"Solar Maximum" Exhibition Opening at Gallery Oldham: A Journey from Sunburn to the Stars

I am beyond excited to announce the opening of my exhibition, Solar Maximum, which will run from January 25th to March 8th at Gallery Oldham. This exhibition culminates countless hours of work, learning, and collaboration, and I can’t wait to share it with you all.

The exhibition will feature the stunning solar photography of Simon Tang, also known as The Stupid Astronomer on Instagram. Simon has captured incredible images of our Sun, all taken from his back garden – an inspiring reminder that even in our backyards, there is a universe to explore.

When I first embarked on this journey, I never imagined it would lead me from getting sunburnt during the lockdown to exchanging emails with Dr. W. Dean Pesnell from NASA/SDO. Dr. Pesnell helped me better understand the complexities of solar science, and I am incredibly grateful for that. The process has been a rollercoaster ride, but it has all been worth it.

This exhibition wouldn't have come to life without the incredible support of 1853 Studios and Gallery, who have been with me every step of the way. I’m so close to the finish line, and I couldn’t have done it without them.

Thanks to local illustrators and tattoo artists James Bannan and Mikey Morgan, we've created a youth-focused activity book to accompany the exhibition. Thanks to the One Oldham Children and Young People's Grant, we’re offering 150 copies for free to the public – a fantastic opportunity for families and young minds to dive deeper into the wonders of the Sun.

We’ve also made significant progress on the exhibition’s physical elements – the sculptures are complete, the brackets are painted, and the artwork is delivered. All that’s left now is to transport it all to Gallery Oldham and work with the fantastic team there to install the exhibition.

Now, it's time to celebrate, and I invite you all to join me at the launch event on Saturday, January 25th, from 1-3pm. The event will be a fun, family-friendly opportunity to learn more about our big star – the Sun – while enjoying some refreshing beverages and watching NASA videos alongside footage by Simon Tang.

For families attending, we'll have the youth activity books available (first come, first served), so be sure to arrive early if you want a copy for your youths. And who knows – maybe you’ll even walk away with a unique piece of art!

Thank you so much for your support throughout this process. It’s been a long journey, but we’ve almost reached the end. I hope to see you at the opening!

Exhibition Details:

• Solar Maximum Exhibition at Gallery Oldham

• Opening: Saturday, January 25th, 1-3pm

• Exhibition Dates: January 25th – March 8th