Cyano & Sip: Poetry, Cyanotype, and Wetland Meditation

Perth Poetry Festival 2026 · Ear to the Ground Cyano & Sip Join us at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn for a gentle creative workshop combining wetland observation, guided Sun meditation, botanical cyanotype printmaking, and poetry writing. Participants will walk to the lake, gather visual inspiration, create two cyanotype works, and write a short poem in response to the landscape and their making process. Each participant will leave with one small cyanotype, one larger cyanotype, and a short poem or draft poem. What to Expect • A guided walk to the lake • Sun meditation led by Lakshmi Kanchi • Botanical cyanotype printmaking with Sarita Slater and Arunima Nair • Morning tea, wine, and nibbles • Guided poetry writing and optional sharing Program 10:00 am – 10:10 am Introduction and housekeeping 10:10 am – 11:00 am Wetland walk and Sun meditation 11:00 am – 11:15 am Morning tea 11:15 am – 1:45 pm Cyanotype introduction, demonstration, making, washing, drying, and viewing works 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm Poetry writing and optional sharing 2:45 pm – 3:00 pm Viewing works, reflections, and close Provided on the Day • Workshop materials • Watercolour paper • Cyanotype chemicals, mixing containers, and brushes • Boards, trays, and water • Gloves • Morning tea, drinks, and nibbles What to Bring • Comfortable clothing • Closed-in shoes • Wet-weather gear if rain is forecast • Botanicals you may want to use in your cyanotype work • A notebook, writing paper, and pens Ethical Botanical Collection Participants are welcome to bring their own botanicals. During the wetland walk, only fallen leaves, seed pods, feathers, bark, or loose natural material can be collected. Please do not pick living plants or disturb animals, fungi, nests, insects, habitats, or wetland edges. Participants must stay on designated paths. About the Presenters Lakshmi Kanchi is a poet, community arts leader, and inaugural Poet-in-Residence at The Wetlands Centre Cockburn. Her work brings poetry into conversation with place, ecology, meditation, and community. Sarita Slater is an emerging artist navigating the intertwined worlds of poetry and imagery. Her autobiographical work intimately explores family, memory, and belonging. As a second-generation Australian with roots in Northern America and Southern India, Sarita’s heritage deepens her reflections on identity, place, and resilience. Arunima Nair is a poet, photographer, and artist whose practice is rooted in memory and mythology. Her work is nourished by food, nature, family stories, and the quiet process of looking inward to better understand the world beyond. Cyano & Sip is part of the Perth Poetry Festival 2026. Important Notes • This workshop includes a walk outdoors, so please dress for the weather. • Closed-in shoes are required. • Wine will be served. Attendees consuming alcohol must be 18+. • Please advise us of any dietary or accessibility requirements when booking. Venue The Wetlands Centre Cockburn 184 Hope Road Bibra Lake WA 6163 Acknowledgement of Country We acknowledge the Whadjuk Noongar people as the Traditional Custodians of the land and wetlands on which this event takes place, and pay our respects to Elders past and present. Bookings & refunds Bookings are through Humanitix. Refunds are available up to three days prior to the event. BOOK TICKETS