On Sunday, Sept. 15, “The Real Convocation,” a public community event at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, filled the courtyard with music and art for Columbia students, alumni and artists alike.
“The Real Convocation” was organized by West Loop Entertainment and Real Innovative Artists and hosted by two Columbia College students, senior music business major Ayu Eini and senior arts management major Camryn Mather.
“We went to our first convocation together,” said Mather. “We talked about the name for it for days and this is what we settled on because it was a full circle moment for us from Columbia to outreach in other parts of Chicago.”
Mather, who also volunteers at the Epiphany Center for the Arts, said the old Gothic-style church felt like a great space for people to come together and converse while also networking and distributing new projects.
The courtyard paired with multiple picnic areas, games, activities and a dance floor created a space where students and various artists could come together to connect, celebrate art and network.
Stage manager Ava Winfrey, a sophomore dance major, served as a liaison between artists and helped the two headliners behind the scenes.
“I love helping and seeing the space transform,” said Winfrey. “I think the space is so great for networking opportunities with other students and people outside of Columbia.”
Attendees of “The Real Convocation” were treated to a dynamic lineup of local and student performances. The stage hosted artists like T-star, Danielle Crim, Liam Taylor, Proxoxie, Myka Okot & Electric Mindz Crew and SEB the Optimist.
A lineup of DJs also provided non-stop energy filling the space with unique beats and electric mixes. DJs Bre5lin, Ayu, Stigs, 3VL6VL and Alejandro Marenco created mixes throughout the day, ensuring the festival atmosphere stayed alive and vibrant.
Cyphers began at 6:15 p.m., offering an open dance floor to move and connect with other attendees. The blend of live music and DJ sets offered something for everyone, whether they were looking to dance, listen or simply enjoy the creative energy flow throughout the event.
“I love bringing people together as a DJ,” said Eini.“With my involvement in the DJ Club at Columbia, it’s been so nice to connect with other DJs in an otherwise lonesome industry; we were trying to build that community and be supportive to other DJs to get gigs and build that relationship with other entrepreneurs.”
Beyond music, “The Real Convocation” featured a wide array of art vendors showcasing everything from vintage clothing and custom apparel to fine art prints, stickers, crochet items, jewelry and more.
Vendors such as senior finance major Kennedy Freeman used the Chase House marketplace to do live personalized caricatures throughout the evening.
“As a transfer student it was harder for me to get involved in the community at Columbia, I like this [event space] because I get to connect with people that I may not see in everyday life.”
As a freelance artist and founder of HourNine, a Black-owned collective for queer women of color, Freeman welcomed this event not only to connect, but also to showcase her business, paintings and caricatures.
“I am not a huge school person, so this has been a great opportunity for me to participate, connect with people and get involved in the creative community.”
The adjunct marketplace invited both interaction and appreciation, making the festival a multi-faceted celebration of the arts.
Other activities such as watercolor painting, crafts and board games were available for attendees throughout the event. Food and drink options were also available inside the center, allowing guests to relax, refresh and fully immerse themselves in the art center.
Real Innovative Artists is a Chicago-based event management company created by Eini and Mather that focuses on creating hubs for art, culture and community. The organization aims to push the boundaries of art and music production. Founders Eini and Mather said they made it a goal not only to showcase art but also to create immersive spaces where people can interact with the art and each other.
“A lot of the things here have been shared and borrowed,” said Mather. “We wanted to organize a space where diverse perspectives come together through the universal language of art and support local and student talent.”
Their mission is to redefine what it means to engage with creative work, emphasizing community, collaboration and shared experiences.
“We do plan on expanding our community to help artists in any way we can, whether that be financially, spiritually or just to serve as a space for people to utilize their talents,” said Eini.
“We eventually want to do it for film directors, musicians, producers, editors and artists and possibly do an artist showcase.”
“The Real Convocation” offered a glimpse into the vibrant artistic world of Columbia College and beyond, blending music, visual art and community into a dynamic exchange of talent. A space where creativity met connection.
Copy edited by Trinity Balboa
