On the evening of the summer solstice, we will gather in a forest glade within an urban center to reflect on cycles of change and the potential for regeneration. The longest day of the year is an occasion to celebrate the sun and to prepare for the dark. As the day ends, a series of readings will explore the politics and poetics of time, asking what role the solstice can play in modern, technologized societies.

Global capitalism strives to operate continuously, all day and night, every day and night, unconcerned with the natural cycles caused by the rotation and revolution of the earth. By gathering on the solstice, we hope to challenge the temporal logic of capitalism. We want to imagine different ways of organizing production and consumption while remaining vigilant against pastoral romanticism.

The current geological era, known as the Anthropocene, is defined by the impact of humankind on the earth’s climate and ecosystem. But despite the terrifying transformation of the planet, the sun remains relatively constant, offering a reminder that every system has an outside; the ecosystem is embedded in the solar system. Turning our attention to the solar economy, we seek a vision of luxuriance rooted in nurturing, rather than ravaging, the natural world.

With readings by Alice Creischer, Hannah Gregory, Lingji Hon, Wojciech Kosma, Thomas Love and Markues as well as a special tea blend by Jess Zamora-Turner.