THE WORKSHOP

During this special, in-depth 5 day workshop, we will share our favorite techniques to use in bookmaking and surface design. You will have an abundance of time and space in a gorgeous setting to dive deep into exploration and creativity .

No special skills or experience are needed, just plan to come and have a fabulous time creating and connecting.

You will have five days to…..

Wind down and decompress.

Connect with your tribe of like-minded people.

Freely explore new art techniques and ideas.

Practice replacing fear and hesitation with curiosity and exploration.

Play in a large, light filled studio that is accessible any time during your visit for unanticipated creative surges!

Identify your inner perfectionist and them free!

Refuel, replenish and relax.

Enjoy a warm community, laughter & play.

Enjoy delicious, nourishing meals.

Explore our wonderful little town.

Learn from 2 experienced instructors.

BOUND TOGETHER ROUGH ITINERARY

SUNDAY JUNE 16, 2024
3 PM, Check in.
6 PM, Welcome dinner After dinner, opening circle.

MONDAY JUNE 17, 2024
8-9:00 AM, Breakfast, morning check in.
9:30 AM, Class begins
12:30-1:30 PM, Lunch.
1:30-4:30 PM, Class resumes, time to play.

TUESDAY JUNE 18, 2024
8-9 AM, Breakfast, morning check in.
9:30 AM, Class begins

12:30-1:30 PM, Lunch.
1:30-4:30 PM, Class resumes.

WEDNESDAY JUNE 19, 2024
8-9 AM, Breakfast, morning check in
9 AM, Optional trip to Abiquiu

THURSDAY JUNE 20, 2024
8-9 AM, Breakfast, morning check in.
9:30, Class begins,
12:30-1:30 PM, Lunch.
1:30-4:30 PM, Class resumes.

FRIDAY JUNE 21,2024 8-9 AM, Breakfast, Morning check-in. 9:30 AM, Class Begins 1:30-4:30 PM, Class resumes. 6:00 PM, Closing dinner

SATURDAY JUNE 22, 2024
8-9 AM, Breakfast. 11:00 AM Check out.

COST & REGISTRATION

Shared room with shared bath $2700 per person

Private room with private bath $3100

These rates include five workshop days, all breakfasts, lunches, 2 gourmet dinners, and an optional outings.

If you would like to share a room, please sign up with a co-participant.

Guests sharing a room but not attending the workshop will be charged an additional $65 per day, in addition to the private room rate. This includes all breakfasts and lunches for both people.

BEFORE YOU PAY…If you prefer to pay by check, you will receive a $50 discount. Please contact leighannalight@gmail.com to make arrangements.

Commuter rate, $1700, plus any additional dinners. This rate is only available for Taos residents attending the workshop but not staying on the property. We strongly encourage you to stay at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House if at all possible, since it is such a beautiful and rich part of the overall experience.

Outing expenses are not included.

A $500 non refundable deposit due at registration to hold your place in the workshop. Once registered you will receive a list of basic questions about room preferences and dietary restrictions. You will then receive your room assignment, supply list, and a link to our private Facebook page.

The remaining balance is due by April 15, 2024, and no reminders will be sent. Your space is subject to cancellation if payment is not received when due. If you would like to make payment arrangements please contact Leighanna at leighannalight@gmail.com

Payment in full is required when registering less than 90 days prior to the retreat.

Students are registered in the order in which their deposits are received.

INCLUDED

-6 nights lodging in one of Mabel’s historic rooms.

-24 hour access to the studio and the big house.

-6 delicious breakfasts and lunches.

-Gourmet welcome dinner.

-Gourmet closing dinner.

-5 workshop days.

-Selected materials.

-A private Facebook page for class participants.

-Several optional excursions.

If you would like to extend your stay, discounted rooms may be available. Please book your extended stay directly through the Mabel Dodge Luhan House. Contact Julie or Vanessa at Mabel Dodge Luhan House directly, by calling 800-846-2235.

CANCELLATION POLICY

We understand that situations can arise that can cause a change of plans. Often last minute cancellations are are unavoidable. We sympathize when this occurs, however, it is not possible for us to favor one circumstance over another, so we must maintain a standard policy for all with no exceptions.

Cancellations before 3/15/24: your money will be refunded minus your $500 non-refundable deposit. Please notify us as soon as possible by email.

****Your $500 non refundable deposit is never refundable for any reason.

Cancellations after 3/15/24: If you register for this workshop and need to cancel after this date, absolutely no refunds will be issued for any reason.

It is advisable to purchase cancellation insurance to cover any unforeseen emergencies… please check around for insurance that best meets your needs. A friend recommended this one…http://www.travelinsurancereview.net/beginners-guide/

THE PROPERTY

I had the pleasure of staying at the Mabel Dodge Luhan House for the first time 30 years ago for my 28th birthday. I stayed upstairs in the solarium and it was absolute magic. I’d never been anywhere quite like it, and I fell in love with this incredible space. I felt an extreme sense of connection, comfort, warmth and safety, like being wrapped in a warm blanket. From the moment that I walked in I felt like I was home.

