder is a dancer, artist, teacher, and woodcarver who has spent more than 40 years inspiring others through the arts in West Virginia. She grew up in Washington, D.C., where her mother introduced her to music, theater, and ballet. After studying dance and art, she moved to rural Calhoun County in 1981 with her partner, Frank Venezia, and founded Heartwood in the Hills, a school dedicated to helping people find confidence through creative expression.

Binder’s projects mix art with social causes, from peace festivals to a stage play about domestic violence. She’s won many awards and is best known as Charleston’s “FestivALL Princess,” delighting crowds with colorful costumes, masks, and nonstop dancing. In 1981, she worked with Parkersburg artist Norm Sartorious to create Autumn Hare, a finely carved wooden spoon that won a Governor’s Award at the West Virginia Juried Exhibition.