Oct 3, 2017

On October 5th, 2017 the Maritime Museum of BC will be the host venue for the launch of Refugium: Poems for the Pacific, an anthology of poems that explore poets’ deep concern for the Pacific Ocean and the creatures within, edited by the City of Victoria’s Poet Laureate Yvonne Blomer.

“I’m excited to be launching Refugium: Poems for the Pacific at the Maritime Museum of BC. It has been a delight to collaborate with Brittany Vis and the Maritime Museum of BC and with Regan Rasmussen and visual and performative artists to create a dynamic book launch and to raise awareness for the plight of the Pacific Ocean. Poems in the book come from poets in BC, the Yukon, and the rest of Canada, the US from Alaska to NY and down the coast to California, and as far away as New Zealand. Of the 82 collected in the book, 18 poets will be reading at the launch, some from as far away as Nova Scotia and Washington State.”, stated Yvonne Blomer.

The event is a reading and performance, which will take place in the Vic Theatre, to celebrate the anthology as well as an opening for the accompanying art exhibition created in response to a selection of poems in the book, curated by Victoria artist Regan Rasmussen.

“Inspired by poetry from Refugium: Poems for the Pacific, twenty-one visual and performing artists from British Columbia have expressed their love and concern for the ocean through a variety of media. The resulting art exhibition is rich and thought provoking. Connecting artists to the words of poets as a source of creative inspiration has been an honour. As David Suzuki says in The Sacred Balance, “Water is the raw material of creation, the source of life.”,stated Regan Rasmussen.
The launch begins at 6:30 with a pre-reception at the Maritime Museum of BC; readings and performances start at 7:30, followed by a post-reception at the Museum, where guests can enjoy drinks and appies while purchasing copies of the book, taking in the art show and the Museum’s exhibits.

“The Museum is thrilled to be the host venue of this wonderful event, which will bring together many local poets and artists. It is a unique opportunity for us to connect with these parts of our community and to explore concerns for the Pacific Ocean in new ways with the public,” stated Brittany Vis, Associate Director of the Maritime Museum of BC.

Tickets are:
• $15 Museum members
• $20 regular

Tickets are on sale now and will be sold till the day of the event, or till sold out. Tickets can be reserved directly through the Museum by either coming in in-person, or by calling 250-385-4222 ext. 103. Tickets are also be sold online and can be purchased here:http://mmbc.bc.ca/event/refugium-poems-for-the-pacific-launch-and-art-exhibition/