RETREAT EXPERIENCE
If you’re seriously interested, we encourage you to resist the urge to Google too much beforehand. This is an artwork best met in real time, without preconceptions.
This retreat is for those drawn to art that unfolds in time, landscapes that heighten awareness, and the feeling of standing at a threshold—between sky and earth, light and shadow, stillness and energy. The Lightning Field asks us to slow down, tune in, and notice what we might otherwise miss.
PROGRAM ITINERARY
Thursday, August 7th
TRAVEL DAY: Make your way to Albuquerque.
Friday, August 8th
ARRIVAL:We’ll gather for lunch in Albuquerque to meet, connect, and set an intention for our time together.
JOURNEY:After lunch, we’ll carpool to The Lightning Field. The DIA Foundation provides lodging in a remote cabin at the site, along with simple meals. Expect stillness, shifting light, and time to take it all in.
Saturday, August 9th
DEPARTURE:We’ll depart in the morning and drive to Santa Fe, settling into El Rey Court for the next leg of our trip.
CHOOSE YOUR ADVENTURE:Spend the afternoon however you’d like: lounge by the pool, explore Santa Fe, or simply rest and reset.
Sunday, August 10th
WORKSHOP:We’ll re-group for a guided workshop to reflect on our experience and deepen our connection to the land and its stories.
OPEN EXPLORATION:The rest of the day is yours: museums, hot springs, coffee, or quiet wandering.
FINAL GATHERING:We’ll share one last meal together, swapping stories and integrating our time before we part ways.
Monday, August 11th
REFLECTIONS & GOODBYES:We’ll meet early for breakfast and a closing reflection before early afternoon departures.
THEMATIC EXPLORATION
Presence & Duration
What does it mean to truly be somewhere? What shifts in perception happen when you stay long enough to notice? De Maria designed The Lightning Field to be experienced over 24 hours—through different light conditions, weather, and moods.
Perception & Perspective
How does an artwork shift when you move within it? What does scale do to our sense of self? How does distance—physical or emotional—alter meaning? From one vantage point, The Lightning Field seems flat; from another, the poles stretch infinitely.
Energy & Charge
How do we sense energy beyond what we can see? Even when lightning doesn’t strike, the field feels charged. This part of the retreat taps into subtle energies, attunement, and the unseen forces that shape experience.
Trace & Transformation
What do we take away from an experience we can’t document? How does something leave a mark without leaving a trace? De Maria restricted photography because The Lightning Field isn’t meant to be a captured object—it’s an experience.
LODGING DETAILS
This is an intentionally intimate retreat, rooted in slowness, stillness, and connection—with each other and the land.We'll stay at two locations over the course of the retreat: The Lightning Field (1 night): Lodging here is shared regardless of whether you’re traveling solo or with a friend. El Rey Court in Santa Fe (2 nights): You’ll choose from a variety of room types—solo or shared—when booking your package. This leg of the journey offers a chance to reset, reflect, and rest before heading home.
All accommodations are included in your retreat package. Specific room details and pairings will be confirmed after registration.
We’ll spend one night at The Lightning Field, an iconic land art site operated by the DIA Foundation. Lodging is provided in a remote, off-grid cabin with three bedrooms, one with a full bed, and two with with two twin beds each (4 total). Simple meals are provided. Due to the private nature of this experience, there are no interior photos available—but you can expect intentional stillness, shifting light, and deep quiet. This portion of the retreat is about presence, not amenities.
1 Full
2 Twins
2 Twins
El Rey Court – Santa Fe
For the final two nights, we’ll stay at El Rey Court, a beautifully renovated adobe motor lodge with a pool and hot tub. You'll choose from the following room types.
DOUBLE QUEEN
RETREAT PACKAGES
All packages include 1 night at The Lightning Field, 2 nights at El Rey Court, group transportation, meals, and retreat programming. Room pairings and preferences will be confirmed after registration. You can come solo or with a friend, and we’ll make it all work. Reserve your spot with a $300 deposit.
After your deposit is received, we’ll finalize your room selection and remaining balance via Venmo or Zelle. The remaining balance will be due by June 7, 2025.
RESERVE YOUR SPOT
A Note on Pricing
This first Skypunch retreat is priced intentionally to keep it accessible. Fees cover lodging, most meals, and thoughtful experiences—but do not reflect the premium cost or effort required to secure rare reservations like The Lightning Field, nor the time and energy behind curation and facilitation. As this is the inaugural offering, your participation—and your feedback—are deeply appreciated. Future retreats will be priced to reflect the full scope of value.