Abbi Allan's Latest Work

My show at Gallery 801 - Oct, 2011 - Jan 2012

2012-02-08T22:53:00.006-06:00

I think this was a big breakthrough exhibition for me.
Thank you Jan Elftman for this opportunity

art show at the Phipps

2012-02-08T21:31:00.000-06:00

I've been looking forward to having a show at the Phipps since I was little! So here it is:

and here's my show!

who hoo! Best of 2011

2012-01-28T17:35:00.001-06:00

thank you Ima B. Musing Musings

http://www.imabmusing.blogspot.com/2012/01/summary-of-2011-art-crawls-fairs.html

SUMMARY OF 2011 ART CRAWLS & FAIRS

"After viewing the fabulous work of hundreds of talented artists I have selected a few to highlight. Several “Ima Best” awarded artists will be interviewed in a series of articles entitled, “Artist Illumination.” Alison Price was featured on January 9th and look for more in the future. The artists listed represent perhaps one percent of the imaginative folks that I surveyed at three crawls and two fairs in the Twin Cities area during 2011. Amalgamated directory alphabetized by artist. All are wonderfully creative so please contact for details regarding their current work for sale and commissions. Let the artist know that you read about them in this blog. Suggestions to improve art crawls posted on December 5th, 2011.IMA BEST OF SHOW:* Abbi A. Allan paints dreamy images of goldfish and sculpts frilly ceramic bowls that mimic the flowing tails of the fish www.abbiaallan.com * Tom Ashworth specializes in humorous black walnut characters from an alternate universe with a surprising mix of attachments tomashworthart@q.com He will have a booth at the 2012 Powderhorn Art Fair.* Katherine Clayton makes unique cement basins, printed floorcloth rugs, stunning kelpie horse paintings, clothing, and grows plants www.etsy.com/shop/GriffinDesign* Alison Price’s paintings explode off the wall. They are neon bright with swooping movements www.alisonpricestudios.com* Diane Simon specializes in big bold paintings and brassy accessories 651-235-4200 "Support Independent Artists!© 2012 Ima B. Musing

"A Rare and a Copacetic gift....."

2012-01-14T23:06:00.000-06:00

" I Can't Wait To Get Off Work"

/ Tom Waits

Tom Waits
I Can't Wait To Get Off Work

I don't mind working, 'cause I used to be jerking off most of my time in bars,
I've been a cabbie and a stock clerk and a soda-fountain jock-jerk
And a manic mechanic on cars.
It's nice work if you can get it, now who the hell said it?
I got money to spend on my gal,
But the work never stops, and I'll be busting my chops
Working for Joe and Sal.
And I can't wait to get off work and see my baby,
She said she'd leave the porch light on for me.
I'm disheveled and I'm disdainful and I'm distracted and it's painful,
But this job sweeping up here is gainfully employing me tonight.
Well "Tom, do this" and "Tom, do that", and "Tom, don't do that",
Count the cash, clean the oven, dump the trash,
Oh your loving is a rare and a copacetic gift,
And I'm a moonlight watch manic, it's hard to be romantic
Sweeping up over by the cigarette machine,
Sweeping up over by the cigarette machine...
I can't wait to get off work and see my baby
She'll be waiting up with a magazine for me.
Clean the bathrooms and clean 'em good, oh your loving I wish you would
Come down here and sweep a-me off my feet, this broom'll have to be my baby,
If I hurry, I just might get off before the dawn's early light.

what i'm really good at is rabble rousing

2011-12-29T01:38:00.000-06:00

It's come to me that the only thing I'm really good at is getting people whipped up about things they thought they didn't care about, or perhaps don't even need to care about.

this leaves me being good at one of the following:

1. Politics
2. Religion
3. Education.

For many reasons we can be thankful that I chose #3 - but the real reason i did was because I wanted the job where I could say "I don't know, what do you think?, lets figure this out together"

and that is why it really is the best job for me.

night night
A

studio clearance

2011-12-22T10:20:00.000-06:00

I broke myself during grading

2011-12-22T01:09:00.000-06:00

thank you for everyone's advice. I got myself a fancy little arm brace, and as you can see by my eyeliner, i slept with it on *well napped.. good call. still hurts but I see why now..

