art & therapy collage

A personal journal during the last year of my art therapy master's program.

On Wednesday November 7, I arrived in Albuquerque with several colleagues at around noon Mountain time. We rented a Ford Escort, checked into our hotel and drove about an hour north to Santa Fe.

We ate at a wonderful restaurant called Longevity Cafe & Emporium which serves fantastic teas, yummy and healthy foods (I had the curry noodle dish), and original energy drink recipes (I tasted the Green Dragon which had a lot of green tea and it was like a deliciious smoothie!) We wandered and did tourist type things like souvenir shopping at the Plaza (town square) of Santa Fe. Unfortunately, we ran out of time and did not go to Canyon Drive (the street with numerous art museums and galleries) as a friend suggested. Some other art therapist friends told me they had visited the Georgia O'Keefe Museum and it was fantastic. I'll have to see it the next time I go to Santa Fe!

6:20 PM [ Link ]

Brief overview of my impressions of my first experience at the annual AATA conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico:

• Wow! Over 800 art therapists in one room!
• Overwhelmed, overstimulated, and inspired!
• An amazing experience that still has me reeling.
• I've met authors and trailblazers in the program and have been exposed to the creative energies of innovative, creative, and spiritual people.
• I looked at art, listened to art, created art, and displayed art.

I look forward to a marvelous experience at the next conference!

I also made time to visit Santa Fe, marvel at the landscape, gather souvenirs, eat Mexican food, and spend time with fellow GWU classmates and alumni. The next few entries will be more detailed conference descriptions and reactions with my notes, quotes, impressions, images, and photos of these past 4 days.

9:38 PM [ Link ]