"Michelle Wilson sat patiently in the first row of Judge Karen Schulz's courtroom on a recent Thursday afternoon. On Wilson's lap lay a large, green Strathmore sketchbook, down to its last few pages. By her side were graphite pencils of various widths. Wilson has been attending the immigration court at 100 Montgomery St. since August. She attends both the juvenile and adult dockets -"
"typically about two hours - drawing the scene in front of her. On this Thursday, Judge Karen Schulz walked into the packed courtroom wearing her usual black robe, sat down, and swiveled between her computer screen, the respondent and the interpreter. Wilson began sketching. She drew Schulz and the court's Spanish-language interpreter. She began to draw the girl whose case was before the court,"
"who appeared to be about 6. The Latina girl, accompanied by a young attorney, wore her black hair short with bangs. She had on plaid pajama bottoms and a sweater with a heart. Schulz handed the interpreter a bag of toys to keep her occupied during the hearing. The interpreter passed them on to the girl. On a light brown sheet of paper, Wilson sketched the faces"
Michelle Wilson attends immigration court hearings at 100 Montgomery St., sketching both juvenile and adult dockets for about two hours per session. She works from a large Strathmore sketchbook and graphite pencils, recording judges, interpreters, attorneys, DHS lawyers, and respondents. She intentionally leaves vulnerable respondents, especially children, as silhouettes to avoid revealing identifying features while labeling other figures in the drawings. She notes a tension between preserving detail and protecting privacy. She shares the drawings with captions to more than 3,400 Instagram followers and captures visual details such as a Department of Justice seal and toys given to a young girl.
Read at Mission Local
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