I'm going to draw at the MONSTER DRAWING RALLEY

2011-12-10T20:52:00.002-06:00

bad art day

2011-11-07T22:54:00.002-06:00

i;m trying to draw a beta fish.... and it's not good.... not good at all. looks like a picture of bat man's naughty bits. fail fail fail... or the best drawing EVER.... humm and then I wonder why i'll never win the Jerome. What artist will never "emerge" this one!

LOVED the Health and Wellness event i went to.... i just didn't fit the look... again

2011-11-06T01:41:00.002-05:00

I have now learned why other people enjoy being a girl.... and i must learn to join them in this action. I really want all these things I thought were sort of funny..... these people look WAY BETTER than me!!! and I must learn to sew mittens because that's what people like.... Mittens! Mittens over sculpture super yes for sure. they do they do.

in the future....... i must sleep..... theoretically

Abbi A. Allan

finished the "health and wellness" art show.... clearly not meant for the overworked... so i've ordered for a massage tomorrow so i can get giddy with grading because I saw women in their 70's looking younger than me, and who aren't still back at work with a pen in their mouth at this hour. ie. the next few days... i'll be working.

Jerry Ingeman, Patti Walsh and Neza S.G. like this.
- Dan Maki buck up there, kiddo!!
  57 minutes ago · · 1
- Dan Maki listen to this http://kexp.org/Default.aspx
  
  KEXP 90.3 FM - where the music matters
  www.kexp.org
  Whether you're in the mood for local indie rock from Seapony, blazing blues-rock...See More
  
  57 minutes ago · · 1 ·
- Dan Maki it's seattle's version of your radio show called sonic reducer
  56 minutes ago ·
- Abbi A. Allan SWEETTT you're a doll Thank you. I'm just so super tired and so much to do. if I live to be 500, life was too short, if it ends tomorrow, it still is great. still - an extra few undocumented rotations around the axis or sun would really give me a chance to catch up. not just an hour
  19 minutes ago · · 1
- Abbi A. Allan is it just a show or a WHOLE STATION????????????????????
  19 minutes ago ·
- Dan Maki saturday night baaaaaybeee!!! one show.
  18 minutes ago ·
- Patti Walsh U are a model of health & wellness I must say!!!
  15 minutes ago · · 1
- Steve Ertel you are the coolest, Abbi!
  15 minutes ago · · 1
- Abbi A. Allan all i can think as of all the ladies in the room - I;d be the youngest and the one people had this "WHOA... ummm... you're not selling mittens?"... i did not sell mittens. this was the time to sell mittens, although, this fantastic woman was selling this amazing tea..... and she gave me some samples and i know you're to drink it an all...... but I just want to smell the little baggie it came in.. soooooo good. i got breakfast, fed an amazing lunch, a massage, a cool "heating magic bed" to rest on that is charged with "nagative ions" and so i said "you mean salt?" and they said, no electricity... which was cool, but made my left ovary pulse, and it freaked me out so i like got off the thing..... but seriously.. i got 3 hours of sleep, and then saw how the other women lived.... so i hit up one of my dude friends for his massage therapist's name and i'm going to see how the pretty people do this thing.... that or do like one does in all "it's time for awesome"..... sleep through it.
  3 minutes ago ·
- Abbi A. Allan that and oh yeah, no one wants to buy stuff at a health and wellness event when you look a little sleepless and spooky. :) next time........... I'm going to work the insominac event
  3 minutes ago ·
- Abbi A. Allan yeah...... and I wish i had mittens or negatively charged ions that rocked people's world...... if only my art made people's left ovary pulse they'd be all "we're buying your art" and i'd smile all swavely like the magical massage people and go "yeah... yeah you will" and they'd throw their money at me and i'd be sleeping in a pile of money... and then pay my student loan... just like that.
  
