Draft:Alvin Lee Allen, Jr.

Al Allen
Born	Alvin Lee Allen Jr. November 29, 1925 Steele, Missouri, U.S.
Died	February 14, 2008 (aged 82) Kansas City, Missouri, U.S.
Nationality	American
Known for	Painting, teaching
Movement	Abstract expressionism, classical realism, abstract realism

Al Allen (November 29, 1925 – February 14, 2008) was an American painter known for his contributions to Arkansas culture through his artwork, teaching, the development of the Department of Art at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock (UALR), and his two autobiographical books. Allen's mature work featured idealized man-made structures, often depicted with windows and bathed in bright light. His style combined elements of realism and classical abstraction, creating a unique visual experience.

Early life and education

Alvin Lee Allen Jr. was born on November 29, 1925, in Steele, Missouri, to Carrie and Alvin Lee Allen. Raised in Memphis, Tennessee, Allen developed an early interest in art. After graduating from Central High School in 1944, he served in the navy during World War II, utilizing his artistic skills in the top-secret Terrain Model Workshop. His work involved creating three-dimensional models of Pacific islands based on aerial photographs for strategic planning. In 1945, Allen married Juanita Jowers, and they had one child named Eric Thomas.

Allen enrolled at Louisiana State University (LSU) in 1946, where he studied under notable artists O. Louis Guglielmi and Ralston Crawford. Crawford, an influential figure in American art, continued the Precisionist style associated with his teacher Charles Sheeler. Allen completed his undergraduate studies in 1950 and returned to Memphis to teach at Treadwell High School. While teaching, he pursued a Master of Arts degree at LSU, which he obtained in 1954. The following year, Allen joined the faculty of Union University in Jackson, Tennessee. During his tenure there, he received a grant from the Danforth Foundation, allowing him to study at Stanford University, the University of Minnesota, the University of Arizona, and the University of Colorado.

Artistic career

In the decade following his studies at LSU, Allen produced paintings in the abstract expressionist style. However, inspired by the writings of Albert Schweitzer and others, he embarked on a search for a form of expression with universal appeal. Traveling through the rural mid-South, Allen captured moments of enhanced visual interest with his camera, such as unique light patterns or shapes. Back in his studio, he refined and transformed these moments into paintings that incorporated a sense of mystery. For example, his painting Hayloft: Recollection (1970) incorporated painted parts and salvaged materials from old buildings, evoking the activities and work associated with rural barns and dwellings. Other works from this period depicted the rural Southern experience, including Barn: Inside-Outside (1968) and Aunt Sally's House (1969).

Allen's philosophical beliefs about art's ability to enrich the human spirit informed his role as an art teacher. He believed strongly in the power of art to inspire and elevate individuals. Throughout his career, he created works that conveyed a sense of balance between realism and sophisticated abstraction. His subjects often featured elements such as porch posts, shingles, siding, and windows. One notable painting, Morning Musing (1984), depicted three tall windows with eight panes each, divided by a strong diagonal light. The closed curtains behind the windows added an air of mystery and the unknown, while the familiar scene and the painting's size allowed viewers to connect with it on a human scale. Allen's works were based on reality but simplified forms, lack of textural details, and classically balanced compositions, making them highly sophisticated.

Contributions to education

In 1968, when Little Rock University was preparing to expand and join the University of Arkansas system, becoming UALR, Allen was invited to chair and develop the art department. In addition to teaching painting and other studio subjects, he championed art appreciation classes for non-majors. Under his leadership, the department grew to include full-time faculty members with expertise in various studio areas, art history, and art education. While Allen stepped down from his chair position in 1978, he continued to teach until his retirement in 1992. In recognition of his contributions, he was granted the title of Professor and University Artist-in-Residence in 1985.

Legacy and recognition

Allen received several awards during his career, including the Brooks Memorial Purchase Award for Winter Waiting in 1973 and the Purchase Award at the Mid-American National Exhibition in 1980. His works were featured in exhibitions such as "Ten Mid-American Artists" organized by the Mid-America Arts Alliance in 1981 and the dedicatory exhibition for the grand opening of the Tarble Art Center in Charleston, Illinois in 1982. He also received the Grand Award of the Delta Art Exhibition at the Arkansas Arts Center for Morning Musing in 1984. In 1990, a retrospective exhibition of Allen's works was held at UALR.

Allen's storytelling abilities were well-regarded by his friends and students. In 1991, he published his first book, Roads that Seldom Curve: Growing up along the Mississippi, which featured a collection of stories about his upbringing in the Missouri Bootheel and Memphis, as well as other early experiences. The book's success led to a second publication, Zinnias Grow on Either Side of the River, in 1995.

Al Allen's paintings can be found in numerous collections, including museums, colleges and universities, and private collections. Institutions such as the Arkansas Museum of Fine Arts, Brooks Museum in Memphis, High Museum in Atlanta, and Joslyn Art Museum in Omaha house his works. UA Little Rock holds several pieces in its permanent collection, with many others on loan from the artist. Allen's artwork was displayed in the offices of former U.S. Senators Dale Bumpers and David Pryor in Washington, D.C., and two of his works were exhibited in the White House during Bill Clinton's presidency.

Al Allen died on February 14, 2008, in Kansas City, Missouri, at the age of 82. He was cremated, leaving behind a lasting legacy of artistic contributions to Arkansas culture and a passion for teaching and storytelling.