Maya Spirits Art Retreat
Maya Spirits Spring 2025 Art Retreat marks a powerful meeting point of art, purpose, and place. Set deep in the Calakmul jungle—a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve and one of the last remaining strongholds of Mesoamerican biodiversity—the retreat brought together six visionary artists:
Summer Wagner, Defaced, Samantha Cavet, Dave Krugman, Ben Skaar, and Fahad Karim.
Immersed in the rhythms of the land and welcomed by the local community, the artists engaged in sacred ceremonies, collaborated with children in creative workshops, and absorbed the spiritual and ecological knowledge shared by Mayan elders and shamans.
This rare experience sparked the creation of a deeply personal body of work: six artworks, each donated by the artists to directly support a Calakmul family in need. Proceeds from the benefit sale will empower a local mother and her two daughters, who recently lost their husband and father, by funding the launch of her first business and enabling the children to return to school. At the same time, the sale aims to raise $50,000, which will also protect over 100 hectares of threatened rainforest. This initiative is not just an art release—it’s a call to action and a testament to the transformative potential of creativity rooted in community, heritage, and collective care.
Be a part of this powerful initiative—
collect from the AOTM x Maya Spirits Spring 2025 Benefit Sale and help turn art into action.
Immerse Yourself in the Jungle
Maya Spirits Art Retreat
For two weeks, the artists became part of the living rhythm of the Mayan region. They listened, learned, shared with local communities, sat in ceremonies with shamans, and respected spiritual guardians of Mayan knowledge and heritage.
Deeply moved by these experiences, each artist spent the following weeks creating a unique artwork inspired by what resonated most with them—whether it was the untouched jungle, the children they met through local art workshops, the strength of the women in the community, or their own personal, spiritual growth.
“In Lak’ech Ala K’in: I am you, and you are me. Together we create a world of balance and harmony.” – Mayan Proverb
The retreat revealed both the deep beauty and the complex struggles of the Calakmul jungle: extreme poverty, gender inequality, limited access to education, and the ongoing deforestation of ancestral lands driven by industrial agriculture. After these powerful encounters, the artists returned to their work with a fresh perspective, each channeling their most personal impressions into a singular, original creation.
Every artist generously donated their piece to support a local mother and her two daughters, who recently lost their husband and father. Proceeds from the collection will help the mother open her first nail salon business, providing her with financial independence and a stable future. It will also allow her daughters to return to school and receive essential care, ensuring a renewed sense of hope and opportunity for the family.
To reach this goal of support, we aim to raise $50,000. This amount will transform the family’s future and help protect over 100 hectares of rainforest, preserving its wildlife and preventing deforestation in the name of the community.
The collection will be exhibited at SFER IK Tulum, one of Southern Mexico’s most prestigious galleries, and presented at NFC Lisbon—highlighting the power of art to drive real-world impact. Also, a forthcoming mini-documentary will share the retreat’s full story, honoring the collective effort behind this mission, featuring artists, partners and collectors.
The Maya Spirits Foundation, led by Dr. Lorenzo Martinez and his dedicated team, has supported the Calakmul community for over seven years. During this time, they created over 47 environmental and cultural preservation patents and helped conserve more than 1,000 hectares of jungle. The Foundation is committed to giving 100% of every donation directly to the cause, seeing itself simply as a bridge between support and impact. In partnership with AOTM, it will transparently manage all funds, ensuring long-term, community-led change.
Editorial