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

Cyano & Sip: Poetry, Cyanotype, and Wetland Meditation

Choose your tickets

General Admission ticket

WA Poets Members ticket

The Wetlands Centre Members ticket

Donations

Support Wetlands Community Education, Projects and Events