In 2021, I had a week long artist residency at Wild Acres Retreat Center in Little Switzerland, North Carolina. I had originally applied for the residency in 2020 and understandably due to the pandemic, the residencies were not open. Heading to the mountain with an idea and also an open mind, I knew that I wanted to accomplish two goals. To create a body of work and to also record a series of meditations. As an artist and art therapist, I like to incorporate self awareness and a consciousness of the process into my teachings. "Into the Desert" is the result of that time spent at the residency and it represents the theme "Go within, or go without" I used cacti and succulents as the subject matter for the symbolic meaning of their being able to grow and thrive in harsh environment. They also must store the precious life giving element of water within in order to survive. From an artistic standpoint, I loved the neutral palettes of the subject matter and in my artistic growth, I have been striving for softer and more subtle colors with a "pop" of color. The blooms of the cactus are often fluorescent in appearance and seem to shout out to be noticed. You can view the collection here on the website.  https://micahgoguen.com/viewcollection/166728

I spent time exploring some processes that are new to me and not widely seen in the art world so the week was much about experimentation and learning. I used a mono print process using a gel plate and printing on panels. In this process, I print one color at a time and use a subtractive process to remove layers of paint from the plate before printing. By using panels for this process, the work is ready to hang immediately after creating. Another process that I worked with was known as collage and pastel. Using mixed media techniques, I layer the media to create depth and texture in a unique and exciting way. I was able to play with fixative and ratios in order to customize a signature process that doesn't involve presenting the pastels under glass. The final process I used combined original photography with a layered mixed media approach. Similar to the collage and pastel technique, this process starts by adhering original black and white copies of photography and then hand tinting them using fluid acrylics. It is then covered with a drawing ground and embellished with pastels. I very much appreciated the full immersive experience that allowed me to problem solve and correct these new processes in order to come home and share with the art communities around the southeast area. One of my favorite parts about these processes is that you don't have to be skilled in any particular area to get a good result and explore the techniques. It allows the individual to bring aspects of themselves into the process and step away from everyday stressors without having to think too much about what they are doing. In light of much of our recent external situations, this internal reflective time allows for more of a cognitive and emotional rest. 

The final component of the time spent was a series of custom meditations centered around guided imagery dealing with one's own depictions of a desert. Guided meditation often allows people to experience a mental break from their regular routines. It usually involves prompting in the form of a verbal script or dialogue that keeps the participant's mind focused on the breathe and other imagery that creates a more relaxing and disengaged state of mind. These meditations were implemented in an online art therapy course called "The Divining Rod: Conquering Spiritual Dryness". This seven week course took participants on a journey to discover the things that were blocking them emotionally and spiritually in moving toward their personal goals in a more fulfilling life. Each session incorporated a custom meditation, art directive, interactive group challenge and discussion. I am currently recording a series of complementary meditations to share with all people at no cost to promote an introduction to a practice. Here is an example of one titled "Compassion of Others" https://youtu.be/Fl1a2ByufAc

A huge thank you to Wild Acres Retreat Center. I highly recommend that creatives of all types look into it for one or two week residency opportunities. It is nestled at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains and focuses on blending the beauties of nature with the graces of the humanities.