Cascadia Poetics Lab Launches British Columbia Event Series for 'Cascadian Zen Vol. I' Anthology

The Cascadia Poetics Lab, a Seattle-based poetry nonprofit, is hosting a series of events in British Columbia throughout late August 2024 to promote their recently published anthology 'Cascadian Zen Vol. I'. Published by Watershed Press, the anthology features work from artists and authors throughout the Cascadia bioregion, exploring the region's ecosystem, Zen practice, and the questions arising from these intersections. These events provide a significant platform for examining the unique cultural and ecological identity of Cascadia through poetry, fostering deeper understanding of the local environment among residents and visitors.

The event series begins on August 22 at the Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver, featuring the three editors of 'Cascadian Zen Vol. I': Paul Nelson, Adelia MacWilliam, and Jason Wirth, alongside Canadian poet Daphne Marlatt. The anthology represents the Cascadia Poetics Lab's mission to empower individuals to practice poetry and deepen connections to place, self, and the present moment. Following the Vancouver event, the series moves to the Abbey Studio in Cumberland for a full weekend of talks and readings on August 24-25, featuring Indigenous elder Wedlidi Speck and poet-philosopher Jan Zwicky alongside the anthology editors.

The inclusion of Indigenous perspectives highlights the anthology's commitment to diverse viewpoints on the Cascadia bioregion, contributing to more inclusive dialogue about the region's identity and future. The final event occurs at the Community Hall on Quadra Island on August 26, showcasing Jan Zwicky and poet-typographer Robert Bringhurst with the anthology editors. These gatherings offer attendees opportunities to engage with varied poetic voices and perspectives on Cascadian Zen, with information available through https://cascadiapoeticslab.org/events-page/.

The focus on Zen practice in relation to the Cascadian ecosystem provides an innovative lens for viewing environmental issues and personal connections to place. This intersection of spirituality, poetry, and ecology has potential to inspire new approaches to sustainability and human relationships with nature. By bringing these events to multiple British Columbia locations and making them free to the public, the Cascadia Poetics Lab demonstrates commitment to engaging communities across the bioregion in conversations about regional identity, poetry, and environmental consciousness.