Michelle Forsyth

Text Work, 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

About the Work
For the past several years my work has addressed historical events as seen through the lens of news media. Through first-hand visits to, and subsequent renderings of my visual experiences at 100 historical disaster sites pictured in news photographs, I have worked to address a sense of grief. While researching each site for this project, I have scoured many old newspapers for written information. Along the way I have noted many poetic passages that conjure graphic images of their own. In Text Work, I have punched several quotes, including eyewitness testimonies and first-hand accounts, into single sheets of white paper. What is left is a lacey absence.

New York Times, July 18, 1996 (#1 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

New York Times, July 18, 1996 (#1 from Text Work) - detail, 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Boston Globe, November 21, 1980 (#2 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

New York Times, March 26, 1911 (#3 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

New York Times, March 26, 1911 (#3 from Text Work) - detail, 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Jack (eyewitness) (#4 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Phil (eyewitness) (#5 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Phil (eyewitness) (#5 from Text Work) - detail, 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Anonymous (eyewitness) (#6 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

CNN, February 28, 2001, (#7 from Text Work), 2008.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches.

Edwin (eyewitness) (#8 from Text Work), 2009.
punched 156 lb. SP Arches watercolor paper, 28 x 42 inches.

New York Times, Friday, April 7, 1989, (#9 from Text Work), 2009.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches.

Addy and Auke (eyewitnesses), (#10 from Text Work), 2010.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches.

Addy and Auke (eyewitnesses), (#10 from Text Work) - detail, 2010.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches.

De Peuter (eyewitness), (#11 from Text Work), 2010.
punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches.

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PROJECTS Installations Text Work Ostinatos One Hundred Drawings Small Watercolors Sunday Paintings Florescence Paper Sculptures Trauma Paintings Water + Aquariums Prints + Multiples SELECTED EXHIBITIONS Over & Over Canopy Cutters Field Work Tacoma Contemporary Then & There Paperwork Sundays Young Painters SELECTED RESIDENCIES Centrum Frans Masereel Centrum				Prev \| Next Text Work, 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. About the Work For the past several years my work has addressed historical events as seen through the lens of news media. Through first-hand visits to, and subsequent renderings of my visual experiences at 100 historical disaster sites pictured in news photographs, I have worked to address a sense of grief. While researching each site for this project, I have scoured many old newspapers for written information. Along the way I have noted many poetic passages that conjure graphic images of their own. In Text Work, I have punched several quotes, including eyewitness testimonies and first-hand accounts, into single sheets of white paper. What is left is a lacey absence. New York Times, July 18, 1996 (#1 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. New York Times, July 18, 1996 (#1 from Text Work) - detail, 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. Boston Globe, November 21, 1980 (#2 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. New York Times, March 26, 1911 (#3 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. New York Times, March 26, 1911 (#3 from Text Work) - detail, 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. Jack (eyewitness) (#4 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. Phil (eyewitness) (#5 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. Phil (eyewitness) (#5 from Text Work) - detail, 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. *Anonymous (eyewitness)* (#6 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. *CNN, February 28, 2001, (#7 from Text Work), 2008. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 20 x 30 inches. Edwin (eyewitness)* (#8 from Text Work), 2009. punched 156 lb. SP Arches watercolor paper, 28 x 42 inches. New York Times, Friday, April 7, 1989, (#9 from Text Work), 2009. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches. Addy and Auke (eyewitnesses), (#10 from Text Work), 2010. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches. Addy and Auke (eyewitnesses), (#10 from Text Work) - detail, 2010. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches. De Peuter (eyewitness), (#11 from Text Work), 2010. punched 140 lb. SP Fabriano watercolor paper, 18 x 27 inches.