In Paperbacks, each of the stacked books is unique even though we’re only shown the end view of their pages. To take simple objects like books, paper bags, or boxes, and give each of them authority is remarkable. This speaks for the care and attention Allen gives to the work. Her powers of observation are clear and steady.
Boxes, towers of boxes. Still lifes of boxes. Empty boxes, laid open, almost vulnerable. The painting The Spaces Within shows four boxes nestled against one another as if for security, as the empty spaces inside the boxes are wide open and available. It’s not as if the objects are animated. It’s more of a suggestion, a nudge, hinting at interpretation. The colors are creamy; the brushstrokes evident. Each box has its own individual shadow, holding its own light.