2026 SPE Annual Conference: Catalyst for Exchange
Looking for a chapter event?
Past SPE Annual Conferences
exhibitions
2026 SPE Annual Conference Schedule
print this pageThe Sun Sets Midafternoon: Climate Grief through the Lens of Wildfire
Jessica Hays
Friday, March 20 - 3:30PM to 4:30PM
Georgia 6
Integrating photographs, video, and text, The Sun Sets Midafternoon examines the immediate aftermath of megafires on surrounding communities, interweaving narratives of ecological devastation, collective trauma, and climate grief. Begun after experiencing the devastation of a wildfire in my hometown, this work explores solastalgia as well as the significant public health threats of climate change.. In addition to the immediately measurable health related impacts of climate change—lowered air quality, clean water shortages, heat illnesses, and so on— much of this can be attributed to the ways in which we will lose a sense of security, a place that feel like home, and the psychological impacts of this increased instability.
The Sun Sets Midafternoon addresses timely issues—climate change, grief, and trauma—through a personal lens. This work offers an opportunity to consider the immediate and ongoing impacts of climate change and the ways in which text and video can elevate and inform photographic image making.
I will describe the trajectory of the work from an original compulsion to bear witness to wildfires, through five more fire seasons, integrating text, working with video, then the publication of my monograph with Fall Line Press and working with organizations to create site specific installations prioritizing opportunities for immersion and inviting viewers to engage with both text and image.
Book signing to follow at the Fall Line Press table
The Sun Sets Midafternoon will be exhibited in a solo show at Goat Farm Art Center, reception from 6-8 pm on March 19th in conjunction with the conference.
speaker
Jessica Hays
About
- Board Reports, Letters, and Minutes
- History
- Staff
- Board Members
- Board Committees
- Board Elections
- SPE Code of Conduct
- Caucuses
Join
Members
Annual Conference
- About the Conference
- Overview
- Speakers
- Schedule
- Registration
- Calls for Proposal
- Volunteer
- Sponsors
- Exhibit
- Anti-Harassment Policy
- Hotel & Travel
- Location + Travel
- Hotel
- Schedule of Events
- Schedule
- special events
News & Events
Chapters
Exposure Journal
About this piece
Comments about this piece
Dialogue and critique are important to the SPE mission.
Please join the conversation.