08/15/2022
PRESS RELEASE:
PASSING GLORY:
A Retrospective Exhibition Featuring Works by WILLIAM ALLEN (1944-2021) -
September 2, 2022 - September 23, 2022
MILLER WHITE FINE ARTS, 708 Route 134, South Dennis, MA
Public Reception: Friday, September 2, 2022 4pm-6pm -
South Dennis, MA — Miller White Fine Arts is thrilled to announce the opening of PASSING GLORY, a comprehensive retrospective exhibition featuring works from the atelier of former MWFA artist WILLIAM ALLEN (1944-2021). This exhibition will include multiple large works from Allen’s studio, many of which have not been exhibited before, in a variety of artistic traditions, techniques and subject matter.
William G. Allen’s painting oeuvre comprised the traditions of realism in his earlier work and abstraction in later years. Of particular note, over the course of his entire career at the easel, his overarching focus lay upon the landscape. In his own words, "I’ve been influenced by abstract expressionist artists such as Cy Twombly, Anselm Kiefer, Alberto Burri, and by ancient Chinese ink drawings where the artist’s goal is to capture a subject’s spirit rather then to reproduce a likeness of appearance. I like my work to envelop my viewers, to pull them in and challenge them to bring their own experiences to the subject matter, which is often inspired by nature. My latest work (2012-2018) is a combination of painting and mixed media. Mostly, it’s a process of building a surface, then sanding and scraping most of what was originally painted, leaving an unclear image of what was once there...a ghost. This is repeated over and over until the final image emerges. I find that the results are often bold, yet meditative interpretations of my surroundings.” Indeed, the final six years of Allen’s artistic effort produced a wealth of stunning scapes in the abstract tradition that defy the boundaries of gesture and expression.
Allen’s paintings catch your attention immediately. They are large, they are dramatic, and they are masterfully done. Allen’s longtime representative, Susan Danton, states, “While Bill’s earlier scapes feature brilliant renderings of city scenes, beach and marsh, much of his last decade saw him moving beyond the constraints of a smooth canvas and traditional imagery into a world of sculptural surfaces that pay homage to the very roots of nature. Until his passing in 2021, his visual lexicon teemed with images reminiscent of the planet’s soul, ones that only those most attuned to its freedoms and barriers will recognize. These are scapes that are so purely abstract, the strongest and most enduring relationship to them is sensorial.”
Allen’s forty-plus year career in making art involved not only time at the easel but also training young art students. In truth, the man and his art were inseparable. At Brockton High School, he established an arts program that spoke to each individual student’s intelligence, ability and sheer verve. Whether the curriculum involved formal aspects of making art or investigating the infinite world of expression, Allen’s sole aim was to create the most stable foundation for those who would find themselves immersed in a life of art. On Allen’s watch, no one was left out, regardless of need. For these efforts, Allen garnered great professional recognition for his massive success as an art teacher, including being distinguished with an Art Educator's Award from Harvard University in 1996 and being honored as Massachusetts Art Educator of the Year by Massachusetts College of Art in 2004.
The most revealing recognition, however, comes from his former students:
“Mr. Allen was one of the few people in this world who I strove to impress. He could teach without words--with a glance, I knew if I was on the right track. To this day (at 34 years old), whenever I accomplish something I think, "but would Mr. Allen be proud?" The time I spent in Mr. Allen's classroom helped me set my priorities for life--curiosity, exploration, loyal friendships, and creation.” AM;
“I am currently getting my Master's in Art Education because of Mr. Allen's teaching while I was at Brockton High. He created an open and welcoming environment to not only create art but to also become compassionate adults. He talked so kindly, it never felt like he pushed us one way or another, and yet he had high expectations for us. He gave his students immense freedom to work in those two art rooms and it truly felt like we made it our own.” SM;
“Bill changed the course of my life and it’s impossible for me to overstate how much I owe him. The lessons he taught me are ones I now teach my own students, and they were big, important lessons. He gave me his technical expertise and taught me how to think about art. He was my model of kind and constructive criticism, patience, and silly banter. He taught me how meaningful and healing art could be, both for the viewer and the creator. His memory is a lantern lighting my way, now and always.” GN;
“Mr. Allen was by far the most influential teacher - and one of the most influential people - in my life. Under his wing, I grew so much as an artist, but more so as a person. I’ve proudly passed many of his lessons on to those I’ve worked with and mentored throughout my career. He helped me build a portfolio of work that gained me admission into some of the best art schools in the country. He was the spark that set off my career, which I’ve enjoyed for the past 34 years. He saw potential in me and in my classmates and he had this uncanny ability to get the best out of everyone he taught. He made all the difference in the world and for that, I’m forever grateful. Mr. Allen, you were the absolute best. Thank you for your dedication and your persistence. You never gave up on any of us, and we’re all so much better off because of you.” TP
Himself an alumnus of Brockton High School, William Allen served two tours of duty as a Marine in Vietnam following his graduation in 1962. Upon his return, he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and later a Masters degree in Art Education from the University of Massachusetts. Born and raised in Brockton, Massachusetts, he maintained studios in Boston on Broad Street and Fort Point Channel for twenty years while teaching art at his high school alma mater. Until his passing, he lived and created his extraordinary art in Falmouth on Cape Cod.
Now in its twelfth year of operation, Miller White Fine Arts has come to be known as a destination gem among galleries on the Cape. The exhibition spaces entice both intellect and aesthetic sensitivity, providing the art lover with the feeling that exciting revelations are around every corner. Director and curator Susan Danton expertly coalesces a family legacy of prestigious fine art promotion with her own creative and discerning eye, producing exhibitions of contemporary fine art that are some of the best to be found on Cape Cod.
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FOR FURTHER INFORMATION:
Susan Danton
Miller White Fine Arts
508-360-4302
[email protected]
https://www.artsy.net/miller-white-fine-arts
www.mwfagallery.com