  Now here's a bunch of other time's I've worked hard, few fruits of my labor have come through, and I felt like showing facebook how ugly I am because that's worth documenting....
  
  what's outstanding..... future job searches.. you will google me, and find these fantastic images... in which there is no avoiding it... i make these faces, and there are days - I will be this tired and no... i just can't hide it

MORE TIME PLEASE

2011-10-30T21:38:00.000-05:00

please universe. I need a little more time please. please. make me naturally rejuvinate, not sleep, work faster, smarter, and oh oh, I really need some exercise. this is not a wish to loose my job, become a fugitive, or a death wish... i just really really would love to freeze time and get a little work done. that's all. small wish universe. small wish
.

And what the hell is that red mark on my cheek? Been there for weeks. so weird. nervous it's getting better. I'm getting deformed.. i just know it. more than i am

Aunt Barb's flowers

2011-10-22T02:25:00.000-05:00

out of focus pix of my art opening @801 gallery

2011-10-17T12:21:00.000-05:00

me and my dirty sneakers

2011-10-14T02:11:00.000-05:00

voice mail is full because it's been a super stupid busy week

2011-09-03T02:07:00.000-05:00

My voice mail is full -because it's been a really busy week - worry not. I also have 421 e-mails to open. BUSY - very busy

I've not been able to sleep for 2 nights now via this project that decided that I will not sleep until the action plan is at hand

I am working
not dead
not grooming either - as you can tell

This is why I have social media. so people can worry not

No one is being ignored

i'm just neck deep in 1st weeks of the semester - syllabuses (*one more x2) - and this project.....

xoxoxo

I will join humanity and my voice mail later.

it just needs more room

-Abbi

bored kids? try paper dolls

2011-08-19T20:43:00.000-05:00

http://kiddley.com/2006/06/09/making-paper-doll-chains/

Dear parent figures. It is August - is your child is nerping out? Isn't this a good time to teach them how to make paper dolls - but make them all different... or paper cars, or fish, or what ever they like that you can sillouette & that has a LOT of variation. Your welcome - your summer time prof.

Highland art fest - I was recommended!!!

2011-08-05T21:26:00.000-05:00

http://imabmusing.blogspot.com/2011/08/des-artistes-le-highland.html

super flattered from the siting

"* Abbi A. Allan paints dreamy images of goldfish and sculpts frilly ceramic bowls that mimic the flowing tails of the fish. www.abbiaallan.com.......
I shy away from mass-produced pieces. Some of the artists (not listed here) had items that looked like they were made in a factory. Good for uniformity but I kinda like the variety of flaws within individual pieces of artwork. "

Ima B. Musing Musings

teachin' w/the power out and the thunder on the rise

2011-08-01T22:23:00.000-05:00

Today - us Camp Currie folk, education staff, Counselors, Chief counselor - they all did my best test of what a good educator can do - teach with the power off - not planned, but on the fly. My fellow comrads in education - they were so amazing, and totally distracted 6 year olds from tornado weather = AWESOME

Also - nerds arise - and watch "Monsters vs Aliens"

on Hawking's Chair - you will love it

yes yes - I'm certain that was meant to be there = Citizen Cafe is my new favorite place!

2011-07-30T00:23:00.001-05:00

WIt was a long LONG - difficult week

new class, projects - from 8am - 5:30 + all performance based, and dancing under the flying bullets of young, smart, and "I'm DONNNNNEEE" minds.

sSo............. if there is something that is stuck to me that I am un aware of - what ever....... I meant to do that. yes.... um...... yes, i like it there.

Sooooooo - the Citizen CAFE = THE BEST!!!
http://www.thecitizencafe.com/

The best Portabella mushroom sandwich and chips in the world.
Great pre-sa-tizers
and the price is too good to be true

But what I really want to send my LOVE out to is - the service!

so When Ben and I decided to go out - turns out our waitress use to be a camp councilor - and I use to have to be a waitress - wait wait - no, not as cool as that. I learned that working the down town lunch hour for the Legal and Government people was worse than being a "lunch lady". There were no tips. pennies shuffled out of fists like a tight accidental shit when the opposite of "broken heart-ed" occurs.

