On Saturday, nature and literature enthusiasts can converge at China Camp State Park for the final event in the well-received Poetry In Parks series. As California State Parks disclosed, the series is a collaboration with Quiet Lightning and Friends of China Camp. The free festival runs from noon to five in the afternoon at China Camp Village.
The series, launched in October 2023, sought to vividly merge artistic expression with the natural beauty of the Californian landscape. "At China Camp State Park, stories are shared from time immemorial through the present," Martin Lowenstein, Executive Director of Friends of China Camp, said, as per California State Parks. Lowenstein highlights the diverse narratives that the park encapsulates, from ancestral Coast Miwok traditions to contemporary research on sea level rise.
The day promises an ensemble of performances, including live music by Gillian Grogan and readings from both Marin County Youth Poet Laureate Ambassadors Mira Sridharan of The Branson School and Clarisse Kim from Abraham Lincoln High School. Adding to the cultural mix, a "Better Ancestors" set featured writers of color such as Karla Myn Khine, Alex Feliciano Mejia, Kato Bisase, Zouhair Mussa, and Sarah O'Neal, orchestrated by special host Tadeh Kennedy.
"Thanks to California State Parks, we have access to these treasured habitats and ecosystems for both refuge and recreation," said Evan Karp, Founder and Executive Director of Quiet Lightning, as cited by California State Parks. The initiative was aimed to celebrate the intersection of nature and culture, showcasing California's many splendors. Karp expressed great pride in the longstanding relationship Quiet Lightning has built with Parks since 2015, significantly adding value to the cultural life of the state's natural reserves.
Alongside the spoken performances, the event will also unveil a submission-based literary mixtape curated by Connie Zheng and Evan Karp. The list of contributors to this mixtape is a veritable who's who of regional writing talent, including Aiya Madarang, Susana Praver-Pérez, and many other notable voices. This mixtape will be published in a book with a cover designed by Kristiana Chan, and the first 100 attendees will be the lucky recipients of this unique collectible.
Scott Green, the Program Manager for the Poetry In Parks event, encapsulated the series' sentiment, stating, "There is a certain special feeling that is achieved when people of all ages and backgrounds come together in a park setting to hear words, stories and poetry from talented writers. It’s quite magical," according to California State Parks.
