Open Rooms #18: FireHawks
THURS 18 NOV / 6–7PM / LIVE ON TWITCH
BOOK HERE
Open Eye Gallery is delighted to be working on a new research project with artist Stephen King, exploring children and adults who set fires in the UK, funded by Open Eye Gallery and Arts Council England. The project, Firehawks, takes its name from an Australian bird which create bushfires by dropping already burning sticks in an attempt to direct prey fleeing the original blaze. They actively transform their landscapes to ensure their nourishment, and account as a key cause of bushfires in Australia.
Artist Stephen King is embarking on Firehawks research project to explore parallels of the firehawk phenomenon to children who set fires. A substantial proportion of deliberately set fires are started by children and young people. Research has identified the main causes of fire setting behaviour, often not uncovered until adulthood: play, peer pressure, a cry for help (due to stress), or a child who has been affected by traumatic experiences. Children use the power of fire due to feelings of helplessness. King wishes to reflect his personal experience alongside the experience of others about this use of natural element as a form of control.
As part of this initial research we are hosting an Open Rooms discussion event inviting the artist, project participant Jenny and criminologist Joanna Foster from Fabtic, an organisation dedicated to supporting children and families living with firesetting behaviour, to discuss their experiences to date and aspirations for the collaborative project. The discussion will be chaired by Open Eye Gallery’s Head of Social Practice Liz Wewiora and we welcome your questions via the twitch chat room and our discord forum space.
THURS 18 NOV / 6–7PM / LIVE ON TWITCH
BOOK HERE
Open Eye Gallery is delighted to be working on a new research project with artist Stephen King, exploring children and adults who set fires in the UK, funded by Open Eye Gallery and Arts Council England. The project, Firehawks, takes its name from an Australian bird which create bushfires by dropping already burning sticks in an attempt to direct prey fleeing the original blaze. They actively transform their landscapes to ensure their nourishment, and account as a key cause of bushfires in Australia.
Artist Stephen King is embarking on Firehawks research project to explore parallels of the firehawk phenomenon to children who set fires. A substantial proportion of deliberately set fires are started by children and young people. Research has identified the main causes of fire setting behaviour, often not uncovered until adulthood: play, peer pressure, a cry for help (due to stress), or a child who has been affected by traumatic experiences. Children use the power of fire due to feelings of helplessness. King wishes to reflect his personal experience alongside the experience of others about this use of natural element as a form of control.
As part of this initial research we are hosting an Open Rooms discussion event inviting the artist, project participant Jenny and criminologist Joanna Foster from Fabtic, an organisation dedicated to supporting children and families living with firesetting behaviour, to discuss their experiences to date and aspirations for the collaborative project. The discussion will be chaired by Open Eye Gallery’s Head of Social Practice Liz Wewiora and we welcome your questions via the twitch chat room and our discord forum space.
