2007 National AATA Conference

38th Annual American Art Therapy Association Conference
"The Art of Connecting: From Personal to Global"

Hyatt Regency Hotel
Albuquerque, New Mexico
November 14-18, 2007

~~Click here to register online~~

~~Click here to see the program schedule~~

FEATURED SPEAKER
Thursday, November 15, 10:30 - 11:30am

Meinrad Craighead, MFA

Threshold: An artist's entry into creativity

The spiritual journey is an experience of birthing into creativity. Using slides of her own artwork as well as that by artists throughout history, Meinrad Craighead will midwife an entry into the mystery of creating. Her talk will illuminate the threshold as it marks moving toward and into the place of the unknown. The threshold is the pulling aside of the curtain—having the energy and courage to pull aside the curtain to search inside for images already present.

FEATURED SPEAKER
Friday, November 16, 8:45 - 9:45am

Alexander Shaia, PhD, ISST/STA, LPC

All Journeys-One Journey

All Journeys are One Journey. No matter if it is our clients or ourselves, in art and in life, there is a progression of inner landscapes. The four-fold journey involves climbing the highest mountain, crossing the storm-tossed sea, resting awhile in a glorious garden and, possibly walking along a road of riches. This sequence is universal, sequential, invariable, and ever recurring. Using visuals, personal and client stories, and poetry, Dr. Shaia will take us through the archetypal life journey, "Quadratos."

FEATURED SPEAKER
Saturday, November 17, 8:30 - 9:30am

Thomas Singer, MD

Image and Complex in the Collective Psyche

Complexes are psychic structures that are a common cause of psychological distress. They most frequently cluster around parental images as well as issues such as power, inferiority, and sexuality. The emerging theory of cultural complexes, a new addition to Jung's original notion of complexes, takes complex theory beyond the personal to the level of the group psyche. Cultural complexes frequently constellate around group historical experiences of trauma, dislocation, and discrimination. They often reveal themselves in the art and media of a particular culture, since images can "carry" complexes, and their effects can be recognized in the psyche/behavior of both groups and individuals. Differentiating cultural complexes from personal complexes is not only of theoretical value, but can be useful in clinical practice with clients in group and individual sessions. In today's world, recognizing images as carriers of cultural complexes can be helpful in gaining perspective on cross-cultural, political, and other conflicts.