So when we sat down, and the waitress goes = "Oh, is that part of your uniform?"
me - thinking - handprint on my butt? smudge? someone's name? a glob of paint, clay?..... boogers, pink eye..????

"I'm certain what ever it is, yes"

"a beetle?"

"I was teaching Egypt camp - let me tell you about Scarabs - i.e. - the dung beetle"

at that point, the little girl behind me turns around, and jumps out of her chair into her father's arms

"what to - right away - what ever is cheap please - I can''t do anything - so cheap - oho ooh -Malbec I love that!"

"i.d.?"

Ben gets out his, I'm seeking mine.... girl is pointing............
I hand her my I-D- thanking her.

at this point she realizes the June Bug on my back is not art - but a stowaway.

MyID = Insect get the fuck off her.

and now is a friend of he Citizen Cafe

Now - Why are they the BEST??

#1) THE FOOD
#2) THE QUALITY AND PRICE
#3) - They did not blame me or make me feel bad about the critter crawled on me
#4) even better - the waitress TOTALLY understood that kind of tired where you figure "if it's on my body, a child put it there, and they just want to be cared about - care of you - and will die for anything to know you care back. Hence why - never EVER hurt a child.

#5 ) -extra pour for the day I had and the mutal understanding

#6) - she's willing to give up Friday night tips because her kids are in sports / after school whatever now.

that takes soul

so Citizen CAfe - I LOVE YOU

"all this work, you don't get paid for this? You are being disresepected" - Then PAY YOUR TAXES!!!!!!

2011-07-27T01:25:00.000-05:00

The #1 complaint I hear from friends and loved ones

"SOOOOOOoooooooo - do you get COMPENSATED / PAID for this work?"

No we don't. This is part of the job

This is what we do with all that "time left in the day"

this is what we SHOULD be doing with PAID summers off

This is what we should be paid for

but education can't afford to pay us for - because people think we need to be "tested ourselves" if the kids are being tested. We are over paid. that schools "NEVER HAVE ENOUGH MONEY!"

Really Jesse Ventura????

TO ALL OF YOU WHO ASK ME IF I AM BEING PAID FOR THIS

That think i won't be respected until I prance into an office and demand more money?

Have you EVER TAUGHT before? SERIOUSLY. no one watching - except when they come in because the class volume is at 11?

Have you ever had the thought? - what do i expect my kid to leave this class with knowing?

and have you ever been a teacher knowing that most of a 3 - 5 hour class will be distilled into 2 -3 sentences to parents at the end of the day - on your best CLASS?

Have you ever been in a job where being a "minority" (woman) makes you less hire ready because there are too many of you (*thus said minority) in the business?

and the areas where who and what you are naturally LENDS to making you better at the business pays 1/10th of what the big paying jobs are?

LEMME MAKE THIS CLEAR TO YOU

#1 - I LOVE MY JOB

#2 - IT'S BIGGER THAN A "JOB"

#3) I IMPACT MORE PEOPLE IN A BIGGER WAY EVERYDAY THAN MOST PEOPLE DO IN A LIFE TIME

#4 - WHEN I FAIL - NO ONE FORGETS IT

#5 - WHEN I AM 200% AMAZING, I MIGHT BE A THANK YOU NOTE

#6 - Can you count your favorite teachers on one hand, if so, you are lucky, 2 you are SUPER LUCKY, not one, than that's heartbreaking.

we may not remember your names - given we have a 20 to 1 ratio, but your faces, we don't forget

and we NEVER stop caring.

so no - there isn't a dollar amount you can give me that is what I am worth.

But I know what I do is worth more than I am

may you be as lucky to have a job like this

IF YOU REALLY CARE ABOUT THIS - Seriously???

1) write your Senator, Congress person, House member

2) Run for School board

3) donate your time & Money

4) Offer to help teach your child at home & ask them about their day. they LOVE to share what they have learned.

MOST IMPORTANTLY -

Vote

Vote for taxes.

that's what you are paying for

because right now - No, I'm up working on models because - no, I won't be paid for this, but I WILL PAY for it if it doesn't go right.

How much does your job ask of you?

