The Water Remembers

This is a free event, but registration is required.

Amy Bowers Cordalis, a Yurok lawyer, was propelled into action to save the Klamath River, the traditional Yurok fishing grounds, after a catastrophic fish K*ll devastated the waterway. Her engrossing memoir, The Water Remembers: My Indigenous Family’s Fight to Save a River and a Way of Life, is a testament to the enduring power of Indigenous knowledge and the successful fight to remove dams along the Klamath River.

Los Angeles artist Lauren Bon directs Metabolic Studio, an interdisciplinary art and research hub that attempts to bridge the gap between art, science, and activism. Her ambitious Bending the River project reimagines the relationship between Los Angeles and the river that brought it into existence.

In a conversation led by Diné artist and activist Emma Robbins, Cordalis and Bon will discuss their efforts to repair long-festering injuries—both geologic and psychic—to the Klamath and Los Angeles rivers and their corresponding ecosystems.

Join us before the talk for a reception in the Milpa. There will be drinks and light bites. Enjoy the outdoor art installations and interactive pieces while exploring the mission of Metabolic Studio.

The 2026 PEN World Voices Festival is a celebration of world literature and free expression. The 2026 edition will be the 21st World Voices Festival. Over four days, over 140 writers from over 40 countries will be featured in 40+ engaging talks, panels, readings, and activations in New York City and greater Los Angeles.

Visit for more information about the entire festival, as well as PEN America.

This space is ADA compliant.

ASL interpretation is available for this event by request only. Please reach out to our Box Office team at [email protected] by April 15th to request.

Event Venue & Nearby Stays

Metabolic Studio, 1745 North Spring Street, Los Angeles, United States

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