Tenaya Steed

The skies over desert towns pulsed with light today as mystery objects flew among the trees. They appeared way up there in the clouds like a string of Christmas lights, like distant stars, their lights oscillating in the winter darkness. Now, there are would-be local astronomers scanning the heavens for signs. Naysayers sneering with rumours of bored teenagers and their elaborate hoax. Those spooked and searching for earthly explanation. But the rest of us will sleep tonight with hearts a little lighter because of what some far away, silvery objects did to tell us we weren't alone.  
During a drop-out year from the Royal College of Art, following impossible fees and payday loans, I read that the Arts Council sees my home Gloucester as a 'culture cold spot' – the only English city on a list of towns. The same day I learned that The National UFO Reporting Centre has recently documented an all-time low in sightings. But imagine if flying saucers did come visit, imagine if they chose Gloucester? Or Blackpool, or Wigan, or Doncaster, or any of the places to make that list.
I reached out to local teenagers to fake UFO sightings across Gloucester and other desert towns. We used duct tape and empty film reels from Gloucester Scrapstore to make props, photographing them with disposable and instant cameras; a revival of the dying and overlooked art of the infamous 1970s UFO hoax.
We made signals in the sky, proving if not that there's life out there – that there's life right here in a so-called cultural desert.