"First Annual VT Artist's Meet in Questa,... " a Questa Travel Page by ArtistsOnVT

Though a bit petite, our first EVER VT Artist's Meet was a roaring success! We met up in a rural location in the Beautiful state of New Mexico to support each other in our creative pursuits. This support ranged from teaching one another about new techniques or new artforms to feeding our souls as well as our bellies :)

This pic is of our little group: Katmosphere, AlbuqRay, BunnyBeee, Kymbanm, Misha_abq, ray_d, and LaCristina!

These were our expectations prior to our meet:
The tenants of sharing and helpfulness are integral to our time at the retreat. Each participant will be expected to help with meals, housekeeping as needed, and maintaining the center so that when we leave, it will be as we entered it. We desire a supportive environment to allow our creativity a means to be expressed. This may be accomplished with informal workshops, camaraderie, local wandering and occasional solitude. Our experiences at this retreat will become whatever each participant contributes to the whole experience.

This will not be a high stress, packed itinerary, partying style VT meet. Our intention is to allow our creativity a chance to surface … that is best accomplished in a supportive, slow-paced environment. Nightlife in this locale might consist of bonfires instead of pub-crawls. In this manner we are providing the possibility of a spiritual, artistic and physical connection with the unique nature of New Mexico.

---

This retreat is not only for us to 'make stuff', but more to allow us to release our creativity.

---

One more thing. Since this is an artist's retreat, I recognize there may be some who find their particular art form less than portable. Whatever art supplies you normally travel with should be suitable for your time here. Some have already mentioned coming with yarn, needles, beads, sketch pads, portable paints, musical instruments, and other such items. If you have other needs, please contact me for resources or options.

Who would have thought that a little website called Virtual Tourist would impact our creative juices in such a profound manner! As our weekend progressed, we added our work to our table .... sketches, watercolors, writings, beadwork, glass painting adorned our little altar honoring creative forces ... we ate most of the wonderful food, so that didn't make it to the altar though :)

Add to this the little gifts brought by some of our participants .... Red Chile from New Mexico by Kymbanm .... Greeting cards of her watercolors by Kamosphere ...... Australian caps and T-shirts by ray_d. And through it all we honored our fellow VT artists who couldn't join us, including PALS! We places one of his prints in a position of honor on our altar.

As I receive links to the work of our participants, virtual and live, I"ll be posting them in a TL ... so watch this space!

Friday September 1 through Monday September 4 2006
(Friday afternoon through lunchtime Monday)

Location: Private retreat:
Takoja Retreat Center

Cost: $100 per person for the weekend (regardless of number of days during weekend)
To be paid 2 weeks prior to the retreat.

Includes:
Lodging
Most meals: see tentative schedule

Physical characteristics of retreat center:
The center is a privately owned spiritual retreat center that is used for Shamanistic training and related events. We are being provided this location for a small fee as a gift from the owner to our VT artists. The retreat is rustic ? the 2 adobe domes are seen from a distance, and are used as landmarks for locals. Solar power, well water, and conservation are integral to the experience in this rural New Mexico location. We will be located 45 miles north of Taos, nestled in a beautiful valley.

The Land of Enchantment
In addition to the people, the PLACE made an impact on our creativity. Georgia O'Keefe felt the land speak as she painted, These are the haunts of John Nichol's that inspired his Milagro Bean Field War novel, a story of New Mexico people. Waking to this view every morning was just one of the many little bits of the day that added to our joy ....