What is a Sunset Watch Party?
The sunset watch parties are part of Kay Slater’s ongoing Radical Silence project, fostering a communal appreciation of natural phenomena through a non-verbal and still gathering. These gatherings create space for participants to simply be present—witnessing the sunset as a shared moment of reflection and connection without the pressure of conversation, either spoken or signed.
By coming together in quiet observation, these gatherings gently challenge verbal-centric and neurotypical norms and explore alternative ways of engaging with community and the environment.
Why Silence?
Silence is often overlooked as a meaningful form of engagement, yet it holds the potential to be deeply inclusive and powerful. By removing the expectation of speech, the sunset watch parties encourage:
- Non-verbal communication: Participants engage with the environment and each other through presence, and stillness rather than spoken or written words, directions, gestures and signed language.
- Accessibility and inclusion: Those who are d/Deaf, hard of hearing, or non-verbal, as well as those who simply seek respite from verbal interaction, are invited to experience community in a way that honors their preferred modes of interaction, while challenging and encouraging a non-hierarchical way of being without formal, practiced, or official language.
- Patience and mindfulness: The slow and inevitable setting of the sun encourages participants to pause, embrace stillness, and appreciate the passing of time.
- Reimagining connection: These events softly challenge societal assumptions that equate verbal communication with intelligence or engagement, demonstrating that meaningful interaction can happen without spoken, signed, or written words.
Acknowledging the Influence of Indigenous Knowledge
The inspiration to gather for these sunset watch parties was originally introduced to Slater through the practices of artists Audrey Siegl, Cease Wyss, and Anne Riley, who hosted a sunset gathering in connection with the Belkin Gallery as part of Wyss’ and Riley’s work in 2021. While Slater’s sunset watch parties specifically explore the joy of gathering in silence, they recognize the foundational knowledge and generosity of these artists and do not claim this practice as original to their work. Kay is a multi-generational, white settler and is able to work on these lands due to the ancestral and ongoing care, protection, and reciprocity practiced by many hən̓q̓əmin̓əm̓ and Sḵwx̱wú7mesh speaking peoples, families, and guests. As we gather, there is an invitation to reflect on our priviledge and respect for those whose work allows us to gather together in this place.
Please donate to the IISSS
Join Us
These sunset watch parties in Radical Silence occurs in the winter months, offering a different seasonal experience - one that asks participants to commit to standing outside together in colder, less traditionally scenic settings to honor the changing sky. Please bundle up and take care.
We will gather rain or shine.
Sunsets are fleeting, yet inevitable. These gatherings embrace that impermanence, creating space for reflection, connection, and quiet appreciation. Here is the approximate time scheduled to match the sunset here in Edmond's Park
- Friday, February 7 - 5:10 - 5:30 PM
- Friday, February 14 - 5:20 - 5:40 PM
- Friday, February 21 - 5:35 - 5:55 PM
- Saturday, February 22 - 5:35 - 5:55 PM - Kay will be onsite hosting an event and will practice the sunset watch. Join them!
- Sunday, February 23 - 5:35 - 5:55 PM - Kay's Open House and closing event at FLEET: Edmonds. A special sunset watch party to reflect and say thank you to the land and sky as they close their residency.
Free & Open to All
This is a drop-in event. Bring warm layers and arrive with the intention to experience the sunset together, in shared silence and stillness. Walking and movement is welcome, but please do not engage in signed or spoken language, or gesturing without the consent of others.