Appalachian State University Hosts International Conference On The Arts And Healing “Expressive Arts and the Earth: Ancient Mountains, Whispering Waters, Sacred Stones” is the title and theme of the seventh conference of the “International Expressive Arts Therapy Association,” held in conjunction with “North Carolina Arts for Health” at the Broyhill Inn on the campus of Appalachian State University May 23-27, 2007. Artists, educators, health care professionals, architects, students, counselors, therapists, and persons interested in the power of the arts and creativity will gather from around the world to share knowledge about reclaiming the ancient roots of the arts in the service of life and healing. The early registration deadline for the conference is February 15, which offers a $75 discount in registration fees. “The arts belong together, and they belong to everyone,” says conference co-chair, Sally Atkins, Professor of Human Development and Psychological Counseling at Appalachian. The use of the arts in healing practices is both ancient and modern. Earth-based cultures have always danced and drummed and sung songs, made pictures in sand and created ceremonies to honor the cycles of life of both the human and nonhuman worlds. Around the world today, music, movement, poetry, dramatic enactment, dreamwork, journal writing and visual arts are being used to help people with physical and psychological difficulties, as well as those who simply wish to live a fuller, more creative and well-balanced life. For the first time two organizations, one international and one statewide, both interested in the arts and healing, have pooled resources to offer this conference. “The International Expressive Art Therapy Association (IEATA) is an international professional association dedicated to the integrative use of the arts to inspire and support the creative spirit in individual and community development (www.ieata.org). “North Carolina Arts for Health (NCAH) is the first statewide organization in the United States promoting the arts as an essential component of health and healing (www.ncartsforhealth.org). The conference will host plenary sessions and more than 60 concurrent sessions during its three and one half days, as well as pre-conference and post-conference training institutes with international leaders in the field. The keynote panel will feature: expressive arts pioneers Natalie Rogers of the Saybrook Institute and daughter of noted psychologist, Carl Rogers; Paulo Knill, Provost of the European Graduate School in Switzerland; and Shaun McNiff of Lesley University, author of “Art as Medicine” and many other books. Other featured presenters include Jack Weller, Founding Director of the Expressive Therapies Program at the California Institute of Integral Studies; Stephen Levine, noted writer in the field from York University and the European Graduate School; Daria Halprin, Co-director of the Tamalpa Institute in California; Sam Gladding, Chair of the Counseling Department at Wake Forest University and many others. Deep ecologist Paulus Berensohn will be the Master of Ceremony. This is the first time that all of these leaders have been together at a single conference. Other highlights of the conference include expressive arts vendors, a conference bookstore, a research poster session, and ongoing arts activities and performances. Evening performances on Thursdays and Friday nights are open to the public for a small donation. These include performances of music, poetry, drama and dance, and a contra dance on Friday evening. Many faculty and students from Appalachian State are serving on the planning committees for the conference. The other conference co-chairs are Harold McKinney, Professor of Music; Keith Davis, Professor of Human Development and Psychological Counseling; Kate Brinko, Director of Faculty and Academic Development at Appalachian and Katrina Plato, art therapist in the Spruce Pine schools and at the Crossnore School. Appalachian State faculty and student presenters and performers include representatives from the Reich College of Education, the Hayes School of Music, the College of Fine and Applied Arts, and the College of Arts and Sciences. Additional conference sponsors include the Office of Graduate Studies and Research and the Office of International Education and Development at Appalachian State, the North Carolina Arts Council, the Watauga County Arts Council, The Triangle Community Foundation, Purveyors of Art and Cheap Joe’s Art Stuff. Appalachian State and Boone were chosen for this conference because of the university’s Expressive Arts Therapy program and because of Boone’s unique and beautiful location in the Blue Ridge Mountains. The Expressive Arts Therapy program is a part of the graduate program in Community Counseling in the Department of Human Development and Psychological Counseling in the Reich College of Education. The program emphasizes the relationship between the inner landscape of the human psyche and the outer landscape of the natural world. This emphasis is reflected in the conference theme and programs. “Whatever we touch is touching us,” says Paulus Berensohn, Master of Ceremony for the conference. Early registration by February 15 saves participants $75. For more information or to register for the conference see the IEATA website at www.ieata.org or the NCAH website at www.ncartsforhealth.org or email ieata07@appstate.edu.