October 9–13, 2025 | Taos, NM
What does it mean to choose solitude—not as escape, but as devotion?
Georgia O’Keeffe and Agnes Martin both turned to the quiet of New Mexico to shape their work---O’Keeffe through the wide silence of Abiquiú, Martin through the disciplined stillness of line and form. Each carved space for a kind of interior listening.
STILLNESS STUDY is a retreat for those drawn to that same depth: solitude not as absence, but as a fertile ground for clarity, perception, and creative renewal.
Over five days in the high desert of Taos, we’ll move through visits to O’Keeffe’s home and Ghost Ranch, a guided conversation on Martin’s philosophy, and reflective practices designed to invite slowness, spaciousness, and artistic return.
This is a space for those called to quiet intensity—the ones who feel something sacred at the edge of retreat, who are ready to reorient toward the self as source.
Space is limited: 10 participants.
A LITTLE BIT OF HISTORY
Taos has long drawn artists seeking something beyond the noise—something elemental. In the high desert of northern New Mexico, Georgia O’Keeffe and Agnes Martin found not just quiet, but clarity.Both artists left New York at the height of their careers—not in retreat, but in pursuit.
O’Keeffe had been immersed in the energy of the New York art scene, married to Alfred Stieglitz, and surrounded by acclaim. But it was the desert that called to her. After her first trip to New Mexico in 1929, she returned nearly every summer for two decades before permanently relocating to Abiquiú. There, she painted the same hills, bones, and adobe forms again and again—not out of repetition, but reverence. Solitude, for O’Keeffe, was a way of seeing more clearly.
Agnes Martin, too, found early success in New York, even exhibiting alongside the Abstract Expressionists. But in 1967, at the peak of her visibility, she walked away. She gave up her studio, disappeared from the art world for several years, and eventually resettled in Taos. Her life became one of quiet rhythm and spiritual rigor. For Martin, solitude was not escape—it was discipline, devotion, and the only condition under which true inspiration could emerge.
While the two never met, their paths mirrored one another. They each turned inward and westward—leaving the art world’s center to live on their own terms. They made space for stillness. And from that stillness, they made enduring work.
THE RETREAT EXPERIENCE
Today’s creatives are up against a different kind of noise.
It’s the hum of Slack notifications, the scroll of inspiration that never ends, the pressure to make everything shareable. The algorithm is always watching, and somewhere along the way, stillness became a luxury instead of a given. Even rest starts to feel performative. Solitude, real solitude, is harder and harder to access.
This retreat is a deliberate interruption.
Stillness Study invites you to step away from the pace of productivity and plug back into something quieter, deeper, and more sustaining. It explores the role of solitude in creative life through the lens of Georgia O’Keeffe and Agnes Martin—two artists who each chose to leave the noise of New York behind and build a life shaped by silence, space, and presence.
Solitude isn’t just about being alone—it’s about how we shape our inner and outer worlds in its presence. The retreat explores how O’Keeffe and Martin embraced solitude as both a necessity and a creative force, using it to sharpen perception, deepen focus, and create with clarity.
This experience is for those drawn to quiet intensity, expansive landscapes, and the rhythms of solitude. Through time in nature, guided reflection, and creative exploration, we’ll consider how solitude influences perspective, process, and artistic devotion.
Rather than isolating, solitude—when approached with intention—becomes a container for creative renewal, presence, and deep listening. We’ll spend time with the landscapes that shaped O’Keeffe and Martin, reflect on their artistic practices, and explore our own relationship to solitude—whether through structured space or unstructured wandering.
This is an intimate, reflective retreat. Days will be spacious but intentional, balancing group dialogue, independent exploration, and quiet immersion in the landscape. We’ll close with a conversation on how to carry the lessons of solitude forward, integrating them into our daily lives.
PROGRAM ITINERARY HIGHLIGHTS
O’Keeffe & the Solitude of Place
- Private walking tour of Ghost Ranch.
- At Ghost Ranch: Time for quiet exploration—drawing, photographing, meditating
Solitude as Creative Ritual
- Tour of O’Keeffe’s Abiquiú Home & Studio.
- Open time: creative prompts, hiking, or visiting Taos Pueblo.
