Initiative Category: Art & Design

Graphic design major Yuri Coleman ‘24 came to Trinity because of the College’s size and opportunities that such a close-knit community offers. “I love that I am able to establish close relationships with my professors and students,” said Coleman, who is also minoring in marketing. “These are some opportunities I would never get going to a larger school. The community here is so encouraging, and I am incredibly motivated by the God-centered community and vocation we have on campus.” 

The Glenview, Ill., native said her professors and fellow students have been an important part of her journey. “The professors here are so helpful when it comes to taking physical steps to pursuing my dreams and goals.” Those dreams include someday using her skills at a fashion magazine where she can create layouts and shoot fashion photography.

Coleman was drawn to graphic design because of her passion for art and photography. “When I came and visited the art program at Trinity, I learned more about this field, and it was incredibly intriguing. I am able to combine my passions for art, photography, and graphic design and use that in the professional field,” she said.  

The professors in Trinity’s Art & Design department have given her the confidence to pursue her dreams and passions.  “Before choosing graphic design as my major, I was about to go into elementary education because I liked kids and I knew that it would be a steady and guaranteed career,” said Coleman. “Art has always been a big part of my life but I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to use my skills in any professional field and be successful. After talking to the professors and learning more about the field I was most passionate about, I actually became more confident in choosing graphic design and the art field. It may seem scary at first, but the professors are here to help you take your talents, passions, and enthusiasm and use that to become successful in whatever vocation you choose.” 

An education from Trinity Christian College doesn’t just change lives—our graduates go on to change the world. And the life-changing value of a Trinity education has once again been recognized by U.S. New and World Report, which named Trinity to several of its “best” lists for 2022, including among the Top 20 Regional Colleges Midwest and #15 for social mobility. And in U.S. News’ inaugural ranking, Trinity’s nursing program has been ranked among the top 300 of all undergraduate nursing programs in the United States. 

U.S. News uses multiple criteria for its highly regarded rankings. To be named among the “Best Colleges,” Trinity was rated for its graduation and retention rates; social mobility; academic reputation; student selectivity; financial resources; alumni giving; and graduate debt, among other factors. 

“I am confident that, under the tutelage of a talented and dedicated faculty, Trinity students work hard and learn well as they prepare for a lifetime of opportunity and service,” said President Kurt D. Dykstra. “While no one set of data can measure that kind of transformative experience in full, it is gratifying to, once again, be recognized by U.S. News & World Report as a top college in the Midwest.” 

Trinity’s performance on social mobility deserved its own category, according to U.S. News, which looked at Trinity’s ability to enroll and graduate students from less-advantaged backgrounds. U.S. News also recognized Trinity’s undergraduate nursing program. (see “U.S. News Recognizes BSN Program among Best in Country”) 

“We are honored and excited to be recognized as an institution that excels at making a college education possible for students from all backgrounds,” said Provost Aaron Kuecker, Ph.D. “This recognition is the result of the significant dedication of an excellent faculty and staff – but, most truly, it is a recognition of the hard work, dedication, and amazing gifts of Trinity’s students. It is such a privilege to serve the students who come to Trinity to learn, to be challenged, to be transformed, and to discover the joy of their vocation.”  

Along with the U.S. News rankings, Trinity is frequently recognized by many organizations for preparing students for a world that needs them. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction;” routinely ranked the best BSN programs in the state of Illinois; part of the “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program;” and a “best value” among special education programs. 

Trinity’s Seerveld Gallery brings the works of internationally famous artists, as well as artists from Chicago’s thriving art scene, to campus. And the Seerveld Gallery has opened its doors again after COVID-related closures. The gallery, located in the Art & Communication Center, is currently hosting an exhibit by Katherine Desjardins called “Touch.” 

According to Desjardins, who spends time in both Chicago and Italy, “Touch” is not organized around her newest or most recent works, “…but rather around ideas of Touch and Time, in consideration of the fact that this show will be on view as we mark one year of global, collective COVID lockdown.” In an artist’s statement, she said, “I embarked upon a project (paintings) called Touch in response to tragic personal loss long before our lockdown in 2020. Time has always played a huge role in my work in the form of scrolls and protracted studio process. Our year of Covid has brought new meaning to both words.” 

