Calvin Student Chooses Both Art and Science in Pursuit of His Passion
From a young age, Orion (Rine) Wakeman ‘24 has been enchanted by the natural world, finding beauty in frogs, snakes, and the great outdoors. His curiosity about creation, which he believes God placed before us to explore and understand, has been a guiding force in his life.
When Wakeman discovered Calvin University offered interdisciplinary studies, he eagerly embraced the opportunity to blend his passions for art and science. Initially planning to double major in fine arts and biology, he found invaluable support from Calvin's professors.
Creating a Pathway
Wakeman's academic journey was shaped significantly by Jamie Skillen, a professor in the environmental sciences department. Together, they crafted a unique double major combining a bachelor of fine arts and a science major, enabling Wakeman to pursue a range of science courses tailored to his interests while maintaining a manageable workload.
“I take biology classes with a focus on human studies, lots of geology with a focus on the earth's function as a system, and that combines to make an interdisciplinary study [major],” Wakeman explained.
Refugia
Wakeman’s fascination with the sciences began with his love for the outdoors but evolved into something far deeper. In 2021, he embarked on an ambitious art project called Refugia. This installation started as a hobby, creating frog-shaped pinch pots, but grew into a significant artistic endeavor, producing around 120 frogs of varying sizes.
“It started as a joke and stopped being a joke when I wanted to put them all in the Recital Hall because of the shape and the space and the acoustics,” Wakeman shared.
The Recital Hall, with its church-like format, became the perfect venue for Refugia, an experimental installation designed to provoke thoughts on grief and environmental loss. Accompanied by frog noises and introspective questions, Wakeman's work offered a poignant personal experience of mourning the natural world. The installation was displayed in the Recital Hall this past spring.
Cross-Disciplinary Communities
Wakeman always felt a deep connection to both the art and science communities. He believes that integrating these disciplines expands creative processes and intellectual growth. Despite the traditional divide between artists and scientists, Wakeman sees their historical and intrinsic links as inseparable.
His advice to students pursuing interdisciplinary studies is to stay engaged with their hobbies and interests, even if they're not majoring in them. “If you have the space to fit an intro class into your schedule, you’re able to learn the gist of what you want to communicate,” Wakeman advised.
Reflecting on his time at Calvin, Wakeman emphasized the importance of perseverance, even in the face of failure. “You have to fail sometimes and learn from it -- that’s something that can go across all disciplines,” he noted. He believes that continuing to pursue one’s passions, whether as a major or a hobby, is crucial for personal and intellectual growth.
Looking back, Wakeman is grateful for the unique opportunity Calvin provided to combine his love for art and science. “I don’t think that thing [double major in BFA and Science] would have been available at any other school,” he concluded.