Agnes Martin: Deep Silence & Devotion
- Join Harwood Museum curator Gwendolyn Fernandez for a guided tour exploring Agnes Martin’s work, followed by a slow-looking, meditative practice
Land as Teacher
- Guided by Native Roots, an ancestral folk and herbal medicine school in Taos, we’ll walk the mountain trail, ask permission of the land, and explore plant medicine, place-based wisdom, and creative reflection — inviting deep listening, intuitive connection, and relationship with place.
Solitude, when approached as devotion, gives us more than rest—it gives us rhythm.
The works of O’Keeffe and Martin weren’t simply made in solitude; they were born from it, shaped by the rituals and boundaries that protected it.
As we close, we’ll reflect on how to continue tending this space—so that solitude remains not a temporary escape, but an ongoing relationship with self, with place, and with practice.
THEMATIC EXPLORATION
Solitude & Space
What does it mean to be truly alone with yourself—not in isolation, but in reverence?
How does solitude shift when we treat it as a devotion, rather than a retreat from the world?
O’Keeffe and Martin each carved out space—physically and mentally—to enter into deep relationship with themselves. This retreat explores how space shapes our inner landscapes, creative clarity, and the quiet rituals that sustain us.
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The Architecture of Aloneness
Solitude is something we shape.
O’Keeffe built a life of spacious devotion, designing her surroundings with precision and care. Martin’s stripped-down world was a radical act of focused love—for simplicity, for silence, for her practice.
What do we remove? What do we cherish? How do the structures we build—internally and externally—support a life of intentional, creative devotion?
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Stillness as a Source
Stillness isn’t absence—it’s presence intensified.
It asks for attunement, for practice, for faith in what can’t be forced. Through repetition, walking, and quiet observation, we begin to notice what’s always been there: a subtle creative current, alive beneath the surface.
This is stillness not as pause, but as prayer. As source.
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Carrying Solitude Forward
Solitude, when approached as devotion, gives us more than rest—it gives us rhythm.
The works of O’Keeffe and Martin weren’t simply made in solitude; they were born from it, shaped by the rituals and boundaries that protected it.
As we close, we’ll reflect on how to continue tending this space—so that solitude remains not a temporary escape, but an ongoing relationship with self, with place, and with practice.
THIS RETREAT IS FOR YOU IF...
If the idea of wide-open landscapes, uninterrupted time, and the clarity that comes from solitude excites you, this is your kind of retreat.
You crave space—physically, mentally, creatively.
O’Keeffe and Martin built their lives around solitude—not as isolation, but as a way to see, feel, and create more clearly. If you’ve ever dreamed of a life designed around creative focus, you’ll feel at home here.
You find inspiration in the quiet.
If you get excited about the way artists structure their lives, how place shapes creative work, or what makes Agnes Martin’s grids so powerful—you’re in the right place.
You love a good art history deep dive.
You’re open to seeing what solitude stirs in you.
This retreat isn’t about forced silence or rigid structure—it’s about stepping away from the noise and tuning into yourself, your thoughts, and what emerges in the space between.
Small talk? Fine, but you’d rather explore big ideas. This retreat offers space for both introspection and meaningful dialogue.
You like your conversations deep and your solitude deeper.
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 deeply dread intimate group time
Stillness and quiet reflection are part of the journey here.
You are allergic to quiet and boredom
This retreat invites you to unplug and be present. Make that PTO official.
You can’t fully break from your 9–5
This isn’t a luxury spa vacation—it’s meaningful, creative exploration with a touch of adventure.
You crave a robe and room service
While we won’t take your phone away, this retreat is about dialing down device usage and immersing yourself in the present.
You’d rather be posting on main
HACIENDA DEL SOL:
A PLACE STEEPED IN HISTORY & CREATIVITY
For over two centuries, Hacienda del Sol has been a gathering place for artists, writers, and seekers drawn to Taos.
Originally built in 1804, its thick adobe walls and shaded courtyards have welcomed legendary figures like Georgia O’Keeffe, Ansel Adams, and D.H. Lawrence. Once the home of Mabel Dodge Luhan and Tony Lujan—who helped establish Taos as an artistic enclave—the Hacienda remains a place of inspiration, reflection, and creative exchange.
Today, this historic boutique inn offers a timeless retreat, nestled just beyond the Taos Pueblo. Its adobe architecture, orchard-lined grounds, and mountain views provide the perfect setting for slowing down and immersing yourself in solitude.
