a blue moment is a forthcoming collection of 30 poems and photographs reflecting the fragile story of the Arctic in the face of decay. It paints a dwindling picture of a vulnerable landscape – where quieted chaos stirs a new kind of music.

From 2016-2025, poet Alyssa Martens embedded herself across high-Arctic regions, including Svalbard, Norway, Finland, Sweden, and Canada, attending the largest annual gathering of Arctic scientists and consulting subject specialists to uncover the fragile narrative of an Arctic facing loss and damage. The accompanying visuals by cinematographer Max Machado respond to her writing, captured primarily within Iceland’s first UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Snæfellsnes Peninsula. Under the art and movement direction of Damian Siqueiros, dancers Íris Ásmundar, Sally Cowdin and Alejandro Bencomo vivify the experiences of soil, water, and sky—interpreting these elemental forces in intimate ways that echo Martens’ research.

The collection accompanies an immersive short film of the same title, premiering in 2026.

Explore the accompanying film

Research and creation of this collection was made possible with the generous support of the Canada Council for the Arts and consultation with leading Arctic scientists and Indigenous knowledge keepers. Special thanks to:

Kim Holmén – Arctic Climatologist, Norwegian Polar Institute
Christopher Burns – Arctic Geographer, Carleton University
Gregory Hare – Glacial Archaeologist, Yukon University
Jenni Laiti – Sámi Artivist & Duojár (Master of Traditional Sámi Crafts)

Discover poems from the collection

 

  • Published by Fresh Voices, League of Canadian Poets, 2025

  • Published in 2025 Poetry Diary, a publication by Sunday Mornings at the River, 2025

  • Published by the League of Canadian Poets, 2023

  • Published by the League of Canadian Poets, 2023

  • Published by Fresh Voices, 2024

  • Published in Bluebird Anthology: Issue 1, 2024

  • Commissioned by BC Arts Council to be performed at Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival, 2019

  • Exhibited at Culture Days Canada, 2019

    Commissioned by BC Arts Council to be performed at Vancouver Outsider Arts Festival, 2019

Follow the journey

 
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