A cabinet `powered by imagination

Forsyth’s Cabinet of Curiosity was one of only 14 cabinets of extraordinary diversity and intrigue that were selected from the works of more than 200 international artists.
Forsyth’s work, Figurati… (or, go figure yourself), is a collaborative project she designed and constructed with Mark Sfirri, a turner/furniture maker.
It’s a unique work that invites the viewer to rethink the traditional role of a cabinet, Forsyth says. Rather than being defined by function, this cabinet is powered by the imagination.
Like a dollhouse of Italian Bell’Arte characters, the cabinet encourages the viewer to draw upon his or her own experiences to create personal scenarios, Forsyth says. Viewers are also invited to write down their own stories in an accompanying handmade notebook that is an integral part of the piece.
Forsyth’s work, as well as the work of several of the participating artists, was on public display in several venues in Philadelphia this past spring, including the Academy of Natural Sciences and the Franklin Institute. It will also be exhibited at the Wood Turning Center in Philadelphia through July 26 before becoming part of a three-year national tour at museums throughout the country.
--Linda Harbrecht
lmh2@lehigh.edu