Wildfires mobilize artists to explore fire impact in new book

Tue, Sep 17, 2024

Artists are exploring wildfires through a creative lens in the ongoing book series Fire Season.

The collaborative project, led by artists Amory Abbott and Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU) instructor Liz Toohey-Wiese, is described as a form of collective sense-making on the topic of wildfires.

The recent release of the third publication features artwork and writing from over 60 contributors across the globe. The book includes work from artists, academics, writers, wildfire fighters and members of Indigenous communities, each offering their perspective on the topic.

KPU instructor Liz Toohey-Wiese next to her work.

Among the contributors is KPU instructor Erin Ashenhurst from the Wilson School of Design, whose photographs appear to depict children at leisure in environments where fire has been normalized, but with closer consideration reveal themselves to be composite spaces mixing family photos from road trips in B.C. - including those taken from the highway following the fire that consumed the village of Lytton in 2021.

"Our goal has always been to try and get as many perspectives as we could so we can all expand our understanding by sharing and learning from each other," says Amory Abbott, an illustration instructor at Emily Carr University of Art + Design. "We try not to champion any particular voice or perspective, but to create a space for everyone to be heard equally."

Wilson School of Design instructor Erin Ashenhurst's contribution to Fire Season 3.

The instructors say that the books offer a more personal approach to grappling with the complexities of climate change, for both the readers and the artists involved.

"The science around climate change and the environment often has to be objective, but that can hold the world at a distance," says Toohey-Wiese, an instructor in the KPU Fine Arts Department. "But this creative expression really lets you get up close to see what the impact feels like on an individual level.

"More and more people are having these close-up experiences with wildfires, whether it's losing their house, being evacuated for weeks or knowing someone who has. I find that the books are getting more and more personal, and the distance and the gap is closing a bit more every time."

From connecting with artists to curating the pieces, the project has been a source of fulfillment for Abbott and Toohey-Wiese, and for the contributors involved.

"The books have really fostered a space and a sense of belonging for people who may not have a voice or outlet," says Abbott. "It's very meaningful for us to see artists connect with each other and be a part of this larger community of artists with similar experiences."

The first book was released in 2020 and a new edition has come out every two years.

A book launch will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 25 from 6 to 8 p.m. at READ Books, Emily Carr University of Art + Design.

The front and back covers of Fire Season 3.