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 to promote their recently published anthology 'Cascadian Zen Vol. I' throughout late August 2024. These events showcase the unique intersection of Zen practice and the Cascadia bioregion through poetry and discussions, providing a platform for exploring the region's cultural and ecological identity. The anthology, published by Watershed Press, features work from distinguished artists and authors throughout the Cascadia bioregion and explores the ecosystem of Cascadia while delving into conversations surrounding Zen practice.

The event series begins on August 22 at the Mountain Rain Zen Community in Vancouver, B.C., featuring the three editors of 'Cascadian Zen Vol. I': Paul Nelson, Adelia MacWilliam, and Jason Wirth, alongside Canadian poet Daphne Marlatt. Nelson founded the Cascadia Poetics Lab, while MacWilliam and Wirth serve as Founding Editors of Watershed Press, with Wirth also being a philosophy professor at Seattle University. The series then moves to the Abbey Studio in Cumberland, B.C., 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. The final event occurs at the Community Hall on Quadra Island, B.C., on August 26, showcasing Jan Zwicky and poet-typographer Robert Bringhurst with the anthology editors. These gatherings are significant for fostering deeper understanding of the local environment among residents and visitors while bringing together diverse voices that contribute to more inclusive dialogue about the region's identity and future.

The focus on Zen practice in relation to the Cascadian ecosystem offers 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 making events free and open to the public across multiple British Columbia locations, the organization ensures wide accessibility to conversations about regional identity, poetry, and environmental consciousness. More information about these events can be found at https://cascadiapoeticslab.org/events-page/.