Seminars/Workshops

The sessions are organized around IAM's core areas of art, faith and humanity. The workshops will inspire you, help you engage with others, or tackle how, why and what we create.

Visit the Encounter 09 podcast and video page to attend many of these sessions virtually.

Friday - Block A

9:00-10:30 am

Patronage: Why Giving to the Arts Matters - Roberta Ahmanson and Ena Heller
This seminar explores giving to the arts, why it matters, ways it can be done, discussing the importance of religious literacy and the vital role the arts and arts institutions, such as the Museum of Biblical Art, can play in furthering understanding, as well as ways anyone can begin to get involved in giving to specific projects.

Discussion Group: The MFA
Join your peers for an open discussion of the MFA. Why get one? Where get one? What to do with one once you have it?

A Homemade Artist Salon - Joe & Linnea Kickasola
As art venues continue to close down, the Kickasolas explore how you use your home as a hospitable venue for artists and creative catalysts.

The Artist's Way - Brie Walker
Find out how The Artist’s Way can provide a basis for expanding your creativity and your community. Get practical tips and tools for leading a group.

The Principles of Representation and Working Well with Your Agent - Louisa St. Pierre
How to articulate your creative vision in business terms, effectively enlist the enthusiasm and skills of a trained individual or team, and manage both your expectations and theirs, to help boost your career.

Friday - Block B

1:30-3:00 pm

Film Music - Lev "Ljova" Zhurbin
Composer and performer Ljova discuss his opportunities and career paths in film music, and reflects on experiences working with Osvaldo Golijov and Francis Ford Coppola, Michel Gondry, and over a dozen independent film makers. Screenings of selections from recent film scores, with Ljova's commentary.

Creativity in the Worship Arts - Christy Tennant, Vito Aiuto, John Farkas, Alf Bishai
The panel explores many approaches to enhancing and developing creativity in worship and in churches.

Your Art Career is Your Business - Mark Meehan
Many emerging artists face the difficult challenge of establishing their career as their business. This session will present important concepts about business that can help artists stay organized and maximize success.

Writing Masterclass (creative non-fiction/memoir) - Susan Isaacs
Author and writer Susan Isaacs leads this masterclass on the art of writing non-fiction.

Portfolio Review - Brent Dickinson, Chris Anderson
Bring you portfolio and get feedback on your work.

Friday - Block C

3:30-5:00pm

The National Endowment for the Arts – Jon Peede
The director of literature and grants programs, Jon Peede, joins us to review the past few years and look forward to what the future may bring for great nation deserving great art. Hear about Operation Homecoming and other programs as well as Jon’s perspective on Flannery O’Connor as co-editor of Inside the Church of Flannery O'Connor: Sacrament, Sacramental, and the Sacred in Her Fiction.

Pastor/Ministry Leader's Roundtable – Leigh Ann Dull and John Farkas
An open forum for those working with faith communities to discuss the ways that IAM interfaces with the faith community.

Staying Organized, Staying Ahead - Squire Broel
Many artists end up managing all aspects of their careers. Broel presents ideas he's implemented in his career to carve out time for the artistic, business, and donor cultivation sides to his life as an artist.

Drawing Masterclass – Yuko Shimizu
Spend time honing your drawing skills with acclaimed illustrator, Yuko Shimizu.

Production/Recording Masterclass - Chris Griffin
Producer Chris Griffin will demonstrate the importance of good production in creating quality recordings that reflect the level artistry and commitment you have to your work.

Saturday - Block A

9:00-10:30 am

Signposts in a Strange Land:
Musings on Faith, Vocation & Culture - Steve Garber
In kaleidoscopic ways, the arts are always both a reflection of and an argument for what we believe about life and the world. If Walker Percy's insight, "Bad books always lie—they lie most of all about the human condition…" is true, then what is the vocation of artists whose deepest commitments are formed by the biblical vision? Can we learn to sing songs—and write novels, make films, and paint, act, dance and sculpt –in ways that are rooted in the truest truths of the universe, but in language the whole world can understand?

Creative Catalysts - Mark Meehan
What does it mean to be a catalyst for your creativity and the creativity of others. Creative catalyst Mark Meehan shows the important role catalysts play in culture by sharing his experience of conversion from ordinary businessman to creative catalyst.

Creating a winning online portfolio. - Nathan Jacobson
Design is credibility. We'll take a visual tour of the essentials of effective website design and communication and apply these principles to the creation of a winning online portfolio. We'll discuss client expectations, consider several approaches to selling your unique talents, and cover a variety of tools available for varying levels of technical expertise.

Aesthetics and the 21st Century - Samuel Kho
Gallerist Samuel Kho examines the trends in 21st century aesthetics and what might be coming down the pike.

The Non-Writer's Guide to Writing – Alissa Wilkinson
Every artist must know how to write well to effectively communicate artistic vision and purpose. This workshop will help non-professional writers hone their writing skills and become more effective communicators.

Saturday - Block B

1:30-3:00 pm

Presenter Q&A
Have a question? Ask our presenters at this open forum Q&A.

Design and Social Responsibility - Wayne Adams
What role does art and design play in the lives of the less fortunate? Here we will explore, discuss and debate social and political factors as well as current art and design interventions addressing poverty domestically and globally.

New Publishing Paradigms - Caleb Seeling
There a fewer and fewer opportunities for writers in the publishing world. Hear from NavPress's Caleb Seeling about new opportunities today's technologies are bringing for writers, as well as some of the tried and true opportunities.

Regional IAM - Kevin Gosa and Bryan Horvath
Interested in leading a regional IAM group? Hear about what IAM has planned for developing more regional groups that can carry on the wrestling with deep questions of art, faith and humanity throughout the year.

Portfolio Review - Linnea Spransy, Chris Anderson
Bring you portfolio and get feedback on your work.

Saturday - Block C

3:30-5:00 pm

You Are IAM - Bryan Horvath and Mark Meehan
Hear from IAM's Executive Director and Board President about where is IAM is now, where it is going, and how you can join the movement.

Refractions - Makoto Fujimura
Makoto Fujimura reads from his newest book and talks about the process of going from art to thought to blog to book.

Getting Into Magazines - Alissa Wilkinson, David Sessions, Alisa Harris
The traditional magazine industry is falling apart - and that can be good news for freelance writers looking to get a foot in the door. Join some seasoned writers and editors in a roundtable discussion and Q&A about how to begin writing for magazines, and leave with some practical ideas for getting started.

New York Art Tour - Merrily Kerr
Join art critic and art tour guide Merrily Kerr on a visit to Chelsea, New York's premier contemporary art gallery district, and see the most important shows of the moment.

Songwriting Masterclass - Rob Mathes
In this masterclass Rob Mathes will help singer/songwriters hone their craft in melody, composition, arrangement and lyrics. Sign up to attend at the Welcome Desk.