August 7–11, 2025
POINT OF CONTAC T
This trip weaves through Albuquerque, Quemado, and Santa Fe, NM.
De Maria wanted visitors to feel the landscape in a way that photos could never capture, which is why the DIA Foundation asks that guests arrive with little prior knowledge—and no cameras.
This retreat explores thresholds—between presence and absence, stillness and transformation, sky and earth. It’s about patience, perception, and witnessing something that can’t be easily explained.
Space is limited: 6 total participants.
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.
“The light is as important as the lightning.”
Walter de MariaInterested in joining us next year?
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THIS RETREAT *IS* FOR YOU IF...
If the idea of being surrounded by miles of open sky, silence, and steel rods electrifies you (metaphorically speaking), you’re in the right place.
You don’t need a five-star itinerary to have a five-star experience...
If you can find magic in the shifting light, the hush of the desert, and the unpredictability of inspiration—this is your kind of adventure.
You like your conversations deep and your silence deeper...
Small talk? Meh. You’re here for the big questions, the shared wonder, and the kind of stillness that makes room for new thoughts.
If you’ve ever gone down a Wikipedia rabbit hole on land art, minimalism, or the philosophy of space and time—welcome home.
You want to witness something you can’t quite explain...
Some things are best experienced, not described. If you live for those moments that leave you awestruck, we’ll see you there.
THIS RETREAT IS *NOT* FOR YOU IF...
If the idea of connecting with a small, intentional community makes you cringe, this might not be the right space for you.
You are allergic to quiet and boredom...
Stillness and quiet reflection are part of the journey here.
You can’t fully break from your 9–5...
This retreat invites you to unplug and be present. Make that PTO official.
This isn’t a luxury spa vacation—it’s meaningful, creative exploration with a touch of adventure.
You rather be posting on main...
While we won’t take your phone away, this retreat is about dialing down device usage and immersing yourself in the present.
PACKAGE PAYMENT:
- 1 ticket to theThe Lightning Field including 1 night lodging
- Simple meals provided by DIA at The Lightning Field
- 2 nights lodging at El Rey Court
- Most meals in Santa Fe (details provided upon registration)
- Group transportation
- Discounted rate for room extension in Santa Fe (optional, if you want to stay longer!)
- Airfare
- Lodging in Albuquerque for the night of August 7. If you're interested in sharing a room or coordinating with others, we’ll help facilitate connections once everyone’s confirmed.
- Optional activities like museum visits or spa treatments
- Travel insurance (required). We will host this retreat rain or shine!
- Optional shuttle to ABQ (pick up from El Rey Court)
MEET YOUR GUIDE
With over a decade of experience leading creative in marketing, Erica has spent their career guiding artists and designers to tell stories for brands. Now, they’re more interested in guiding creatives to explore stories rooted in history and wonder. How does learning and inspiration happen outside traditional structures? They see teaching as a creative practice, not a top-down transfer of knowledge but an open invitation to curiosity, experimentation, and communal discovery.
Their work is shaped by art history, spiritual inquiry, and somatic awareness, along with a deep commitment to making creative renewal accessible. They are a coach-in-training and an ever-curious student of facilitation, self-inquiry, and artistic process.
Skypunch is an ongoing experiment—a space to get lost on purpose, to follow questions like threads, and to gather in the quiet where creativity stirs.
FAQ
This retreat is for creative seekers and curious minds—anyone drawn to deep thinking, expansive landscapes, and a break from the demands of daily life. Through historical storytelling, personal reflection, and time on the land, we’ll explore creativity, connection, and renewal. Think of it as a space to pause, recalibrate, and spark something new
Do I need to have an understanding of the relevant art history before the trip?
Nope! We’ll introduce you to the art history and narratives that inspire this retreat. Think of it as a guided journey—you just need to bring your curiosity.
Where will we stay?
This trip has two legs: The Lightning Field
How many people will be attending?
This will be an intimate gathering, limited to five participants plus one facilitator—small enough for meaningful connection, spacious enough for solitude.
Your retreat fee covers:
Not included: Travel expenses, personal extras, and optional “side quests” like spa visits or museum trips.
I’m worried about the cost. Are there flexible payment options?
Totally get it—investing in a retreat can feel like a big step. Flexible payment plans are available, and we’re working toward tiered pricing models for future experiences. Reach out if you’d like to discuss payment options.
What about transportation?
You’ll need to arrange your own transportation to our retreat meeting location in Albuquerque. From there, we’ll handle the rest.