As a guest of the house, expect to enjoy warm adobe charm, early century elegance, historic relevance. Vigas, traditional arched doorways, kiva fireplaces, and carved pillars. A welcoming hearth and relaxed ambiance. Panoramic views. Quiet patios and a tree-lined acequia. Located on the border of the Taos Pueblo lands, our location is quiet and restful, yet is still an easy ten minute walk to the center of Taos

A full gourmet breakfast will start each day of your stay with us. Mabel Dodge is known for its healthy, delicious food created by top local chefs. When possible, garden-raised or local produce is used. Coffee, tea, water and fresh baked cookies are available throughout the day. Upon registration you will be asked to provide any dietary restrictions that you may have.

The Mabel Dodge Luhan House is a rustic, quirky, retreat-style facility with no air-conditioning, televisions, alarm clocks or telephones. There is wi-fi only in the main living area. You will have access to this area 24 hours a day. Please visit http://www.mabeldodgeluhan.com for more info and learn more about this unique place!

TRAVEL AND WEATHER

Most participants fly into the Albuquerque International Sunport and rent or share a car. Taos is a gorgeous 2 1/2 hour drive from Albuquerque, with a lot to see and do. We will be sending you a list of our favorite places to explore between Taos and Albuquerque as we get closer to the event.

We also have 2 regional airports that are closer, but flights are limited…Santa Fe regional airport, https://flysantafe.com/ & Taos Air, https://taosair.com/

The weather in late June is usually sunny and warm. That said, be prepared for anything and bring layers!

We are at 7000 feet elevation so be prepared to drink a lot of extra water!

YOUR GUIDES

ORLY AVINERI

In my life as a ‘maker of things’ I've been creating and earning a living from painting and collage making, graphic, book, textile and surface design, illustration, mural painting, and a myriad of other disciplines. I've studied fine arts in Ein-Hod, an artist's village, overlooking the Mediterranean Sea in the mystical Carmel Heights in Israel where I am originally from. Later I have studied graphic design and graduated from the University of Arts in the contemporary yet history-drenched city of Utrecht, in the Netherlands. In the last decade I've been practicing and teaching complex yet simple art making processes through mixed-media, visual-journaling, book making, story telling, and ritual building. 

I have taught workshops in intimate settings and in large art retreats, both across the US and abroad, in Australia, Mexico, Morocco, The Czech Republic, The Netherlands, Ireland, and England. I've been a contributor in more than a dozen books and magazines and have authored three published books and two card decks designed to inspire and support creative practices. I have spoken about these practices in beautiful events as well. My work’s purpose is to advance the well being of those who seek it through a unique creative process and an experience based content I have created and developed throughout these years. Engaging in a world that is far more expansive than my own enlivens me to no end and I hope to invoke that feeling in others.

Now living in the beautiful Willamette Valley in Oregon I take in all the magnificence of the landscapes that shaped me and of the visual languages I have acquired along the way. I am passionate about the process of marrying multiple media to inspire freedom of expression, honesty of emotion, and a deep belief in the possibility, the power, and the beauty of change. I truly believe that the need to be witnessed by the self and by others is a core human need to be fulfilled by the act of creating. Therefore, a compelling part of my own journey and my absolute passion is the fostering of that in others. Art making practices cultivate insight into the nature of growth and the creative process as they relate to deep stories of loss and mend.

Enriched by self trust and acceptance, images, photos, paper, paint, words, pen, line, thread, and many unconventional tools and materials entwine to make expressive, complex, and personal creations. It's all about one's willingness to reveal vulnerability and rawness for the sake of true creative freedom, newness, and a deep sense of interconnectedness to all. Experiencing honest, open ended, and spirit lifting journeys takes precedence over producing beautiful outcomes. Ultimately, this, for me, is about living and depicting the fluidity of our lives, about effortlessly carrying ourselves from one place to another, and about connecting to a larger world than our own. I wish to bring it forth to you.

LEIGHANNA LIGHT

I am a passionate art instructor, thingmaker, bookmaker, figurative assemblage artist and recovering perfectionist! My background is in fine arts and photography and I’ve been teaching art workshops for the past 20 years at art retreats in the US. I develop my classes by playing, making a mess, making “mistakes” and I can’t think of any better way to live and make a living. I love to create, to hunt for things to create with & to share my creativity with others. It’s what I live for, it’s my oxygen.

I grew up in a small town in upstate New York and I have spent most of the past 20 years in New Mexico. I am so lucky to live in Taos, the mountains of Northern New Mexico, with my best friends Thomas, Peetie, Lily, Hairy B….and now Jessie. Sheesh, each year I keep adding more!