The History and Metamorphosis of AAATNA AAATNA, Association of Anthroposophical Art Therapists in North America was originally conceived in November 1997 as Anthroposophical Association for Artistic Therapy in North America, by Martha Rowse Kelder and Karine Munk-Finser, during a meditation on Ita Wegman. But AAATNA’s introduction to the world would have to wait until a chance meeting between Martha and Phoebe Alexander in the spring of 1999 would bring it to birth. In March 1999, Phoebe was asked by Paul Scharff, MD (then head of the Medical Section for North America), to organize the anthroposophical art therapists into a cohesive group for the North American Medical Section. Michaela Gloeckler, MD, (head of the worldwide Medical Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland) had just brought the profession of art therapy into the Medical Section in Europe, and wanted to accomplish this in North America – and elsewhere - as well. Within a month of Phoebe’s meeting with Paul Scharff, a chance encounter at the home of a mutual acquaintance brought Phoebe and Martha together after having fallen out of touch for many years. The topic of artistic therapy came up, and Phoebe lamented to Martha how badly a real professional association of anthroposophical art therapists was needed, and how unfortunate it was that an ad for such an association she had seen in Lilipoh magazine months ago - and had responded to - had come to naught. It turned out that Martha and Karine were the ones who had placed that ad, but were prevented by circumstances to do anything further. They decided that Phoebe would formally introduce AAATNA at the upcoming Artemisia (now AAMTA) conference to be held in Maryland that June. A sign-up sheet with the original caduceus & paintbrush logo designed by Martha was circulated and signed, and AAATNA’s first five members paid their dues. Quarterly ads were placed in Lilipoh, an introductory letter was included in the January 2000 Letter to Members circulated throughout North America by the Anthroposophical Society, and a separate announcement letter was sent to Michaela Gloeckler. Then, at the Artemisia and Medical Section conferences in June 2000, AAATNA – now renamed Association for Anthroposophical Art Therapy in North America – held its first official meeting as an independent affiliate association of Artemisia, taking its place along side of the other anthroposophical therapies. Larry Young created a website for us which was linked to the Artemisia site. We had our first AAATNA meeting and artistic activity at the 2001 Artemisia-Medical Section meeting in Sacramento. And by late 2001 our membership peaked at around 70. With the Medical Section conference being planned for Toronto for March 2002, Phoebe was asked to plan and organize the art therapy workshops and to schedule and plan AAATNA’s first official AGM. It was then that she received a phone call from Regine Kurek, who had seen the AAATNA ad, believed such an association was absolutely necessary, and became a member on the spot. Phoebe, hearing for the first time about Arscura School for Living Art, immediately suggested to Regine that since she was already in Toronto, that she was in a much better position to plan the art therapy workshops. And extraordinary workshops they were! The art therapists’ contingent at this meeting totaled 17 - second only in number to the physicians. At AAATNA’s inaugural AGM, which was chaired by Phoebe, the two original founders, Martha and Karine, were introduced and acknowledged, and an initial Board was formed with both as honorary Board members. Plans for the future were discussed, and AAATNA’s membership grew by about six Canadians… We were now binational!! We soon learned that it was not possible to receive and deposit Canadian funds into our New York bank account without hefty transaction and conversion fees, so AAATNA-Canada formed as an offshoot, keeping their money in Canada. In addition to banking problems, we could not get a functional Board together in the US to help carry the work of this growing association. And to make matters worse, by 2005 Artemisia, the big umbrella association for all the anthroposophic therapies and medicine, was slowly dissolving, and had ceased sending out membership renewal notices for two years. All of the affiliate associations were left to flounder or fend for themselves. Independently AAATNA Canada on the other hand was growing . A preliminary Board had been formed, and mission and vision statements were being developed. They even went through several name changes, Hygea being one, ultimately returning to AAATNA Canada (already familiar to most). In February 2006, AAATNA Canada held its first ever conference and AGM in Toronto. The theme was ‘Healing our Perceiving’ with keynote speaker Kenneth McAlister M.D.. It was a great success with art therapists (including several from the US), students and others in attendance. At this first AAATNA Canada AGM (and second inaugural AAATNA AGM), acknowledging that the Canadian off-shoot had actually become the organization for all of North America, it was decided to dispense with the word “Canada”, and simply return to calling the association AAATNA. But the name now stands for something new – Association of Anthroposophical Art Therapists in North America… Interestingly, AAATNA had its real birth as a viable association in Toronto in 2002, and is thriving there now. Looking toward the future, AAATNA will continue its development as a voice for Anthroposophical Art Therapy in North America. (See Professional Development). Back to page one of History

The History and Metamorphosis of AAATNA

AAATNA, Association of Anthroposophical Art Therapists in North America was originally conceived in November 1997 as Anthroposophical Association for Artistic Therapy in North America, by Martha Rowse Kelder and Karine Munk-Finser, during a meditation on Ita Wegman. But AAATNA’s introduction to the world would have to wait until a chance meeting between Martha and Phoebe Alexander in the spring of 1999 would bring it to birth.

