Speaking truth to power can require social change agents to step into difficult situations.
Change agents can find themselves stepping into a firestorm of the fear, hurt, resentment,
greed, and insecurities of society at large. In the space of energetic change, society
can feel uncertain, dangerous, and even destructive, much like a wildfire.
Wildfires can be devastating, causing destruction and heartbreaking loss. However,
many cultures, including indigenous peoples of North and South America, embrace the
idea of fire as a pathway for cleansing and rejuvenation.
What is true for the forest can also be true for society. The blaze makes space for
the future, even if it first looks like loss. Resilience is necessary for change and
growth. We must find a way to Embrace the Firestorm.
Only then can we claim the possibilities ahead. What do we want the released energy,
space, and resources to produce? What is the Future we Envision?
This year’s Frances Dancy Hooks Art Award and Exhibition invites artists to consider
both the Firestorm and the Future. What burns away and what comes next? What do you
Embrace and Envision?
