The water belongs to itself. undercurrent reflects on the power and
sacredness of water--largely underappreciated by too many--whether it be
in the form of ocean currents, the headwaters of the Fraser River or
fluids in the womb. Exploring a variety of poetic forms, anecdote,
allusion and visual elements, this collection reminds humanity that we
are water bodies, and we need and deserve better ways of honouring
this.
Poet Rita Wong approaches water through personal, cultural and political
lenses. She humbles herself to water both physically and spiritually: i
will apprentice myself to creeks & tributaries, groundwater & glaciers /
listen for the salty pulse within, the blood that recognizes marine
ancestry. She witnesses the contamination of First Nations homelands and
sites, such as Gregoire Lake near Fort McMurray, AB: though you look
placid, peaceful dibenzothiophenes / you hold bitter, bitumized
depths. Wong points out that though capitalism and industry are supposed
to improve our quality of life, they're destroying the very things that
give us life in the first place. Listening to and learning from water is
key to a future of peace and creative potential.
undercurrent emerges from the Downstream project, a multifaceted,
creative collaboration that highlights the importance of art in
understanding and addressing the cultural and political issues related
to water. The project encourages public imagination to respect and value
water, ecology and sustainability. Visit downstream.ecuad.ca.
