Miren Allen

I was homeschooled on a hobby farm in Southwest Michigan. My parents were responsible for teaching me the core curriculum (English, Math, Science, etc.), but my most memorable and cherished education came from unexpected teachers –the multitude of animals that surrounded me. Moments like finding a dead bird, catching frogs in the pond and burying my favorite cat taught me about life, empathy, death and grief. As a kid, everything appeared to be larger than life so, naturally, it felt appropriate to create these animal sculptures on a grand scale. The only exception to that rule is the cat. When she died, she looked so small resting atop her favorite blanket in the wooden box. While working on this exhibition, each layer of properly-placed cardboard gave me the opportunity to remember, honor and say “Goodbye,” to the creatures that taught me so much. The creative process also became a meditation on childhood memory and loss. As each form took shape, I became emotional as I reflected on what I learned: Wolf claws aren’t so sharp, Asian lady beetles bite, and a cat’s fur is still soft and sweet after she dies.

Miren Allen  ‘26