Collaborate and Embody.
These performative interdisciplinary pieces were often done in collaboration with other artists. However, the first 7 images are photos from a performative series call “Sacred Spaces” in which Alison installed tarps into environments and painted in response to her surroundings. Two of these paintings were displayed in a church in collaboration with artist Corinne Peterson of the Cairn Project and a dance performance was inspired by the space their art created. Another tarp was displayed in tandem in an installation with a book Alison took around Chicago asking strangers to record their responses to what they considered a prayer, what they considered divine, and when they felt connected to something greater or larger than themselves. These responses were then recorded and played in the booth installation.
Alison explores different forms of performance, and is always looking to collaborate with other artists and spaces.
Images 8-10 depicts a collaboration between Alison and Moki Tantoco titled “Circling Affections” which was done through Woman Made Gallery in 2016 in the show “One in Herself”. In this piece, the artists used cleansing practices such as washing hands, feet, making face masks, and braiding each other’s hair which was then cut off and displayed as residue in the space to touch on topics of intimacy, community, and the things that contribute to who we become. After the performance viewers were asked to sit in the space and reflect in writing about their most intimate memory.
Image 11 depicts “Intimate Encounters” which was a piece that done in collaboration with Abena Motaboli and executed on the shoreline of Lake Michigan as the sun was rising. Gesso, water from the lake, sand from the shore, coffee and other natural materials were used to create the painting. Beginning with eye contact, a dance was choreographed between the two artists using the materials at hand, communicating through only body movements and gestures. Alison collaborated again with Abena in a performance piece that is depicted in image 12 where they explored the marks we leave on each person we come into contact with through body painting. Crowd participation was encouraged.
“Imprint” (image 13) was a project Alison installed at a festival in which people picked a partner at random, choosing a different primary color to print their hands with, taking note of the new colors made in the spaces their prints overlapped. They then wrote something they’ve always wanted to tell someone but felt as if they couldn't on each copy of the print. Each person took a copy of the print home with them.
Alison has also explored choreographed performances using primary colors to document her movements across the page. Image 14-15 was a demonstration of the unification of mind, body, and spirit through the primary colors chosen, paint, and medium of dance. While image 16/19 depicts the disintegration of a painting over time in which Alison explored concepts of impermanence. Alison has also done various other performative painting pieces with her hands and primary colored paint or brushes and primarily black and white gesso more similar to the sacred space tarp paintings. More colors may be used and attendees may also participate in and engage with the paintings. These creations may be prepared and used as a gift after the event as a memento of the experience and community the participants are a part of. (Refer to last image for example of cut tarp).