Poetry Sydney and the Catalyst Literary Arts Journal warmly invites you to the Australian launch of Catalyst Volume 23: Devine Embrace.

Catalyst is a literary arts journal originally published by a collective of artists known as Neoismist Press inside an old volcano in Whakaraupo/Lyttelton, Aoetearoa New Zealand, 2003.

Catalyst Volume 23, ‘Divine Embrace’, features talent from our thriving poetry community in Christchurch alongside international voices, including a special feature of poetry from Iran, and Trans-Tasman connections from Australia, and incredible artwork by Jason Bezas.

The featured poet is Sahar Tavakoli, poet, translator, publisher, and multidisciplinary artist who was born in Tehran, Iran. She has published numerous books and translated various English-language authors into Persian, including Edna O’Brien, the Irish writer, and Swiss authors like Zoe Jenny and Daniele Pantano. She has experienced constraints that authoritarian systems maintain and became a target of the Iranian regime due to her political and cultural activities in 2023 and fled to Switzerland.

Catalyst 23 features outstanding artwork by Jason Bezas, a multidisciplinary London based artist from Greece. After going through the process of studying and practicing architecture for the first 4 years of being in the UK, he felt a nudge towards something less constraining and more introspective. A series of life changing events forced him to take a step back and rethink his life. This took him on a journey of drawing, reading, and writing, one that shifted his trajectory from a certain but stressful future, to a life of searching for the optimal way to find peace through art.

There is much excitement to have three launch events for Catalyst 23 this year:

Firstly, at our home in Christchurch, Wednesday 3 June, 7pm at the Space Academy, Christchurch. Celebrate the launch with readings by contributors, followed by an open mic.

Secondly in Sydney, Saturday 11 July, 3-5pm, ellipsis Gallery, Level 1, 41 Crown Street, Woolloomooloo NSW 2011. Featuring readings by contributors.

Finally, our international launch will be held at the 45 World Congress of Poets in Pristina, Kosovo, 25 – 30 September.

Join us to launch the new volume of Catalyst, and celebrate these themes of hope as a discipline, as we wrap our readers in a ‘Divine Embrace’.

The afternoon will feature poets in the collection: Linda Adair / Doc Drumheller / Kate Lumley / David Musgrave / Mark Roberts / Angela Stretch (Host) / Les Wicks

Venue: ellipsis gallery is an artist-run initiative (ARI) by Mark Wotherspoon, a glass artist and previous president of ESP Gallery Marrickville. Providing a blank canvas and a voice for artists to exhibit their remarkable works. A multi-disciplinary exhibition space situated in the heart of Woolloomooloo, Sydney.

Image: Book cover design of Catalyst Volume 23: Devine Embrace by Jason Bezas.

Poetry Sydney acknowledges First Nations peoples as the sovereign custodians of Country, and pay respect to Elders of past, present and to future generations. We value the distinct culture, customs and practices present in the many and diverse tribal nations across Australia.

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