During our retreat, Hacienda del Sol will serve as our home base—a space to rest, reflect, and gather as we explore the theme of creative solitude.
LODGING DETAILS & PACKAGE OPTIONS
Exact room options and package pricing are still in the works—we’re taking care to create something thoughtful, accessible, and aligned with the spirit of the retreat. If you’re feeling called to join us, we recommend reserving your spot early (see below). You’ll be the first to receive full details once they’re ready.
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PACKAGE PAYMENT
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Lodging at Hacienda del Sol
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Meals
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Group transportation
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Programming
- Airfare
- Transportation to and from airport (carpooling can be arranged)
- Optional side quests like museum visits or spa treatments
- Trip protection (required)
HOLD YOUR SPOT
This is a small, intimate retreat—space is limited to 10 participants.
To hold your spot, we’re currently accepting fully refundable deposits of $250. This ensures you’ll be the first to receive the full lodging details and package options as soon as they’re finalized.
Once the full retreat packages are released, you’ll have the option to confirm your participation and apply your deposit toward your chosen package—or receive a full refund, no questions asked.
We can’t wait to share more soon. For now, if you feel the pull—trust it!
MEET THE RETREAT TEAM
We’re not just facilitators...we’re curious creatives seeking the same quiet and wonder that likely brought you to this page. We’re also participating in this retreat alongside you as fellow travelers in this exploration of solitude. While we’re here to hold space and guide the experience, we’re also here to listen and reflect alongside you. This retreat isn’t about expertise—it’s about curiosity, presence, and co-creating a meaningful, spacious experience together.
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FOUNDER & SPIRAL TENDER
Erica is the founder of Skypunch and your guide for this retreat. A curious soul, lifelong student of art history, and ICF-certified coach, Erica is passionate about creating spaces for creative renewal. After over a decade as a designer/art director/creative director helping brands tell stories, they shifted focus toward something quieter but deeper: guiding creatives back to their own sources of inspiration.
For Erica, Skypunch is a living experiment. Each retreat is an invitation to step outside the noise, wander through history and landscape, and listen. They believe transformation happens not through productivity, but through presence, curiosity, and shared discovery.
Erica’s facilitation style is heart-centered and curious, grounded in creative inquiry and a love of both play and depth ~ blending reflection with moments of lightness. They’re here to hold space, ask thoughtful questions, and wander alongside you as you explore your own creative terrain. They hope you leave with fresh eyes, a spark of renewed curiosity, and the quiet thrill of knowing you’re part of a tangled and brilliant creative web.
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MEET MORGAN!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Who is this retreat for?
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 be an artist or have an active practice to attend?
Not at all! While this retreat is inspired by the creative spirit, it’s open to anyone who feels called to step away from the everyday and reconnect with themselves and their surroundings. No artistic background required—just a sense of curiosity.
Where will we stay?
Hacienda del Sol, a beautiful historic inn in the heart of Taos. Nestled at the foot of Taos Mountain, the space offers cozy adobe rooms, daily breakfast, and stunning views of the high desert landscape.
How many people will be attending?
This will be an intimate gathering, limited to 10 participants, including one facilitator—small enough for meaningful connection, spacious enough for solitude.
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.
I’m an introvert / but a little shy / excited though / and maybe a little anxious...is this still for me?
Absolutely. Skypunch was designed with you in mind. We’ll create opportunities to connect with fellow participants before the retreat so you can ease into the experience at your own pace. No forced icebreakers, no awkward small talk—just an open, thoughtful space to engage however feels right for you.
What’s included in the retreat cost?
Your retreat fee covers: Lodging at Hacienda del Sol, Meals, Group transportation, Programming. Not included: Airfare, Transportation to and from airport (carpooling can be arranged), Optional activities like museum visits or spa treatments.
I’m worried about the cost. Are there flexible payment options?
We 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 Taos. Carpooling can be arranged! Once you check-in, we’ll handle the rest.
This all sounds great! How do I sign up?
You can apply here!
GRATITUDE!! <3
Biggest thank yous to all the generous Friends of Skypunch for help, support, and hype along the way as we lift off. Thank you Marquia Walton and James Cheng for behind-the-scenes production help on Stillness Study.