For the academic year 2016-2017, we’re pleased to host six exciting residencies which will bring talented artists and designers to campus to teach, demonstrate, run charrettes and give public performances and lectures. These visits are made possible by the Rankin Scholars/ Artists in Residence program, established in 2006, to honor our former Dean, Marjorie Rankin. This year’s residencies include Eric Davis, a.k.a. Red Bastard, formerly a star performer for Cirque du Soleil, who has won numerous theater awards including the NY Innovative Theater Awards for Outstanding Production, Outstanding Ensemble, and Outstanding Director. Davis will be with us mid-October for a series of workshops and three public performances. Robin Baumgarten, an award-winning independent game designer with an interest in artificial intelligence and novel hardware interfaces, will conduct a several days long student game-jam workshop. Pallabi Chakrvorty, an interdisciplinary scholar and artist of Indian dance will be lecturing and demonstrating Kathak and other forms of classical Indian dance. We'll also welcome Mike Rohde, an interface and experience designer who works for Gomoil Research + Design, a human-centered research and design firm. He is the author of two books on sketch noting, a method for using sketching and drawing to capture and communicate creative ideas and design solutions. Rohde will be conducting an all day workshop on Saturday, October 8th that’s free and open to all students. Snøhetta is widely recognized as one of the most exciting and innovative design firms in the world today whose visually stunning works include the Bibliotheca Alexandrina in Egypt, the Oslo Norway Opera House and the expansion of San Francisco’s MoMA. Snøhetta is currently working on Temple University’s new library and were chosen to prepare a new master plan for New York’s Times Square. During their visit, Snøhetta principals Craig Dykers and Elaine Moliar will give a public lecture and lead a weekend design charrette. Josh Kline is an artist working in sculpture, video, and installation, producing works in media as varied as living bacteria cultures, refrigerated display cases, and 3D printed objects. His works have been shown and are housed throughout the world including the New Museum, the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, the Schirn Kunsthalle in Frankfurt, Germany, the Rubell Family Collection, and in the collection of the Whitney Museum of American Art. Kline’s public lecture and classroom visits will be of special interest to Digital Media and Studio Art students.

The wonderful Rankin Residencies are supported by donations from alumni and colleagues of Dean Rankin to inspire students and to add to deepen our understanding of developments and thinking within our diverse design, media and art fields. If you’d like to support the Rankin program, you can make an online donation here or by mailing a donation payable to Drexel University to: Dean Sabinson /URBN Center, 3501 Market Street 1A20A / Philadelphia PA, 19104. For more information please contact Christopher Byers at cgb46@drexel.edu.