This spring, APS Development Assistant Erin Seamans spoke with Chris Calle about the Young Philatelic Leaders Fellowship program, a scholarship program run by the American Philatelic Society.
YPLF supports young philatelists, offers them unique opportunities to attend stamp shows across the country, and connects them with experienced mentors in the philatelic world.
Chris is a seasoned illustrator who has created many stamps and cachet designs and was a mentor to a YPLF Fellow.
Erin: What led you to become an YPLF mentor for the first time?
Chris: I became interested in being a mentor in the YPLF Program when Scott English approached me about an incoming YPLF scholar who was interested in the possibility of a new track in the program which could be Art and Design. I discussed with Dr. Cathy Brachbill, Education Director the possibilities and came up with a track to incorporate those concepts.
In my career as an illustrator I had designed many postage stamps for the USPS and hundreds of First Day Cover cachet designs for Fleetwood and I knew this was knowledge I could and wanted to share. I certainly thought of this as a way for me to pass on my expertise relating to art in philately.
E: What fellow did you mentor & what did you focus on mentoring them on?
C: I mentored Dani Leviss. She comes from a family of First Day Cover cachet makers, so there was an intimate understanding on her part about the business and creative end of what it takes to produce a First Day Cover.
Because of this I felt that it was important to challenge Dani to try different artistic approaches and new techniques and styles, and take what she already knew and explore artwork in different ways. Our focus was on her designing a variety of First Day Covers but using different techniques for each one.
One of the most important ideas I expressed was the fact that the cachet design is one part of the overall First Day Cover, and that the artwork needs to be harmonious with the postage stamp and cancel. Too many times I have seen designers create beautiful images only to have the postal cancellation ruin the design by not considering where that cancellation will be on the final product.
E: What expertise or knowledge did you bring as a mentor in the YPLF program?
C: As an artist I brought my knowledge of the business of First Day Cover design and the many ways to come up with creative solutions in designing artwork for First Day Covers and postage stamps. My philosophy is that there are always an infinite number of ways to solve a problem and I felt it important to see Dani try this in her work.
I knew from her portfolio of work that she was very talented and this was a perfect opportunity to nurture that talent, and then help her think of new ways to approach a concept. It was very rewarding to see her excel at new techniques and open her eyes to new ways to view concepts and produce artwork.
It was great to see Dani research other cachet makers, styles and think of ways how she would incorporate ideas into her own work. There is no "original", everything we see and every way we think is a response to what we have learned. It was rewarding for me to see Dani grow, both as a designer and in her thought process.
E: What is your favorite result of the fellowship program to witness?
C: My favorite result while mentoring Dani was seeing her explore, trying things she had not previously thought about when approaching First Day Cover design. She surprised me with some of the concepts she came up with and the directions in which she went. For example, Dani utilized postage stamps in a design combining her artwork with the stamps to create a very fresh new collage technique.
E: What do you wish everyone knew about YPLF?
C: YPLF is a wonderful way for students to become immersed in philately in a way unlike any other. Each track offers a unique and special opportunity to become immersed in philately while doing so with the other YPLF students, sharing what they learn with each other. From what I have seen there is a sense of camaraderie, the fellows form a bond throughout their time in the program and beyond. My daughter is a High School Junior at the moment and is interested in the YPLF Program. In 2022 she plans to join the group, and while she is a talented designer she will most likely join as a part of the stamp dealer track. Not design! Hahaha
E: What age did you become involved with stamp collecting and did someone mentor you?
C: My father Paul Calle was an artist and stamp designer, so growing up I was around philately. In 1969 when he designed the First Man on the Moon postage stamp my interest in stamps was further sparked because of my interest in Space. My father was my mentor and most rewarding and unique was when mentor became colleague 25 years later when we jointly designed the two postage stamps for the USPS for the Apollo 11 25th anniversary.
E: Is there anything else you would like to share with our audience of alumni, donors, current fellows, and potential applicants?
C: What I would like to share with potential applicants and current members is that this is a unique program combining an interest you have with philately. Meeting other fellow students and sharing ideas is a wonderful way to spend time, learn and grow. I saw it first hand with my time as a mentor, and alumni of the program both students and mentors have seen the same.
For philatelists and donors this is a rare opportunity to help see your passion for philately ignited in a young adult.