“We are all connected”: ‘Sale at Work’ exhibition celebrates local community

A unique, community-focused photography exhibition, ‘Sale at Work’, is set to open at Hiya in Stanley Square on Thursday 25 July. 

Jazz, chef patron, The Perfect Match restaurant © Sonya Smith Photography

The exhibition is the idea of photographer Sonya Smith and her friend and writer Lucy Tomlinson, both Sale residents and offers a glimpse into the lives of the people who keep the town of Sale ticking. The exhibition is free to visit and is open daily making it accessible to all. 

Unveiling the faces - and personalities - of Sale

The idea for ‘Sale at Work’ stemmed from Sonya and Lucy's shared passion for their community. "We both live in Sale and wanted to explore the community and the people in it," Sonya explains. "We often don’t highlight the people or how much we are all interconnected and rely on each other."

Lucy adds, "In the interviews I did, we found so many people were linked, and when people talked about the interests they had, we realised those were similar to other interviewees."

Wing-sun, director at Trafford Hong Kongers © Sonya Smith Photography

Through their lenses and pens, Sonya and Lucy have brought together a diverse group of locals, capturing their everyday work lives and personal stories. "Logistically, we couldn’t get everyone in, but we tried to give a representation of the local community," Sonya says. The exhibition features photographs and interviews with a wide array of people, reflecting the diverse community of Sale. From small business owners, to Metrolink workers, nurses to dancers, each participant has generously shared their time and stories.

Rina, director, Amphora cafe © Sonya Smith Photography

Visitors to the exhibition will be treated to a series of portraits, each accompanied by the participant’s name, job and a personal quote. To delve deeper into their stories, visitors can scan a QR code that links to individual features on the exhibition's website, saleatwork.com. Sonya hopes that visitors will come away with a renewed sense of connection to their community. "People might see a uniform and think they know the person, but that’s not true. We are only getting a tiny glimpse of them; there’s so much more to them," she reflects.

Lucy echoes this sentiment, saying, "People find a lot of meaning in their work generally and it’s a huge part of life. I was pleasantly surprised by how satisfied and positive people were with their work lives; it was great to hear."

Kerry, director at Di Shack © Sonya Smith Photography

Hiya in Stanley Square serves as the perfect backdrop for this community-focused exhibition. "It’s such a great venue for this exhibition because it’s community-focused and open every day," Sonya notes. The location allows for casual visits, whether people are passing through, on their lunch break or shopping.

Celebrating Sale’s vibrant community 

Having lived in Sale for 11 years, Sonya has a deep appreciation for the town's community spirit. "The best thing about Sale has got to be its community! I’ve lived in Sale for 11 years and felt straightaway that people were supportive of one another," she says. Over the years, she has witnessed the town's growth, particularly in its thriving food and drink scene, but the strong sense of community has remained constant.

Ali, florist and owner, Diddibox Flowers © Sonya Smith Photography

Sonya’s extensive background in photography, spanning 17 years, combined with Lucy’s journalistic expertise, has resulted in a project that is both intimate and revealing. Their collaborative process has allowed for candid and relaxed moments, beautifully captured in the exhibition. "Personally, it’s been really great working with Sonya on this; we’ve bounced ideas off each other and I’ve got a better knowledge of how to interpret photographs now, which has expanded my mindset," Lucy adds.

‘Sale at Work’ is a celebration of the people who make Sale what it is. As Sonya aptly puts it, "we are all connected – nobody is an island!" 

This exhibition is free and runs from Thursday 25 July at Hiya, Stanley Square, Sale.

Find out more at saleatwork.com.

Images above: Sophie, @piercingsbysophie_mcr (left) and Sid, postmaster at Sale Post Office (right). All photos © Sonya Smith Photography.