Adabel Allen

Artist Statement

I create art about birds to draw attention to their beauty and innocence, to honor their sacred meaning in my heart, and to bring awareness to nature and how we interact with it.  Birds have always held a special place in my heart with their simple gift of flight.  That gift has often created associations with gods and spirits.  In addition, birds symbolize peace, longevity, prosperity, union, love, faithfulness, community, and hope.

By spending time in and working from nature, I heal from my mental and physical illnesses and strengthen my spirit.  Through art, I bring consciousness to nature to help heal from that with which we have become disconnected. The nature of my art is to heal – spiritually, mentally and physically. The nature of my art is to promote a healthy environment and compassionate selves. The nature of my art is to be one with my surroundings. The nature of my art is to see.

Om namah shivaya – “ I honor the place in you where the universe resides. And when you are in that place and I am in that place, we are one.”

Biography

Date and Place of Birth: 6/9/69, Santa Monica, CA

Education:

2006: University of New Mexico: Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking, Summa Cum Laude with Honors

1987-89: Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York: Foundation Art

Additional Art Education:

Encaustic Monotype Printmaking Workshops with Paula Roland in Santa Fe, New Mexico

Etching and Advanced Etching at New Grounds Print Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Major Solo Exhibitions:

2006:  The Nature of My Art, Honors Thesis Show, Harwood Art Center, Albuquerque, NM 

2006:  The Inward Flight, The Space Between Gallery at The Source, Albuquerque, NM

2006:  Ascension, Java Joe’s, Albuquerque, NM

2005:   Impressions, Albuquerque Press Club, Albuquerque, NM

1999:  Works on Paper, Albuquerque Press Club, Albuquerque, NM

Major Group Exhibitions:

2008:Made in New Mexico, Wolverhampton College, Wolverhampton, U.K.
Made in New Mexico, Proyecto Ace, Buenos Aires, Argentina
Introducing New Members, New Grounds Print Workshop Albuquerque, NM

2007:  Originals, Harwood Museum, Taos, New Mexico (Juried by New Mexico Committee for National Museum for Women in the Arts)

2007:  Compassionate Ground, North Fourth Art Center, Albuquerque, NM

2006:  Nina Bean Memorial Art Show, New Mexico Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building, Albuquerque, New Mexico

2006:  Featured Artist at Festival of the Cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico

2005:  Festival of the Cranes, Bosque del Apache National Wildlife Refuge, San Antonio, New Mexico

2005:  Nina Bean Memorial Art Show, New Mexico Fairgrounds Fine Arts Building, Albuquerque, NM

2004:  Nina Bean Memorial Art Show, Albuquerque, NM

Major Collections:

Wolverhampton College, Wolverhampton, U.K.

Proyecto Ace, Buenos Aires, Argentina

Benedictine University, Lyle, Illinois

Tamarind Institute, Albuquerque, New Mexico

University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Library of Congress, Washington, D.C.

Awards and Grants:

Fine Arts Prize – Albuquerque Academy

Outstanding Senior Student; Department of Art & Art History (Senior Fine Arts Prize Finalist for University of New Mexico

Marva Bailey Vollmar Fine Arts Scholarship

Dean’s List – Five Occasions

Two Certificates of High Achievement – University of New Mexico Honors Department

Granted Participation by Portfolio Interview to Tamarind Institute Collaborative Printmaking Course

For Graphic Design and Illustration work:

Library of Congress selected poster for their permanent collection that Adabel Allen co-created and illustrated

Publication in three books and four magazines for recognition of graphic design and illustration work

Gallery Representation:

New Grounds Print Workshop, Albuquerque, New Mexico

Occasions by Design, Scottsdale, Arizona

Publications:

Adabel Allen, in addition to being a professional artist, musician and self-published poet has made a living (and has been recognized for her accomplishments) as a graphic designer, computer production artist and illustrator. She has been awarded and published for outstanding design, illustration and production in the following publications:

Books:

International Logos and Trademarks Three, Supon Design Group, pp. 71, 110

Fresh Ideas in Brochure Design, Alekzander, Terri. pp., 48, 64, 89

Great T-Shirt Graphics, Rockport Publishers, pp. 21, 60

Magazines:

Print, “Print’s Regional Design Annual,” 1997, p. 142

Step by Step Graphics, vol. 13, No. 2, “Design Process Annual, 1997”

Graphis, Poster Annual, 1997, p. 42

How, “The Bottomline Design Magazine, International Design Annual, “ April, 1997, pp. 77, 139