Artwork copyright Vivian Torrence. Photo courtesy of Washington State Arts Commission, 2017.

Artwork copyright Vivian Torrence. Photo courtesy of the artist.

Forgotten Factor, 1986

Vivian Torrence
American (born 1945)

Location: West Hills Elementary, Bremerton

About the Artwork

Forgotten Factor is a print by artist Vivian Torrence. This piece celebrates Halley's Comet, visible from earth in early 1986. She notes, "I have personified the comet as a woman with long, 'glowing' hair (the origin of comet [in Greek] the word Kometes means long-haired). She spreads her inspirational light through our sky on her journey through the galaxy. She desires not to be a Forgotten Factor by the mathematician preoccupied by his calculations and predictions. Chaos and order are both factors." Master printer Barbara Telleen printed this lithograph at the Iowa State University Print shop.

This artwork was acquired for the State Art Collection in partnership with Bremerton School District.

About the Artist

North Carolina-based artist Vivian Torrence creates paintings, drawings, collages, and prints. Born in Chicago Heights, Illinois, she received a Bachelor of Science degree from Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. She received a Master of Fine Arts degree from Drake University in Des Moines, Iowa.