The Sanctuary of Painter Georgia O’Keeffe Calls You. Come Interact with its Collective Spirit.

 

Join us for a VisionQuest like none other as we venture into the magical sanctuary of painter Georgia O’Keeffe’s famous Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu, New Mexico. There is no veil between heaven and earth in this beautiful valley. It is a place where spirits ride the winds.

This fabled place was the love of artist Georgia O’Keeffe’s life, and her depictions of the landscape catapulted Ghost Ranch to international recognition. It now waits for you and your creative muse to come and interact with its collective spirit.

Ghost Ranch is a 21,000-acre (85 km2) retreat and education center located close to the village of Abiquiu in Rio Arriba County, New Mexico. We have limited space for 12 people to join us here for what will be a fantastic six days and nights VisionQuest.

Come experience this wonderful place of enchantment where nature, astronomy and geology ignite into a majestic tapestry of site, sound and color. Listen to the call from this valley; come stay in a very special place where your spirit will truly, ride the wind.

 

Our “Spirits of the Wind’ VisionQuest & Integrative Photography

 

This VisionQuest takes you on an adventure to a unique place in the world and yourself. It offers a sanctioned opportunity to experience Ghost Ranch through the use of integrative photography.

With sufficient time, not encumbered by the familiar settings and rush of the everyday world, you create a space where Ghost Ranch and you interact in a integral way. During times of reflection, journaling, and image making you’ll discover connections between you and the photographic events of your external world.

Your camera will help you integrate a mysteriously connected world here, providing you an essential means for seeing and discovery. An integrative approach to photography can offer considerable insights and illumination that, in turn, help you develop both craft and artistic expression.

 

About the ‘Spirits of the Wind’ VisionQuest

Map of Abiquiu and Surrounding Areas.


You will arrive for check-in at the Ghost Ranch in Abiquiu on Saturday, August 28th where we will begin our quest with a special kick-off and getting acquainted dinner. Instructions and an itinerary will be sent to all participants prior to arrival. We will use our facilities at the Ranch as a base for many adventures into the surrounding areas. Some of these will include optional drives to near-by locations such as the Jemez Mountains and Springs, Abuquiu Lake, Taos, and Santa Fe.

What You Should Bring and Need to Know:

The following are items you will need to bring with you for the vision quests, as well as logistical information for booking the event and the terms of release regarding liabilities.

  • Digital Camera Equipment is Required (bring backup batteries and memory cards)
  • An optional but preferred laptop computer with photo editing software such as Adobe Photoshop
  • A means for keeping a journal
  • Appropriate dress for sun, rain, and hiking (including hiking boots, insect repellant and sunscreen)
  • Swimming attire for Abiquiu Lake or the swimming pool at the ranch
  • You will be responsible for providing your own transportation to, at and from the Ranch,
  • You are responsible for all risks and liabilities and will relieve John Paul of any obligations and responsibilities to be accountable for any liabilities incurred by you or others what-so-ever.
  • Your initial deposit represents your agreement to these terms.
  • An initial, non-refundable, deposit of $497 USD per person is required to hold your spot for this event.
  • An additional $497 USD is due no later than June 26th, 2010, with the remaining balance due no later than July 24th, 2010.

    • Chimney Rock, Abiquiu, N. M. © Ralph Hopkins

  • The cost for this VisionQuest is $2,197 USD. The price includes hotel accommodations for six nights on the Mesa at Ghost Ranch and three meals each day in the dinning room at the ranch. If you are willing to bunk up with another person then the total price can be reduced by $300 per person.
  • You will be responsible for securing your own transportation. We will be happy to assist you with recommendations to help you secure your travel.

 

About John Paul

 

John Paul studied art in England at West Surrey College of Art & Design as well as Arizona State University.

At A.S.U he was privileged to study under the guidance of art photography historian, Bill Jay. There he had personal access to many of the legends of photography including Eugene Smith, Paul Capinigro, Minor White, and Ansel Adams.

John Paul mentors individual photographers, gives lectures and conducts photographic excursions to remote places around the world. He calls these pilgrimages VisionQuests®. The primary focus of his activities is Integrative Photography.

John Paul’s students are encouraged to discover and understand their motivation for taking a picture; why they point the camera and click the shutter, when they do so, and how they process the image later.

Integration occurs whenever motivation for taking a picture and the meaning of the image are connected in a resonant way. Such discovery is not sequentially bound. The answers are sometimes found much later, even after many years. John Paul calls this process Integrative Photography.

Sign up today. Space allocations for this event are extremely limited and fill up fast.
Click on the button below.