Eminence Conference | Opportunity for Artists
he Eminence Conference is a great opportunity for any aspiring artist out there, no matter what your avenue, to learn, to build community and to network with likeminded individuals as well as professionals. We asked founder of Veil Arms Clothing and conference innovator Shawn Ulmer a few questions about this dream that turned to reality. We were also able to catch up with August Burns Red drummer Matt Greiner as well as Oh Sleeper bassist Lucas Starr about their involvement in teaching workshops at the conference.
Shawn Ulmer of Veil Arms Clothing
Give us a quick overview of what The Eminence Conference will entail and who it’s designed for?
SU: Eminence is a two-day creative workshop designed to give youth and young adults the opportunity to interact and learn from professionals in the fields of art and music. Specifically, people will have the opportunity to learn about nine different areas of concentration, among them: studio recording, performance, screen-printing, photography, touring, graphic design, songwriting, literary studies, and drama. Some of the best Christian performing artists and professionals are coming together to spark passion in the hearts of young people interested in art and music on any level.
So where did this idea spring from?
SU: I have been to seminars and conferences that are primarily lecture halls- you go in, sit, listen to someone talk at you for nine hours and leave. Our desire was to upstage that idea by creating an interactive and edifying conference that has the power to implement change. Eminence is the product of endless nights dreaming up ways to propel the mundane into the extraordinary.
Is this a need that you see everywhere or is it something you see mainly in Albuquerque?
SU: Throughout the nation, our schools are suffering from lack of funding and attention. Vision has been lost and the heart for art and music has been suppressed in our society. Eminence is a stand against such actions. The arts are a gift from God, and we desire this generation to rise up, without fear of rejection, and profess that gift.
Veil Arms goes so far beyond just making cool apparel. What made you want to move beyond just design?
SU: We want Veil Arms to be a house of brands. We love doing all sorts of shirt designs, but we also believe that there is much to be done through music; its effect on people of all ages is a powerful commodity, one that we plan on exploring in depth.
Beyond the workshops, what will an average attendee experience?
SU: There will be two days of workshops, lunch will be provided, and we will end with a Q&A session. We have been blessed enough to have some of the most relevant Christian artists come to Albuquerque to perform and lead workshops. These leaders heavily impact the workforce by implementing their beliefs into their practices. Each workshop will be an hour long and it will provide time for the students to ask questions, network and gain insight on how to be effective in the professional workforce. After our workshops conclude, artists such as Seabird, Write This Down, B.Reith and John Mark McMillan will perform at the Kiva Auditorium: such performances will highlight many different expressions of music.
If everyone would leave the conference with one piece of knowledge or wisdom, what would you like that to be?
SU: The point of Eminence is to change lives. We live in a fast paced society that swallows up time and constantly leaves us wishing for things that could or should have been accomplished. Without hope, vision, direction and inspiration from God, aspirations will never overcome mediocrity. We as Christians, and as human beings, are a result of God’s creativity and perfect artistic expression. It is His desire that this trend be continued by way of His children; Eminence is designed to platform students to greatness.
The Eminence Conference takes place August 10th and 11th at The Kiva Convention Center in Albuquerque, New Mexico.
Visit www.eminenceworkshop.com to register for the event.
Registration is currently available for this event. If you choose to register before July 15th your admittance will be FREE!
Lucas Starr (Oh Sleeper)
What drew you to wanting to run a workshop at the Eminence Conference?
LS: Ashley from Veil Arms, and I both share a common interest in graphic design, and we’ve talked about it a few times. And then the opportunity came up to have this conference and they invited me to be a part of it. I’m drawn to the awareness that this conference will do for kids in whatever scene or community you come from. Everyone needs a passion and something that drives them.
What will your workshop consist of?
LS: I haven’t figured out the details yet. I’m a bit of procrastinator (laughs). But I think I’m going to talk about designing from the perspective of someone who’s self taught and never went to school for it. I love photo manipulation and texture overlays a lot, so I might show some work that I’ve done regarding those things and how I got started in graphic design.
What are some of your goals for the conference?
LS: To encourage kids and people to find something that they genuinely love, a passion or art that they can vent their feelings and emotions through. It’s important that everyone has that hobby that they can rely on when they need an escape or release.
How did your relationship with Veil Arms begin?
LS: We’ve done numerous shows in New Mexico that were promoted and hosted by Veil Arms with my band Oh, Sleeper and they let us stay at their house, etc.
What is some quick advice you can give to a kid who is attending the conference and wishes to maybe be in your position one day?
LS: Bring a pen and notepad. Take lots of notes. Ask tons of questions. Networking is the key to everything in the world of entertainment or design.
Matt Greiner (August Burns Red)
What drew you to wanting to run a workshop at the Eminence Conference?
MG: Shawn Ulmer called me and asked me to be a part of it. After hearing what it was about I jumped at the opportunity!
“I will touch on finding your identity in God verses what people associate you with (job, hobby, passion, location, etc.), and how to embrace that distinction when all the world seems grey.”
What will your workshop consist of?
MG: I will be speaking on his faith and failures as a touring musician on the road 9 months out of the year. I will touch on finding your identity in God verses what people associate you with (job, hobby, passion, location, etc.), and how to embrace that distinction when all the world seems grey. I will also be showing off some grooves on the drum kit as well as what it takes to be a touring drummer/musicians (tuning, performance, mindset, etc.)
What are some of your goals for the conference?
MG: In each 1 hour session I hope to showcase the fact that a Christian can live out his faith in a ‘normal’ manner in a very real world. I’ll elaborate on growing up in a home that instilled Christianity as an ‘idea’ from an early age and how it was crucial that I take that knowledge and put it up against how people live their lives. I hope to teach a few very practical things about playing drums and, bottom line, have a fun and interactive experience with each group of folks!
How did your relationship with Veil Arms begin?
MG: Shawn and his fiance (at the time) Ashley are incidentally big August Burns Red fans and came to a show in Texas in 2006. We talked for a bit after the show and ended up keeping in touch, eventually staying with Shawn and his family whenever we rolled through New Mexico.
Shawn was vocal about Ashley’s passion for graphic design and her heart for giving and inspiring people. After they got married they termed her dream Veil Arms and Shawn the took the helm of promoting and putting Veil Arms in the public eye! I’ve always enjoyed Ashley’s designs and consider them great friends of mine.
What is some quick advice you can give to a kid who is attending the conference and wishes to maybe be in your position one day?
MG: I guess I’d just say come on out to one (or two) of my sessions at Eminence and hear it from me in person!
