I was always so impressed at how Rene seemed to make everything so meaningful. He possessed a richness of spirit that inspired and enlightened. He had a strong yet unimposing presence. You knew that when you spoke to Rene, he not only heard you, but also felt what you were telling him. Gathering the artist's statements for this tribute, I found myself identifying with so much of what was written. He seems to have touched the spirit of many. I created my square the way I approach my art, entering with line, color and form, and letting it take me, giving shape to my mood, my feelings and thoughts. And as I was painting, I suddenly realized, there I was again... there was that repeated landscape that I first started drawing when I was in graduate school. With hills and caves, it's like it's the landscape of my unconscious. I go there to safely explore...and search for answers, for hope, for meaning. It made perfect sense that this is what emerged in my square to Rene. It reflects so much of what I've learned from him. Similarly, as we were adding the rich velvet connecting strips at one of our "sewing bees" I was reminded that I left last year's AATA conference wanting to make a family quilt. It was that conference that I last saw Rene alive. And I was struck by the sense of family that Rene perpetuated in this group of art therapists. Thank you Rene for your leadership, your vision, your companionship. I'm so grateful to have known you.

Ellie Ehrlich