how artist is leaving impressions on and off campus - menu board

SHREVEPORT, La. —
Bruce Allen needs some time to clean up his office.
A corner room at Centennial College Turner Art Center.
He has collected many memories and souvenirs since the 1980 s, and this space has become a personal museum reflecting his extensive career and Art Deco life.
"This is something I have saved from all sorts of different things over the years," Allen said . ".
"I 've been here for so long and I'm a little scared of having to clean everything up here.
". . . Many of the works in his office were obtained from students, local and international artists, as well as from his vacation trips in Paris, China and Southeast Asia.
In terms of Alan's trip and his achievements, it all returned to the Centennial University.
Allen attended the centennial event as a student between 1971 and 1975.
He received a bachelor's degree in arts and mathematics, but had long realized that science was not his career path.
"I studied chemistry in the first semester and I did a good job, but I didn't reach the level I was supposed to do.
I like art very much, so I have been doing it all the time. "Said Alan.
He found satisfaction in the art class, where he learned the skills of art history and the medium of painting, printmaking, ceramics and sculpture.
In 1976, a year after graduation, he returned to campus and worked as an intern at the Meadows Museum of Art for the first year.
Two years later, he began studying at the University of Wyoming.
Then, a year later, he traveled to Germany with a rotary scholarship, completed the project, and received a master's degree in printmaking and sculpture art in 1981.
He worked in the Western Museum of the Cheyenne border era.
This led to more than 30 years of summer contract work.
Then, in the summer of 1983, he returned to the Centennial College.
As an art instructor
Alan said: "When I was a student, I always thought, 'Man, this is the job I want. '.
"I think this is a perfect place and I like the way teachers and students (work)
The ability to co-create your own place here.
He began to teach a ceramic class.
Prior to Willard Cooper's death, he worked at school for more than 30 years and was a respected artist and art professor.
Alan advanced under the guidance of Cooper, teaching sculpture and pottery courses and teams --
Teach courses in painting, printmaking and other media.
Later, Allen became the first curator of the Meadows Museum and became the curator of the Magale Library Gallery in 1983.
Curator of the Turner Museum in 1987.
Allen's career is booming on and off
The campus of the private Works and Public Art Council.
He helped with the interior design of 25,000-square-foot Sweet!
Hollywood's candy shop, at the mall next to Dolby Theater, where the Oscars are held.
In Luis Anna, he created an original sculpture for the Bienville Parish Court in Arcadia.
The large wall pieces are made of alloy tubes and aluminum.
The design is inspired by local trees and leaves.
In shiffport, he created something bigger. than-
In the Norton square activity space in R, there are life sculptures of story books and characters, as well as art trees and decorationsW.
Norton Museum of Art
Many public art exhibitions are attributed to Alan.
Often with partner Jim Hayes.
In projects inside and outside the Central Art station, including the "flame" and other works on the Kallenberg artist tower.
They also designed the interior of the shrifport aquarium, including the lobby, the Wreck Room, the Submarine Room, the fishing village, and the bar and signage of the restaurant.
Allen designed the bar, bike rack and menu bar at Red River Brewing and assisted in the design of various functions such as bar stools at Abby Singh Bistro at Robinson Film Center. A cartoon-
John Lennon's head-style cut-out is placed on the display cabinet in his office --
Allen has worked for years as a designer for the shrifport Regional Arts Council's Christmas at the sky party. He’s a 30-
Annual member of the SRAC board of directors and board member of the Robinson Film Center.
"The reason I want to go back to shifport is because I think it's the size of a city where you can make a difference," Allen said . ".
This semester, Allen took the last formal class on the centennial celebration.
In the course of painting materials and techniques, Allen guides students to learn the ancient methods of egg tarts and color painting, for which students create paintings.
These techniques are rarely taught in the classroom, but they are useful for giving art students a solid foundation, he said.
"They have to make things themselves so that the process gives them an appreciation for the whole process of painting --
"Because, as an artist, the process has actually been being processed," he said . ".
Egg flower painting uses egg yolk as a dry color pigment for adhesive.
It was popular in medieval portraits, but before a slight revival in the 20 th century, it was overshadowed by the rise of Renaissance oil paintings.
Andrew Wyeth, known as the 20 th.
Century watercolor painter, known for his work in egg tarts.
Wax Painting is made of adhesive with hot liquid wax.
This is an ancient Greek technique that is often used in Egyptian portraits of 1st and 3rd centuries. D.
Its rebirth and 20
Century artists including Jasper John.
Complex technology hinders the teaching of many art educators.
Understanding its historical background and learning to apply them will give students respect for the process, says Allen.
"Giving students a real background on many different things is a very good idea so they can have that experience and know if they want to do it," he said . ".
"You won't know if you want to do it unless you do.
"So far, no successor has been appointed," Allen said.
He will step back and let the incoming professor go his own way at school, as he started in his 1970 s.
"When my predecessor Willard Cooper left, he didn't particularly want to come back and deal with things because he wanted to leave things to the people we have here," Allen said . ".
"I feel the same way.
I want to leave it to the people here and let them go with it.
But he won't go too far.
This spring, he will hold an art exhibition at the Meadows Museum, which will open on April 1.
It will be a review with various types of works, paintings, murals, sculptures and installations, he said.
He will recreate his office in part of the gallery to give guests an idea of his personal collection and life from.
He will continue to do private and public entrustment work in art studios a few miles from the campus.
"I don't want to stick to it. I hope I'm still here.
I 'd rather things change.
They are, "said Alan.
"It's great that people who come in will do something different than my job.
I think they can move on in their own way. ”——