In March 1999, Phoebe was asked by Paul Scharff, MD (then head of the Medical Section for North America), to organize the anthroposophical art therapists into a cohesive group for the North American Medical Section. Michaela Gloeckler, MD, (head of the worldwide Medical Section at the Goetheanum in Switzerland) had just brought the profession of art therapy into the Medical Section in Europe, and wanted to accomplish this in North America – and elsewhere - as well.

Within a month of Phoebe’s meeting with Paul Scharff, a chance encounter at the home of a mutual acquaintance brought Phoebe and Martha together after having fallen out of touch for many years. The topic of artistic therapy came up, and Phoebe lamented to Martha how badly a real professional association of anthroposophical art therapists was needed, and how unfortunate it was that an ad for such an association she had seen in Lilipoh magazine months ago - and had responded to - had come to naught. It turned out that Martha and Karine were the ones who had placed that ad, but were prevented by circumstances to do anything further. They decided that Phoebe would formally introduce AAATNA at the upcoming Artemisia (now AAMTA) conference to be held in Maryland that June. A sign-up sheet with the original caduceus & paintbrush logo designed by Martha was circulated and signed, and AAATNA’s first five members paid their dues.

Quarterly ads were placed in Lilipoh, an introductory letter was included in the January 2000 Letter to Members circulated throughout North America by the Anthroposophical Society, and a separate announcement letter was sent to Michaela Gloeckler.

Then, at the Artemisia and Medical Section conferences in June 2000, AAATNA – now renamed Association for Anthroposophical Art Therapy in North America – held its first official meeting as an independent affiliate association of Artemisia, taking its place along side of the other anthroposophical therapies. Larry Young created a website for us which was linked to the Artemisia site. We had our first AAATNA meeting and artistic activity at the 2001 Artemisia-Medical Section meeting in Sacramento. And by late 2001 our membership peaked at around 70.

With the Medical Section conference being planned for Toronto for March 2002, Phoebe was asked to plan and organize the art therapy workshops and to schedule and plan AAATNA’s first official AGM. It was then that she received a phone call from Regine Kurek, who had seen the AAATNA ad, believed such an association was absolutely necessary, and became a member on the spot. Phoebe, hearing for the first time about Arscura School for Living Art, immediately suggested to Regine that since she was already in Toronto, that she was in a much better position to plan the art therapy workshops. And extraordinary workshops they were! The art therapists’ contingent at this meeting totaled 17 - second only in number to the physicians.

At AAATNA’s inaugural AGM, which was chaired by Phoebe, the two original founders, Martha and Karine, were introduced and acknowledged, and an initial Board was formed with both as honorary Board members. Plans for the future were discussed, and AAATNA’s membership grew by about six Canadians… We were now binational!!

We soon learned that it was not possible to receive and deposit Canadian funds into our New York bank account without hefty transaction and conversion fees, so AAATNA-Canada formed as an offshoot, keeping their money in Canada.

In addition to banking problems, we could not get a functional Board together in the US to help carry the work of this growing association. And to make matters worse, by 2005 Artemisia, the big umbrella association for all the anthroposophic therapies and medicine, was slowly dissolving, and had ceased sending out membership renewal notices for two years. All of the affiliate associations were left to flounder or fend for themselves.

Independently AAATNA Canada on the other hand was growing . A preliminary Board had been formed, and mission and vision statements were being developed. They even went through several name changes, Hygea being one, ultimately returning to AAATNA Canada (already familiar to most).

In February 2006, AAATNA Canada held its first ever conference and AGM in Toronto. The theme was ‘Healing our Perceiving’ with keynote speaker Kenneth McAlister M.D.. It was a great success with art therapists (including several from the US), students and others in attendance.

At this first AAATNA Canada AGM (and second inaugural AAATNA AGM), acknowledging that the Canadian off-shoot had actually become the organization for all of North America, it was decided to dispense with the word “Canada”, and simply return to calling the association AAATNA. But the name now stands for something new – Association of Anthroposophical Art Therapists in North America… Interestingly, AAATNA had its real birth as a viable association in Toronto in 2002, and is thriving there now.

Looking toward the future, AAATNA will continue its development as a voice for Anthroposophical Art Therapy in North America. (See Professional Development).

Back to page one of History