Forthcoming from Arisa White

Arisa White’s presentation for the Ecollective reflects on, and builds upon, her experience in creating the 2025 site-specific installation look after your heart at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens.  This walking installation features a palindrome (“mirror’) poem titled "revolution is ritual," which is inlaid onto cedar planks along a woodland path.

The project invites visitors to physically traverse the text among sheltering trees, listening to music composed for the walking meditation, and engaging with themes of healing, rootedness and liberation while reflecting on the relationship between the human heart and the natural world.

The installation was co-commissioned by the Botanical Gardens and the Indigo Arts Alliance of Portland, Maine.

“…circle and circle until revolution is ritual

you walk between worlds

everything emerges from intimacy with your own life.”

— from Arisa White’s “revolution is ritual” installation

Arisa White is an associate professor of English and creative writing at Colby College and a Cave Canem fellow.  Working at the crossroads of race, gender, and sexuality, she is the author of acclaimed poetry collections, including the poetic memoir Who's Your Daddy, which was a finalist for the Maine Literary Award.