see no evil

(35 mm b/w film photos i shot,developed,printed.)

polaroid printing

these prints are created from the inside of polaroid photos. i took one picture of my left eye and then one picture of my right eye. then, i opened the polaroid and the pink print is what was inside. then, i stamped the ink onto paper to create black and white prints. 

miss america

 (the before shot)

photos inspired by cindy sherman's pageant mom project.
(35 mm b/w film photos i shot,developed,printed.)

white eyes white noise

portraits of my friend meghan in white contacts. 

(35 mm b/w film photos i shot,developed,printed.)

death and the maiden film

film documentation of my performance piece "death and the maiden"

(35 mm b/w film photos i shot,developed,printed.)

the knitted cloud

the museum of contemporary art chicago invited two artists to celebrate the ten year anniversary of their performance piece by returning to the museum to work on it. on and off for ten years, they have been knitting this massive pink piece which beautifully illustrates their relationship with one another. i had the honor of sitting and talking with them both with some friends for about an hour about their work, relationship, and discuss the journeys of life and death. while i sat and spoke to them i began to take their portraits. these are my favorites.

(35 mm b/w film photos i shot,developed,printed.)

parsons collection summer 2013

i posted photos of my constructed garment from my summer intensive at parsons, but i never got around to posting the designs for the whole collection. the collection was inspired by a group of teenagers i met who were homeless by choice. i wanted to focus on the utilitarian aspects of homelessness and the importance of dressing for survival. the fall collection integrated athletic fabrics, furs, backpacks, harnesses and pockets. there are ten looks in total.

garage band

this is a mixed media piece i made this summer using oil paint, metallic streamers, a blonde wig and christmas lights. i used two canvases to create one three-dimensional canvas

on the surface

On the Surface from Colleen Allen on Vimeo.

visuals created for a dj set by tara shanahan for an event called "on the surface" (quality substantially lowered in order to upload) songs: about you by xxyyxx, massage situation by flying lotus, defeated no more by disclosure 
thank you to tara shanahan for filming the project

ethos, pathos, logo

my personal logo i designed this fall (used for business cards, ect.)

tarot

six graphic design interpretations of tarot cards
(sun, high priestess, death, star, the lovers, moon)

RESIST THE WHIMS OF FASHION AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME vol. 2

The first stitch. 

We are all at fortunes beck. 

on the end of a string. 

As if the cosmos are waiting 

for our commands. 

Frozen evenings and the Empress.

Homely thin girl

with sins festered. 

Speaking to the trees, 

aware of every shadow. 

She gives away what belongs to strangers. 

Her power to haunt

drains life,

sufficient to wring her out. 

He’s all eyes. 

Staring at the coves and inlets 

of her sullen mind.

She loves him for his obedient glance. 

He rambles into her grooves

full of machinery. 

Venus fills the request of Mars. 

She must wait until fairer more powerful ones 

may take their place. 

Or until the wiser more practiced,

can break the spell.

Rest is lost. 

The drink brings hauntings. 

Sorrow has returned

separated into layers of different densities and thicknesses. 

Sacred beast.

I do not fear you. 

We desire to escape 

from the this world, 

seeking truth 

for ourselves. 

I don’t know 

whether you is, what you is, what sort you is.

You don’t know nothing.

(monthly zine vol. 2. all poetry by me)

RESIST THE WHIMS OF FASHION AND THE PASSAGE OF TIME vol. 1

my new monthly zine. vol. 1