Farewell!
artist book, limited edition
The publication of Farewell! marks the 10-year anniversary of the stock market crash that began the Great Recession. In an instant, many experienced an unprecedented loss of wealth, home, and security, but the subsequent contraction of the economy, opportunity, and jobs endured for years to come.
Presented in chronological order, these printed screenshots are a selection of ‘goodbye’ emails collected from former employees of a single New York-based company from 2009 – 2011. Goodbye emails are often an employee’s last chance to share private contact information with coworkers and to reflect on their time at the company. Some of these employees left of their own accord, some were laid off, and some were fired. While many emails project a demeanor of professionalism, others are more unabashed and frank with their sentiments.
Today some of the economic loss has since been recovered, but many lives remain forever changed. These emails document the intimate, lived experience of this financial and personal crisis.