Among the pieces on display at the Seerveld Gallery are “Scuffle,” a new piece that Desjardins describes as a collision between calligraphic cartoon language and drawing from life. 

The show also includes pieces from her “Wide-Eyed Apollos Series,” which imagines the Greek god wandering the world as an innocent witness in the midst of today’s fears and anxieties. 

According to Professor Art & Design John Bakker, Desjardins’ depiction of hands in the show is particularly striking. “The pandemic has denied us touch,” he said. But the use of hands also represents conflict, including the protests that took place last summer over the deaths of George Floyd, Breona Taylor, and others.   

The Seerveld Gallery is open from 10 am to 4 pm during the week. Desjardin’s show will be on exhibit until March 23, when Trinity’s senior Art & Design BFA and BA students will begin preparing to install their thesis shows in the ArCC. 

—By Christy Wolff ’10

Mariah Nelesen ‘20 was just months away from graduating from Trinity with a degree in graphic design, and, like her classmates, she was excited for graduation and to begin her career. Then tragedy struck in a way that turned her world completely upside down. 

On Feb. 22, 2020, Nelesen was in her dorm room and began experiencing intense chest pain, which soon spread to her back. Her parents, Marc ‘91 and Tracy (Ingelse) ‘92 Nelesen, were at the family’s home in Zeeland, Mich. They encouraged Nelesen to call her aunt and uncle, who lived close to Trinity and ask them to bring her to the hospital. Hearing her daughter’s symptoms hit especially close to home for Tracy, who, 10 years prior, had experienced an aortic dissection–a serious condition which causes a tear within the aorta, compromising blood flow. “When we got to the hospital, I remember my aunt and uncle pushing hard to get me into a room as soon as possible because of my mom’s history,” Nelesen said. 

After a CT scan and test of her heart, her greatest fear was realized: It was determined that Nelesen was also experiencing an aortic dissection. 

She was then transferred to Advocate Christ Medical Center in Oak Lawn, Ill., to be under the care of their specialized cardiovascular team. By the time Nelesen was transferred, her parents and boyfriend arrived from Michigan to provide support. “I don’t remember much from that night. As my dad says, I was in survival mode at that point,” Nelesen said. 

After more tests, the doctors discovered that her case was more severe than her mother’s, and was quite rare for a healthy 21-year-old. 

Surgery became an option to help repair the tear, but because of the genetic component, the doctors weren’t sure how Nelesen’s body would react to surgery. They ultimately decided not to do surgery and instead placed Nelesen on strict bed rest. 

A few days into Nelesen’s hospital stay, Marc connected with Trinity’s Student Life Office and explained his daughter’s situation. Soon, Nelesen received an email from the Art Department showing their support and encouraging her not to worry about her classes, and that they would help in whatever way was needed. 

“Before my health scare, I was trying to finish up my thesis show for my final project. Several of my art professors encouraged me to send them the materials needed to print and install in order to finalize my project. It was so encouraging to have that support without me reaching out to them first,” Nelesen said. 

One week later, Nelesen was able to cautiously walk around, but her right leg – where the tear reached – was extremely weak. Her doctors weren’t too optimistic that this function would return. “Because I was this rare case, the hospital would bring in different med students or residents to help them learn; I felt like a zoo animal at times, being on display. It was uncomfortable,” Nelesen recalled. 

Eventually, Nelesen was released from the hospital and made the journey back to Michigan. Just five days after she got home, Trinity announced that the rest of the semester would be entirely online because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “I knew I’d have to finish my semester online at home, so when I heard about campus shutting down, I felt a sense of relief knowing that I wouldn’t miss out on all of the things my friends were doing to finish up our senior year,” Nelesen said. “Everyone was having to figure this out together; it wasn’t just me.” 

From early on in the graphic design program, Professor of Art & Design John Bakker, Assistant Professor of Graphic Design Kaleb Dean, and Professor of Art & Design and Department Chair Ryan Thompson all encouraged Nelesen to consider graduate school. After applying to four schools and being accepted to all four, Nelesen decided to pursue her master’s degree in graphic design at the University of Illinois at Chicago. The school offered Nelesen a fellowship, which covers the cost of all but one semester of the program. “After a tough beginning to the year, this was the affirmation I needed. It was a good reminder of God’s faithfulness in my life,” Nelesen said. 

