I am back from a transformative artist retreat in Rhode Island—Encaustic Alchemy: Shrines and Totems—and settling into summer at the lake.
I’ve spent this past week processing this sacred art experience led by Kelly Milukas and Dietlind Vander Schaaf. Photos and words cannot possibly capture what occurred. I arrived surrounded by strangers, ready to dig deep into my process and take advantage of uninterrupted studio time. Instead, surrounded by shrine sisters (shout-out to fellow artist, @dukeboys, for coining this term), I left with an invigorated practice and two new artworks that poured straight from my heart.
And it all started at The Emporium.
The Emporium at Milukas Studio. Tiverton, Rhode Island.
There were two things I loved about The Emporium. First, the selection of random materials—for an artist, it was like being a kid in a candy shop. Second, the instruction to only choose items that spoke to your heart. You might be drawn to grab something because it was interesting or beautiful, but if your heart didn’t truly want it, you were encouraged to put it back. Maybe that sounds obvious, or maybe it sounds a bit woo-woo, but it really worked for me.
Our first task was to create a shrine. Built to house, protect, or honor a specific sacred focal point, shrines are found across almost all cultures and religions—from Shintoism in Japan to Catholicism in Europe, and indigenous traditions worldwide. As someone working through loss on multiple levels, I knew exactly what my shrine would be dedicated to (see Careful). I brought a few materials from home (handmade ceramic birds, collage materials, and jewelry) and scavenged The Emporium for the rest. Once I had gathered all of my materials, I was ready to start assembling and get down to business with encaustic.
I worked morning and night in the studio, and this new work just poured out of me. Originally, I only planned for the shrine to have a front, but as I collected materials, I realized that to truly honor this particular part of my life, the piece needed two sides. When every artist was invited to share their work with the group, I had never felt safer to be so open and honest about a piece straight from the heart.
I’ve Been Having Dreams (FRONT) Found Materials, Photo Transfer, Stoneware, and Encaustic on Wood 2026
I’ve Been Having Dreams (BACK) Found Materials, Photo Transfer, Stoneware, and Encaustic on Wood 2026
Every morning, I walked out to the beautiful backyard at my Airbnb and started my day with yoga by the pool. Dietlind ended every practice with a beautiful poem. It was such an extraordinary way to set the tone for another day of creativity, introspection, and camaraderie. On rainy mornings, I was grateful for the extra hour of sleep after staying so late in the studio the night before!
Yoga by the Pool at Milukas Studio. Tiverton, Rhode Island.
Once our shrines were complete, we returned our leftover materials to The Emporium to start fresh and plan our totems. Across cultures, a totem serves as a powerful symbol of identity. While our shrines honored the past, the totems were meant to represent who we are today.
Kelly and Dietlind created a safe space for reflection, growth, and connection. Through guided movement, meditation, breathwork, visualization, and blind contour drawing, my heart led the way—guiding my choices on which pieces to take from The Emporium and which items from home to incorporate into the work. Below are some journal samples from these exercises that helped me plan my totem.
Pure joy! Collecting and gesso-ing sculpture materials in preparation for construction and encaustic.
Back to Beaches, Away We Go (FRONT) Encaustic and Gold Leaf on Found Materials, 2026
Back to Beaches, Away We Go (FRONT) Encaustic and Gold Leaf on Found Materials, 2026
Back to Beaches, Away We Go is a celebration of who I am, what makes me strong, and who I am becoming. The sculpture's shape abstractly represents the female form, with the central rectangular shape symbolizing the hips. Historically and biologically, hips are the ultimate symbol of fertility, creation, and the continuation of life. For me, they also symbolize pain, healing, and strength. Nearly ten years ago, I underwent major surgeries on both hips for impingement and labral tears. While the decision and the recovery were incredibly difficult, it was the right choice, and I am stronger and healthier today because of it.
Inside the open box is sparkly sand, symbolizing the beach. Both lakes and the ocean hold a deeply special place in my heart; sharing these spaces with my family and simply being near water brings me profound peace. The two small shells come from a necklace gifted to me by a dear friend from college, and each sits within its own mini shrine. They represent my sister and me, honoring our deep connections to the water and to each other.
The piece stands on a sturdy, strong base, which is actually a jewelry-making mold. This is a deliberate nod to my Master’s degree in metalwork and jewelry—my very first pursuit in exploring new media and truly finding myself as an artist. Hanging from the piece are fish, another reference to water, nature, and jewelry. They originally belonged to an extremely gaudy necklace I bought years ago at an antique shop in Montclair, NJ. I rarely wore it because it was quite "a lot of look," but for some reason, I just had to have it... and now I know why. These fish represent my immediate family: my incredibly supportive husband, my two teenage children, and our loving dog.
The very top of the totem was born from a creative scavenger hunt. While working in my journal—writing my name over and over backwards with my eyes closed—we were asked to find interesting shapes within the letters. I found myself drawn to the letter "A." This immediately made me think of my middle name, Anne, given to me in honor of my maternal grandmother, Anna. I legally gave up this name when I married to take on my maiden name, Engfer. (Side bar: Did you know you can only have three legal names?!)
I have always felt a powerful connection to my grandmother. She passed away when I was 12, but I believe I carry on many of her traits—her scrappy nature, her love of reading and cooking, and her natural ability to work with her hands as a seamstress. In fact, I still wear her housecoat as a smock when I create.
Knowing all this, I knew I needed an “A” to crown the totem. It was the one item I couldn't find in the Emporium, so I took a ride into town to a fantastic vintage shop. There, I found an old, triangular-shaped iron trivet that worked perfectly for the top, bringing the entire story together.
Artemis Antiques in Tiverton, Rhode Island
I am so grateful to my shrine sisters for a week of innovation, connection, laughter, and poetry. I’ll leave you with one of my favorites from the week..
Widening Circles by Rainer Maria Rilke.
I live my life in widening circles
that reach out across the world.
I may not complete this last one
but I give myself to it.
I have been circling around God, that primordial tower.
I’ve been circling for thousands of years and still I don’t know:
am I a falcon, a storm, or a great song?