I will make your children Pharaohs!

2011-07-27T00:12:00.001-05:00

This doesn't look like much - but with this - I will make Pharaoh mask for your child that will be worth a halloween's worth at least. Here's to hope!

I just have a feeling that the students doing plaster masks of themselves..... nope - I just don't see that going well with the way I orchestrate a room. I'm thinking worst case conditions - how can i prevent disaster?

I think this, some glitter glue and a pair of sticks - how cute???

Never done this before. Here's to hoping.

students make you think twice - my HUGE nose!

2011-07-26T00:49:00.000-05:00

today i was teaching about Ancient Egypt - and about how both Men and Women wore make eye - eye make up in particular. We talked about the science of light deflection / and being absorbed in dark pigment....
and then I mentioned.... "oh yes, and it makes your eyes pop - the window to the soul" to bring you to the gods - connect to the gods. I wore eye liner today - to bring attention to your my eyes, was that one of the first things that you noticed?"

"NOOOOOOO!!!!"

"o.k. - most people then notice my earrings...."

"NOOO!"

"what did you notice?" I ask

"you're HUGE NOSE!"

most people would be offended... most people would think and worry, most people ..... well, honestly,i have no idea what most people would do. but my first thought was "wow, that is the smallest feature of myself, the one most ignorable. My God! this kid is a social genius!.. totally able to find the part of one self one worries about least, and make it a worry.... this is like a super power - cool".

my outward response was one who has worked this job too long.
"yup - what's wrong with that? people see what interest them."

walking away i think
"whoa.... brilliant. terrible dangerous - brilliant"

and I have more work to do. My spider sense tell me this is going to be one heck of a week. this was just a monday

HIghland Art Fest - was hot as hell

2011-07-18T00:30:00.000-05:00

That was the most pain I've ever experienced because of heat and humidity ever.

but the show went alright.. I think? lets see what happens with call backs

in response to a snooty article " in last order - be a teacher"

2011-07-17T03:01:00.000-05:00

Teach - if you really love it. #1) 150% want others to succeed better than you and be willing to give 200% to seeing that happen even if you want an equal chance. Happ-I-ness is when you find yourself giving 500% without even thinking about it :) - serious - but to the SMUG ending to that article - everything is true - except for teaching. Teaching is what you do when you can do everything that is asked, reality anti- asked of you - and then something in you said " wait - I want other people after me who had the energy I did - to do the most with it ....do so: - that's why you teach.

after the first few paragraphs - cute

but the last sentence.... what didn't but maybe - the last paragraph?????? really ate at me

"Start looking in to Masters of Wizarding Arts programs. Apply with money you borrow from your parents. Decide to attend the prestigious, overpriced school in London over the perfectly reasonable but less impressive school in Hogsmeade. Repeatedly tell yourself that the connections and networking are worth the loans. Float between concentrations before finally settling on Muggle Studies. Stay in your program as long as you can, buying yourself time to do what it is you love. And if you can’t live off your magic alone, well, there’s always Plan B. The MWA is a terminal degree. You can always teach. " http://thoughtcatalog.com/2011/how-to-be-a-hogwarts-graduate-during-a-recession/

TEACHING IS NOT A BACK UP PLAN!!!!!!!

teaching is doing what you do when you know the future is more important than you as an individual can be.

EVERYONE SHOULD BE A TEACHER!!!!
that's all

i still have work to do

but I saw this but even one week break from the job and I see myself knowing how important my jon is

SHOW YOUR LOVE

2011-07-14T01:01:00.002-05:00

DAMNIT - THIS IS FANTASIC!!!!!!!!!!!

SHOW YOUR LOVE

GO USA WOMEN'S SOCCER!!!

touch of a deity

2011-07-14T00:55:00.000-05:00

ahhhh see - the wrathful spaghetti monster - marks it''s people in it's own way

zits
big puffy bags under their eyes,
a gaining gut
worry lines
natural failure in social situations

this is the mark of the do-er
the try-er

the one that knows she will not make it on her looks or social skills ever.

oh well. 18 Irises
small canvases prepped
glazing in the works - probably another feature length film and another glass of wine repeatedly swabbed for fruit flies. I'm making another meal of crutons knowing this does not count as a salad

back to work

soundtrack to my night - Kid Cudi

up late working - pondering the Patron Saints.....