Her faith played an impactful role in her life over the past year, especially considering the numerous mountains and valleys she faced. “I distinctly remember being in the hospital and being too afraid to pray, thinking prayer wouldn’t work,” Nelesen recalled. “I also remember being so grateful to have the Trinity community and my church, who prayed for me and my family. They lifted me up when I felt like I didn’t have what it took to pray for myself.” 

Nelesen went on to say, “My relationship with God isn’t just about the things He gives or doesn’t give, but about walking with me in my everyday life and caring about both my struggles and my wins.” 

Today, Nelesen is busy with grad school and planning her wedding, which is scheduled for the summer of 2022. 

“Trinity was a place where I felt like I found myself and started to understand who I am and what my place in this world is as a Christian, a graphic designer, and a human being,” Nelesen said. “I’ve realized that Trinity has been a backbone for me throughout the past four years of my life. I’m confident that it will continue to be that for me in the ways it has shaped me in all areas of my life.” 

Professor of Art & Design and Department Chair Ryan Thompson has recently begun another creative endeavor–a micro coffee roastery in Oak Park, Ill., called Sideyard Coffee.

Thompson and his business were recently featured in the Oak Park “Wednesday Journal.”

“I’ve wanted to do neighborhood coffee for quite some time,” Thompson told. “This seemed like the perfect time to do it because more and more people are brewing coffee at home.”

Click here to read more about Sideyard Coffee.

Continuing a years – long tradition of excellence and recognition, Trinity Christian College has been named among the “Best Colleges” by U.S. News & World Report for 2021.  Trinity was ranked 21st among  Midwestern regional colleges in this year’s survey. Trinity was also named a “Best Value” college and a “Top Performer on Social Mobility.”

“At Trinity Christian College, our community is focused on providing a rigorous, life-changing education, and our graduates go on to find success in their careers and vocations,” said Trinity’s President Kurt D. Dykstra. “We are pleased that U.S. News & World Report has once again recognized how Trinity prepares our students to change the world.”

Said Provost Aaron J. Kuecker, Ph.D., “We are proud of the excellent academic programs that are supported by Trinity’s world class faculty. Rankings like these are a recognition of the top quality, whole-person vision of education that we pursue at Trinity.”

Trinity is frequently recognized for its high academic standards. The College’s honors include being named a “College of Distinction,” a “Best BSN Program in Illinois,” and a “National Strength and Conditioning Association Education Recognition Program,” among others. Trinity, which is a university partner with 1871, the world’s top university-affiliated startup incubator located in downtown Chicago, also has a world-class business department that recently led the State of Illinois with both the highest pass rates and average scores on the most recent certified public accounting (CPA) exam. The Trinity Athletics Department was also recently listed among the Champions of Character Five-Star institutions by the National Association of Intercollegiate Athletics (NAIA).

The U.S. News rankings are based on qualitative and quantitative information in several categories, including peer assessments, graduation rates, social mobility, and faculty information. The “Best Value” ranking is determined by a school’s academic quality and the net cost of attendance for a student who received the average level of need-based financial aid. The “Social Mobility” ranking is based on how successful a college is at advancing social mobility by enrolling and graduating large proportions of disadvantaged students awarded with Pell Grants.

For Professor of Art & Design John Bakker, painting portraits of  individuals is a way of affirming the value of their humanity without regard to success or failure.

He has explored that theme in different contexts, from his Galesburg Portrait Project to his series “Making Contact,” which is exhibited in the 6th District police station in Chicago’s Auburn Gresham neighborhood.

Recently, ProPublica Illinois interviewed Bakker about Making Contact, as part of an article exploring public artwork in Chicago police stations following the city’s removal of statues of Christopher Columbus.

“In some ways, painting portraits is really dumb and painting portraits of hundreds of people is ridiculous. It takes an awful amount of time,” Bakker said. “But in the current situation, I can’t think of anything more avant garde.”

Read the full article here.

