Seattle-based poetry nonprofit Cascadia Poetics Lab anticipates multiple celebrations throughout the Cascadia bioregion to celebrate the release of their poetry anthology Cascadian Zen Vol. I, published by Watershed Press. Among these celebrations will be a launch event at the Royal Block, a hotel and art event space based in Waitsburg, WA. The event will be taking place on November 24, 2023 at 7 P.M. and is open to the public!

Cascadia Poetics Lab aims to empower people to practice poetry and deepen connections to place, self and the present moment. It is the belief of the organization that self-knowledge, bioregionalism and expansive creativity converges through poetry, and they follow this mission by hosting workshops and poetry festivals to expose participants to community, education and transformation through poetry. Cascadian Zen Vol I., published through Cascadia Poetics Lab’s publisher Watershed Press, is an anthology featuring work from distinguished artists and authors throughout the bioregion. The work in the anthology connects the mission of Cascadia Poetics Lab by exploring the nature of the Cascadia bioregion, Zen practice and the many questions that follow these topics.

Presenting at the Royal Block launch event will be Paul Nelson, Adelia MacWilliam, Dr. Jason Wirth and Sharon Thesen. Paul Nelson is a published poet and interviewer, the founder of Cascadia Poetics Lab and one of the editors of Cascadian Zen. Adelia MacWilliam earned her MFA at the University of Victoria and is Founding Editor of Watershed Press. Dr. Jason Wirth is a philosophy professor at Seattle University, a published author and Founding Editor of Watershed Press. Sharon Thesen is a legendary Canadian poet and professor emeritus at the University of British Columbia.

Celebrate Cascadia Poetics Lab’s accomplishment in poetry and place by joining the presenters at the Royal Block on November 24, 2023 at 7 P.M.

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Cascadia Poetics Lab, a Seattle-based nonprofit, was founded in Auburn, Washington, on December 14, 1993. Founding Director Paul E. Nelson is available for interviews.