25 September / 6pm–8pm / Open Eye Gallery / RSVP Join us to celebrate Firehawkes – a project by Stephen King. It is the first of its kind and the culmination of years of research, beginning with a collaboration with Open Eye Gallery in 2021, where Stephen explored his own experience of firesetting.
The root of the exhibition’s title links to the phenomenon of the Firehawk, an Australian bird who creates bushfires by dropping already burning sticks in an attempt to direct prey fleeing an original blaze. They actively transform their landscapes to ensure their nourishment in times of drought and trauma. The project will explore the correlation of the act of the Firehawk bird with people who set fires.
As part of the partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Stephen has also been working with students and graduates from our joint MA in socially engaged photography at the University of Salford. 2023 Graduate Rachel Beeson will be assisting Stephen on the photo shoots across the fire service sites, whilst fellow graduates from last year’s cohort will be exhibiting their own work in our upstairs Gallery 3 space.
The project is supported using public funding by the National Lottery through Arts Council England.
Image: Stephen King