awaken your creativity
Dive into a rich experience of spirituality, art, and creativity that will energize and nourish your soul. NO art experience is required. Just bring an open mind and a willingness to step out of your comfort zone — even a tiny bit.
Artist or not, this retreat will deepen your connection to your natural creativity.
This retreat will help you...
Awaken to more creativity and spiritual connection to enrich your life.
Discover the power of artmaking, movement, music, and PLAY to help you relax and be more “in the moment.”
Recognize and access more of your own inner wisdom more often.
Take precious time away from your normal routine so you can fully engage your natural creativity.
Discover new, free-flowing ways to create.
Receive heart-felt support and camaraderie for your creativity.
Engage with a nurturing community and meet new, like-minded friends.
Relax, re-charge, and refresh!
You will...
Return home full of new ideas and inspiration.
Enjoy learning or deepening a
powerful free-form movement style you can use throughout your life.
Explore multiple creative artmaking techniques and materials.
Take part in fun and inspiring
collaborative art activities to build your creative confidence.
Immerse yourself in this inspired arts and crafts school — creativity is all around!
Engage with amazing like-minded people to share inspiration, and develop ongoing friendships.
Tentative Retreat Schedule
Saturday
-- Afternoon arrivals
-- Welcome Gathering
-- Intro to Qigong and creative energy
-- Group art project
Sunday
-- Qigong movement sessions with music
-- Introduction to art project stations
-- Lots of time to create individual projects
-- “ArtLight” Shadow Dancing Party
Monday
-- Qigong movement sessions with music
-- Lots of time to create individual projects
-- Great Smoky Mountains National Park outdoor creative adventure (weather permitting)
-- Crystal singing bowl sound meditation
Tuesday
-- Qigong movement sessions with music
-- Lots of time to create individual projects
-- Closing ceremony – Group art project
Wednesday
-- Breakfast & Departures
what's included:
Comfortable lodging — 4 nights in a single or double room with private bath.
Delicious meals — Starting with the Welcome Gathering on Saturday evening and ending with breakfast on Wednesday, departure day. Includes 4 breakfasts, 3 lunches, 4 dinners, plus snacks during breaks to keep your creativity flowing!
Transportation to and from the Knoxville airport — As we get closer to the retreat, we will reach out to you to get your flight schedule.
All art supplies — For all the fun and inspiring planned projects. You are welcome to bring your own special project and materials, if you would like to use them.
Energy, instruction, and encouragement
throughout the whole experience.
Transportation to The Great Smoky Mountains National Park for a creative outdoor activity.
A group Zoom call before the retreat to answer all your questions and begin the process. We will do another group Zoom call after the retreat to integrate the experience into your life. Continue the magical feelings after you get home!
Fun surprises along the way!
About the Retreat Process
We’ll learn a free-form movement style of Qigong (pronounced Chi-gong), similar to Tai Chi, a Chinese meditative movement practice that will open us up to creative flow. With that flow engaged, we’ll all do a fun group project so you can experience more fully how the process works.
While we’re in this luscious energy, we’ll have the opportunity to create lots of individual projects using a variety of materials.
We’ll alternate between group experiences and individual projects as we are guided by Spirit and our individual creative muses. We’ll have great conversations and engage in the creative playtime our inner selves are craving.
About Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Tucked away on a wooded hillside in the heart of Gatlinburg, just minutes from the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, Arrowmont is a quiet, creative oasis amidst the bustle of a popular tourist destination.
This internationally recognized visual art education center offers a unique creative environment. There’s lots of art on display, and you’ll enjoy the ambiance of the small, cozy — yet modern — campus.
All the facilities are dedicated to artmaking, with numerous outdoor spaces and delightful screened in porches with fireplaces that will inspire lively conversations.
Your Retreat leader
Jancy Pettit
While studying energy healing more than 30 years ago, Jancy was introduced to meditative martial arts forms called Qigong and Tai Chi, which revolutionized her approach to artmaking.
Today, Jancy harnesses the energy from those movements and directs it into her art.
This universal energy, referred to as “Chi,” literally moves her in a spontaneous, free-flowing way to create art. She works in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional modalities. The pieces are non‑figurative, colorful, and playful and they invite viewers to explore places deep within themselves. They also help fill spaces with joyful energy.
She has taught hundreds of students through Spirit of Art retreats and classes over the years. Her greatest joy is seeing the delight on people’s faces when they connect to their creative energy.
Jancy has a degree in Fine Arts from Kansas State University, and is also an energy practitioner. She has also published a coloring book with energy artwork!
Registration Details
The Spirit of Art Retreat is intentionally small — allowing lots of group bonding. Spots are very limited. Get your registration in BY AUGUST 19!
Save $300 with EARLY REGISTRATION!
Sign up by August 19 - use coupon code: SPIRIT24
• $1,997 – Per person, single occupancy.
• $1,797 – Per person, double occupancy.
Bring a friend, or we can assign you a roommate.
After August 19
• $2,297 – Per person, single occupancy
• $2,097 – Per person, double occupancy.
Bring a friend or we can assign you a roommate.
Cancellation Policy . . .
• Cancellations prior to August 15 — full refund minus a $60 processing fee.
