Representation in art, design, and popular media is always impactful. Unfortunately, Chicago is generally represented in media by its crimes, not its beauties. Kaleb believes that work like this—the kind that presents the city in its best light and distributes that through contemporary media around the world—is redemptive work. Art, Design, and Entrepreneurship art built into the foundation of Chicago and using these in the Chicago Semester Scholar-in-Residence program can work to better the image of the city and redeem it in the eyes of everyone who may not know the city as intimately as we do.
Chicago Semester, an off-campus urban experiential education program that serves college students as they pursue their vocational callings, emerge as professionals and faithfully engage the city, has announced faculty members selected for their Summer 2022 Scholar-In-Residence program. Selected scholars include:
- Bill Boerman-Cornell (Trinity Christian College, English)
- Kaleb Dean (Trinity Christian College, Graphic Design)
- Lee Hardy (Calvin University, Philosophy)
- Craig Mattson (Trinity Christian College, Communication Arts)
- Maggie Schlerman (Central College, Accounting)
- Derek Schuurman (Calvin University, Computer Science)
- Ben Snoek (Trinity Christian College, Campus Ministries/Theology)
- Debra Swanson (Hope College, Sociology)
- Kevin Timpe (Calvin University, Philosophy)
- Rachel Venema (Calvin University, Social Work)
- Michael VanderWeele (Trinity Christian College, English)
Scholars will spend two weeks between May and July living at Canterbury Court Apartments, the program’s housing partner, and will have access to workspaces at 1871, where Chicago Semester’s offices are located. Each scholar is awarded a stipend to be used to further their research agendas while participating in the program.
“The purpose of the Chicago Semester Scholar-In-Residence Program is to build relationships with faculty from our founding institutions by offering opportunities to nurture their research through resources available in Chicago.”
Chicago Semester was founded in 1974 by Calvin University (MI), Central College (IA), Dordt University (IA), Hope College (MI), Northwestern College (IA) and Trinity Christian College (IL). The program currently serves between 100-120 students per year from 30+ partner institutions.
Over the course of the Chicago Semester Scholar-in-Residence program, Kaleb plans to develop a suite of digital products as an extension of the studio practice at Pen and Lens. The project will develop digital, photographic mockups that become available for sale on a new, dedicated website. The location in Chicago will help him use the city—its architecture, design, advertising spaces, and rich history—as the primary backdrop of these products.
This redemptive work is a reflection not only of Chicago Semester and Trinity Christian College, but also my own studio practice at Pen and Lens. In this way, a rising tide raises all ships, and I believe this project and opportunity will do just that.