The Madron Gallery in Chicago is currently hosting an exhibit featuring the work of several artists who are part of the Trinity family. “Drawn Together” includes pieces from Professor of Art & Design John Bakker, alumni Pierce Cruz ’18 and Hannah Dykstra ’17, former adjunct professor Cecil McDonald Jr., and Kwabena Foli, who exhibited at Trinity’s Seerveld Gallery earlier this year, as part of the College’s Professional Artists Series.  

The Madron Gallery exhibit is sponsored by Art on Sedgwick, which is dedicated  to catalyzing connection and opportunity through art in Old Town’s Sedgwick Corridor in Chicago. Its classes, events, and public artworks draw on Chicago’s diverse, world-class artistic community to inspire a shared imagination for a vibrant and inclusive neighborhood.  

Members of the Trinity community have close ties to Art on Sedgwick, where Bakker serves on the Governing Board and Dykstra works as Programming and Communications Manager.  

For Jacob J. Boglio ‘18, Trinity has prepared him for his calling as an artist. “Trinity gave me the confidence and network to go out into the world and continue building my career as an artist,” said Boglio, who earned a BA in graphic design and BFA in studio art from the College.

Boglio is now serving as Trinity’s first post-baccalaureate fellow and has a solo exhibition, “Wage(r)s,” that is currently installed in the Seerveld Gallery in the Art & Communication Center. There will be a closing reception for the show on July 20 from 5 pm to 9 pm.

As post-baccalaureate fellow, Boglio splits his time between working in the studio and for the Art & Design Department. “While the program is still evolving and being refined, it is a great opportunity to continue my work for the department and to keep a working practice as an emerging artist,” said Boglio.

His responsibilities include serving as a liaison between students and faculty members. “I also do many different things in the department, including posting occasionally on social media, archiving, meeting with and assisting exhibiting artists, and assisting classes. I also maintain the department’s facilities: through cleaning, organizing, keeping inventory, painting, patching, and so on,” he said. “Keeping a working studio practice is a crucial expectation of the post-baccalaureate fellowship. This allows me to refine my practice, to become a better artist, and to further prepare my portfolio towards applying to a graduate program.”

Boglio is a native of Palos Heights, Ill., and a graduate of Alan B. Shepard High School who came to Trinity after attending Moraine Valley Community College. “I chose Trinity after careful consideration and multiple college visits. I was eager to learn under professional working artists. Prof. Ryan Thompson and Prof. John Bakker made a strong impression on me as educators and artists,” he said. “The campus was a hidden gem; beautiful and close to home. And never attending a Christian school before, I was ready to step outside of my comfort zone,” said Boglio. “I ultimately decided to attend Trinity because of the small class sizes, pristine art and design facilities, and the opportunity to have a studio space to work in. The Art & Design Department was impressive, inclusive, and I could tell that I would have access to professors and facilities based on their class sizes rather than being a student lost in the crowd of other students.”

During his time as a student, Boglio got multiple jobs within the department ranging from woodshop technician to gallery assistant. “I learned how to build stretchers for canvas, patch and paint walls, handle art, archive art, and so much more. Through my on-campus jobs I was able to make strong connections with students, professors, and visiting artists. This has given me hours of experience in my field, that eventually led me to networking with a local Chicago artist and gallery owner Dan Devening, who was exhibiting at the Seerveld Gallery.” Through the department’s encouragement and guidance, Devening eventually hired Boglio as an intern and then part-time employee at Paris London Hong Kong and DOCUMENT Gallery. “These are two predominant forces in the contemporary Chicago gallery scene,” he said.

Finding Community and Inspiration
Boglio points to a number of professors, students, and others from Trinity who have impacted him and continue to do so. “I have great admiration for Prof. Thompson’s artistic practice. When I first visited Trinity, his work struck me as being very smart and analytical. It set a new bar for me, and I hoped to cultivate a refined practice like his someday.”

Bakker is another inspiration. “I have been able to work closely with Prof. Bakker in his studio practice, learning much about the woodshop, painting, and art history. Through his encouragement I got to work with many different artists in Seerveld Gallery, and was introduced to Dan Devening. I continue to assist Prof. Bakker and he continues to inspire and motivate me.”