2011-07-13T05:04:00.000-05:00

the Catholic Church invents Saints to take care of the likes of me.......
that's what I'm thinking tonight in the likes of St. Henry.....

"the patron saint of the childless, of Dukes, of the handicapped and those rejected by Religious Order" - odd. so, i looked this up - there doesn't seem to be a reason. I hope it's more than the "catch all saint" - Reference: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=124

St. Henry offends me at the moment - but maybe just a few moments of sleep and turning off Tom Waits for the moment will aid in this.

before I do - photos from the radio station while I get a drawing done

thinking about teaching

2011-07-08T00:47:00.000-05:00

so - in all seriousness - I was 100% certain I'd never make it past 25.
every day since has been a serious - well 1/2 self shaking, another part, not believing, a bit let down, a bit of a lot of things - but very little makes me certain i am this lucky to be alive, with the support and kindness, and resources that I have. it's mind blowing.

so - I think - wow, had i put everthing I am into art, i'd be famous... or radio.. but most of it has gone to teaching

it pay's little
no one remembers your name

and I'm the pinch hitter of the after school programs and adjunct instructing...

still -

living on nickels. I can't tell you anything else I do in my life that matters as much.
what I do is important.

if we got paid for importance and impact in people's life.. it would be me and the garbage people!

so just saying.

next time someone says their like their day

thank your workers.
we do what needs to be done, and we are the BEST at it! we wouldn't do it for the money, or respect..... we believe in this.
say thank you

best
A

words of wisdom

2011-06-30T20:20:00.002-05:00

Thomas Hazelmyer "Working is life. none of the folks creating anything worth a fuck that I've seen in this life are lazy. workaholics that love their job/art/creating. That is living."

Abbi Allan's Latest Work

My show at Gallery 801 - Oct, 2011 - Jan 2012

art show at the Phipps

who hoo! Best of 2011

SUMMARY OF 2011 ART CRAWLS & FAIRS

"A Rare and a Copacetic gift....."

" I Can't Wait To Get Off Work"

/ Tom WaitsTom WaitsI Can't Wait To Get Off Work

what i'm really good at is rabble rousing

studio clearance

I broke myself during grading

I'm going to draw at the MONSTER DRAWING RALLEY

bad art day

i;m trying to draw a beta fish.... and it's not good.... not good at all. looks like a picture of bat man's naughty bits. fail fail fail... or the best drawing EVER.... humm and then I wonder why i'll never win the Jerome. What artist will never "emerge" this one!

LOVED the Health and Wellness event i went to.... i just didn't fit the look... again

MORE TIME PLEASE

Aunt Barb's flowers

out of focus pix of my art opening @801 gallery

me and my dirty sneakers

voice mail is full because it's been a super stupid busy week

bored kids? try paper dolls

Highland art fest - I was recommended!!!

Ima B. Musing Musings

teachin' w/the power out and the thunder on the rise

yes yes - I'm certain that was meant to be there = Citizen Cafe is my new favorite place!

"all this work, you don't get paid for this? You are being disresepected" - Then PAY YOUR TAXES!!!!!!

I will make your children Pharaohs!

students make you think twice - my HUGE nose!

HIghland Art Fest - was hot as hell

in response to a snooty article " in last order - be a teacher"

SHOW YOUR LOVE

touch of a deity

up late working - pondering the Patron Saints.....

"the patron saint of the childless, of Dukes, of the handicapped and those rejected by Religious Order" - odd. so, i looked this up - there doesn't seem to be a reason. I hope it's more than the "catch all saint" - Reference: http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=124

St. Henry offends me at the moment - but maybe just a few moments of sleep and turning off Tom Waits for the moment will aid in this.

before I do - photos from the radio station while I get a drawing done

thinking about teaching

words of wisdom

/ Tom Waits

Tom Waits
I Can't Wait To Get Off Work