• Cancellations August 15 through August 31 — 50% refund.
• Cancellations September 1 or later — Refund not available.
• If the retreat is cancelled, you’ll receive a full refund. However, we are not responsible for the cost of any other cancellation expenses you may incur, such as non-refundable travel fees, etc.
See our Retreat Terms
IMPORTANT:
We strongly encourage travel insurance.
You're gonna feel wonderful after this powerful retreat.
You'll be more relaxed, nurtured, refreshed, and energized
so you can take on life's challenges with more ease.
September 7-11, 2024
Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts
Gatlinburg, Tennessee
Testimonials
Jerilyn Jordan, California
Wow! What a beautiful experience. I love the way you share.... physically, emotionally and spiritually. You're a great teacher Jancy. Thank you for including me in this experience. I actually feel as if I can breathe better even. The whole experience was fabulous. I needed (and still do) to wake up something inside me. This will be fun and worthwhile to keep doing on my own as well.
Susan Ramsey, Colorado
I am ever so grateful for this event with these lovely people. I thrive on and am nurtured by taking these journeys to my heart space with others. Absolutely precious time!
It is a very important step on my journey to connecting with my heart and intuitive side. It fits in so beautifully with the other learning experiences I have pursued in the last couple of years.
Barb Baeuchle, LPC, ATR, Kansas
I am so glad I signed up! I knew it would be soul filled with Jancy and so happy to meet you all. Loved the movement and play and art and conversation. Thank you Jancy again and again!
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to Your Frequently Asked Questions
What airport is closest to fly into?
Knoxville, Tennessee (McGhee Tyson Airport - TYS)
How do I get to Gatlinburg from the Knoxville Airport?
Spirit of Art has arranged for a van to take you to Arrowmont in Gatlinburg if your arrival time is before 5 pm on September 7, and a return trip the morning of September 11. We will reach out to you for your travel plans soon to coordinate this. You could also rent a car, take an Uber or other transportation if you arrive very early or late. Renting a car, Uber, or other service will be at your own expense.
What do I need to bring?
Bring comfortable clothes that could get messy! It should still be warm in Gatlinburg, but layering would be a good idea. Also bring something all white or a light color to wear for shadow dancing. Doesn't need to be fancy. Comfortable shoes that you could wear hiking. A full list will be provided upon registration, but everything is based on comfort and ease of movement.
What is provided in the rooms?
Single Rooms have one queen bed and a private bathroom. There is a closet and dresser for storage. Towels and soaps are provided.
Double Rooms have two queen beds and one private bathroom. There is also a closet and dresser for storage. Towels and soaps are provided.
Do you have an alcohol/drug use policy?
This is an alcohol/drug free retreat. Not because we are opposed to it, but because the spiritual processes we teach are more effective if your mind is clear. We want you to get the most out of this very powerful experience. But, rest assured... there WILL be coffee... and CHOCOLATE!
How can I take the artwork I create home?
Don't let this worry influence your creative flow. Just let it go! We'll make a folder to hold your 2-D work to bring home in your suitcase. If you make larger pieces or 3-D pieces that won't fit in your suitcase, we can have them shipped to you after the retreat. We'll just bill you for the costs to ship.
How strenuous will the activity be in The Great Smoky Mountains?
The actual activity will not be strenuous at all, and there will be opportunity to go on a longer, more strenuous hike, if you'd like.
Do I need to bring any art supplies?
No need to bring any art supplies! We will have a wide variety of luscious supplies and tools that will be used to create the projects we are planning. Sometimes participants want to bring a project they are already working on along with the supplies they use for that. For example, quilting or a hand sewing project. That is perfectly fine.
Do I need to have any experience in art or martial arts?
Absolutely NO experience is required. We will teach you the movement form that is very easy and fun. Nothing to memorize. The art projects are set up for both beginners and accomplished artists to enjoy. You can work at your own level and have a wonderful time creating!
Do you have vegetarian or vegan menu options?
There will be vegetarian menu options. We will try to accommodate other preferences or requirements. Please let us know on the registration form.
I would like to share a room, how do I do that?
When you register, you will have the option to request a roommate. We will match you with a same-sex roommate. Encourage a friend to join you and we will match you as roommates.
I am an artist, will this retreat still be helpful for me?
Many highly skilled artists have attended Spirit of Art Retreats and have enjoyed expanding and deepening their spiritual connection to their creativity. The projects are designed to allow beginners to be successful and experienced artists to explore more and expand into new territories.
Will there be internet and cell coverage?
Yes, Arrowmont has guest internet Wifi connection and most cell carriers have coverage while we are at Arrowmont. When we go into the mountains, cell service may be spotty for bits of time. That being said, it might be really rewarding to unplug as much as you can while you are at Spirit of Art. Your soul will thank you.
What individual art projects are planned?
The projects are still evolving and will be added, but we know there will be some fun printmaking projects, small bookmaking, collage, and air-dry clay. There will also be a bunch of supplies such as paint, papers, cutting tools and drawing materials to invent your own projects. Lead by their creative muses, many past participants have ended up creating projects that use several different mediums. There is NO LIMIT to your creativity!