Waterside, in Sale,has announced that it will present the First Light photography project celebrating work from photography graduates from the north of England.
In 2020, final year students have had to forgo the experience of the degree show – the culminating event of three years of study. Waterside aims to respond positively to this challenging new landscape and continue its burgeoning commitment to the region’s emerging photographic talent.
In partnership with Open Eye Gallery, Castlefield New Art Spaces and Creative Industries Trafford, Waterside will be providing opportunity for graduates from thirteen universities across the north of England to take part in the First Light project.
A panel of industry professionals have selected a student from each of the participating universities, from a number of new graduates put forward, to take part in a series of online talks, a publication and an exhibition.
The talks, hosted by Open Eye Gallery, will take place via Zoom for free between 16 March and 8 June, and will bring together the photographers, writers and educators who are central to this project. Chaired by Open Eye’s writer-in-residence Laura Robertson and exhibition Curator Mario Popham, they will discuss the ideas and inspiration behind the images, the potential for collaboration across disciplines, the relationship between the image and the word, and the role educators play in the early development of artistic practice.
The First Light exhibition will open on 22 May ‘21 showcasing all the works by the selected graduates, curated by Mario Popham (Waterside’s Visual Arts Coordinator) and Polly Palmirini (Museum of Half Truths). Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces in Warrington has been selected as the venue for the exhibition, with generous support from Culture Warrington and Warrington Council. A pop-up exhibition will be installed from the 17 April in the window display of the venue providing a preview of the upcoming exhibition.
The publication will be produced by Open Eye’s Laura Robertson – a special First Light edition of Tilt (Open Eye Gallery’s in-house zine) – featuring thirteen commissioned pieces of new writing that responds to the selected photographic works. Written by twelve 2020 graduates, who have been nominated by diverse writing programmes and undergraduate degrees from across the north-west – including Writing on the Wall (WoW) literature organisation – this ambitious, interdisciplinary and contemporary arts publication features texts that range from poetry and flash fiction to traditional journalism.
Curator at Waterside Mario Popham says ‘The selected work reflects the diversity of photography as practiced today, demonstrating the rich ways in which the medium continues to reflect and interpret the world and our reality. It has been wonderful to be able to offer a platform to these talented individuals as they step into the professional realm.’
Director of Open Eye Gallery, Sarah Fisher says “At a time when we should all be re-imagining futures, fostering emerging talent is something we all need to champion. First Light offers a meaningful approach to championing exceptional creatives who had the misfortune to graduate during a national pandemic.”
Castlefield Gallery New Art Spaces Coordinator Nicholas James says ‘We’re excited to be working with partners Waterside and Open Eye Gallery, and to have the opportunity to exhibit First Light at Castlefield Gallery’s New Art Spaces in Warrington. First Light promises to be a showcase of resilience, invention and innovation.’
In addition to our gallery partners, First Light is supported by Spectrum Photographic, Village Leeds, NQ Photo Studio and Laura Robertson from Double Negative, who have all generously donated further opportunities to be awarded to selected exhibitors.
The project is also supported by the Culture Recovery Fund and Creative Industries Trafford.