Another mentor is Prof. Soo Shin, who taught Boglio’s printmaking and sculpture courses. “Her perspective as a minimalist Chicago artist has given me great influence of what my practice could and should be as a contemporary artist. She is so kind and understanding, and she never fails to give me the critiques and advice I need to further my professional practice,” he said. “Even if I’m not in class, she is still able to make time to help me grow as a person and artist when needed.”

Jean Carey, Art & Design Department Coordinator, has also helped open doors. “She is a machine that keeps the department well-oiled and running, but she is also very compassionate, helpful, and creative,” he said. “Since I first met Jean, we have worked side by side during the various positions I took within the department. Jean saw potential in me that I didn’t see at first, and because of her I started working during the first weeks of my semester here and haven stopped yet. Through Jean many opportunities have opened up for me, including commission work. If it wasn’t for her encouragement, I might have never worked in the Chicago gallery scene. Jean is still a constant inspiration and motivational force in my life, who always encourages me to better myself,” he said.

His classmates have also helped him grow. “My peers working the studio with me would motive, inspire, and push me to be better every day. I remember working in the studio from early in the day until late in the evening with my fellow seniors, and that’s some of my fondest moments on campus over the years. I loved the amazing work that was made, along with the long conversations and critiques,” he said. “I would feel competitive to stay in the studio as long as possible, but also there was so much positivity and encouragement in the air that I just wouldn’t be able to leave–unless I had to!”

Multiple Concepts and Different Materials
Boglio loves painting, but he also works in many different materials and uses multiple concepts. “I always consider myself a painter. I love to paint whenever possible; usually painting on a larger scale in acrylic washes, before using different mediums like thread, charcoal, or spray paint.”

Anything is potential material for his artwork. “My current exhibition work, ‘Wage(r)s,’ is sculptures in conversation with the working-class, using found objects of that culture such as employee shirts, construction vests, cans, cigarette buds, aluminum fences, and very little ‘traditional art’ material,” he said. “As the years go on, I never seem to exhaust the potential of what can be considered an ‘art material.’ To list a few, I have worked with oil paint, acrylic paint, ink, markers, wax crayons, charcoal, cement, plaster, wood, fabric, found materials, reclaimed material, trash, tea, coffee, graphite, and too much more to list here.”

He enjoys making art for fun and comfort. “But I also like to create more disciplined art that has a deeper meaning behind it, like with ‘Wage(r)s’.”

Boglio finds himself constantly inspired. “When asked what inspires me, I can’t help but to quote figurative painter Chuck Close, who said ‘Inspiration Is for Amateurs—The Rest of Us Just Show Up and Get to Work.’ I am constantly inspired, either by everyday occurrences like weathered stains on a CTA wall to austere and beautiful art objects like paintings. But mainly I just work, and through that work I’m able to build a foundation for newer work and so on. It’s a frustrating process, and a labor of love that feeds itself if you let it,” he said.

He also has some advice for high school students looking at colleges. “Don’t rush into anything, think seriously about the school you wish to attend, and why. I took more time by attending community college because I wanted to be certain about what college I attended, and it was the best for me. I ended up at Trinity, because Trinity seemed to be the best college where I could thrive as an artist, designer, and a person. I needed working professionals as my professors, I wanted small classes where my voice was heard, and the department allowed me the facilities and space to explore my own artistic practice without inhibition.”

He also said liking art isn’t enough of a reason to major in it. “That’s not good enough,” he said. “Don’t let that discourage you–that’s a start, and that’s where I started. But over time, you need to be able to find other passions and causes for making art. Being an artist allows you to creatively put your voice out into the world, so you need to be conscious about what you put out into the world, and why.”

Boglio also suggests students move at their own pace but never give up. “Be well informed, talk to people who went to different colleges, visit colleges (during the semester and during critiques if you can) and get as much information as you possibly can before you make your decision. Sometimes things don’t work out as hoped, but be mindful and don’t let the pressure get to you. Keep moving, keep learning, and even if you’re unsure, or pick the wrong major, don’t stress. Everything is temporary and nothing is permanent, someone is always willing to help and support you if you reach out for it. Whatever path you take, you got this.”

To learn more about Boglio and his artwork, visit his website.