September 1998, Forum Gallery, Cranbrook Art Museum
Porcelains, aluminum foil, thread
In this project with fellow graduate student Andy Roth, Allison covered the gallery’s floor with tiny white porcelain elements, many of which resembled dwellings or other evidence of civilizations. Andy made cinematically inspired monsters and UFOs of aluminum foil (themselves extremely fragile) descending onto the vulnerable and barely barely visible civilizations. The monsters and porcelain elements were arranged so that visitors were not sure where they were supposed to step through the installation. Some reported they were tempted to stomp on the tiny objects, while others were intimidated and fearful of damaging them. Still others wanted to sit down and play with them.