Paula Allen
Paula Allen , “Strega”, Ceramic , 2008.
Ceramic Art and Drawing: linear experience on clay surfaces
After years of exploring the 2 dimensional surfaces of objects in the 1990’s I began more sculpture. In 2000 I began drawing about 3,000 illustrations. The ceramics and drawings in this show are done from that experience. I took studios here in St. Petersburg at St. Petersburg Clay Company to create most of my characters yet I could not paint and draw there so I would move to Salt Creek and the last move was Arts Space. If you want to work in clay and also do other visual arts it is hard to work in a clay studio alone because of the dust. The characters that you see here in this exhibit are made like a drawing. The clay surface is like paper to me, I draw on the clay when it is wet to create my characters. They are the future; they are looking all the time up to the sky for answers as man has from the beginning of time. Is it a bird or a plane or an enemy ship from another planet? Could there be a superman or superwoman? Is that superman or woman inside one of us? The characters stand together looking for answers. Who will lead us? Who will make peace in the world? I make them on white clay with black lines so they have the feeling of black ink on white paper. I began making these in 2003 and have not stopped.
They are playful like nature but they sing to another world beyond even my own imagination. They sing “POLLYZOOM.” The glazes fly over the surfaces of the clay when it is wet like watercolor paper. Here is a window on a dress, here is a sleeve a collar. It is so much fun to do this that I have continued this exploration in art for 5 years.
I could make them larger, yes I might do that, I can make them large paintings, yes I can do that. It is an ongoing journey for the artist. They have many songs to sing and I am here to listen.
Paula Allen grew up in the 1000 Islands region of New York State. Paula had a childhood close to nature. Her father Cornelius made it possible for her understand how nature and man communicate and learn from each other. It is this understanding that was the first real art experience creating seaweed sculpture shows with gallery receptions underwater. It is this world of playfulness that Paula keeps in her work. She is not a nature artist but a humanist. Her characters do what we all do, say what we all say yet sometimes they surprise us and do the unexpected. “When you watch creatures in nature play they often do silly things that make you laugh out loud, it is this type of playfulness I would like to see in the world more often in people; we are much too serious about who we are and what we do.”
Educated in art in New York State Schools with elaborate art facilities Paula attended the Art Institute of Boston when she was 17 years old for two years.
In 1981 she graduated with a degree in Art Education from The College of art and design at the College of St. Rose, Albany New York. Paula married James Deschamps and then attended graduate school for Theatre Arts with emphasis on acting and designing. In 1987 Paula had a child Jacqueline Deschamps who is currently in London working for the independent music industry on an internship.
Paula has been showing her work since 1973 in various galleries. Her work has been
commissioned for homes in Europe and the United States. Paula is currently work on a group show in London. Paula’s work has changed through the years from painting to assemblage art to ceramics and now more illustrations. For the last 3
years she has projected art on the Museums in St. Petersburg for First Night as POLLYZOOM. Paula also designed the logo for First Night in 2006.
Currently Paula is a gallery director and producer of Public Art works for children in Tampa Florida for Hillsborough County. The non- profit “The children’s gallery at The Children’s board of Hillsborough County” works with artists to create exhibits with children. The exhibits tour locally, nationally and internationally.
Paula A. Allen
Education :
1992 MA Arts State University of New York. Theatre Arts, Acting
1981 B.S. Art Education, The College of Art and Design College of St. Rose, Albany New York
- The Art Institute of Boston, Boston Ma.
Current Positions:
Children’s Gallery of Art Director and Producer, non Profit agency touring and creating children’s Public Art works
Faculty: The Arts Center St. Petersburg Florida
Pollyzoom LLC: creative director www.pollyzoom.com
Gallery shows: 1996-2008
Florida
The Arts Center Group shows 1999-2008
St. Pete Clay company: Group shows 2000, 2002,
Salt creek artworks: group shows 2005,2007
Art Space: group shows 2007, solo exhibit
New York
Fulton Street Gallery Troy New York Juried invitational ceramic install 2004
Schoharie county Arts Council solo show 1998 sculpture
Gallery 53 Cooperstown New York, juried groups shows 1997 1996
Artists Choose Artists Lake George Arts Project: sculptures in found objects 1997
Albany Center Galleries Albany New York: Heaven juried exhibit of sculptures 1998
Saratoga Dance Flurry, Saratoga New York: giant Puppets 1999
Hyde Museum of Art: Glens Falls New York: Puppets 1998-1999
Lake George Arts Project Artist Choose Artists: 1996 Invitational
Lake George Arts Project Souvenir show, Lake George New York invitational 1997
Oneonta New York: Jean Piece Walker Competition for the Arts honorable mention 1996
Buffalo New York : Wearable Art, award for Sculpture: State Univ of New York 1996
State University of New York at Cobleskill: Women on Women, group show 1995
Art Published:
Books:
Out of the Catskills and Just Beyond, Bright Hill Press. 1997 Photograph
Lake George Arts Council, Artists Choose Artists 1996 Mixed media art displayed in book.
Marketing : I currently have work in London for publicity for independent music industry.
City Logo: Illustrator for First Night St. Petersburg Logo 2006 St. Petersburg Florida
Teaching experience : 30 years teaching visual arts to ages 4-80 years of age.
Drama instructor: American Stage, Brighton Prep school St. Petersburg Florida.
Yoga : Currently getting Yoga Certification 2008 to begin teaching Yoga and meditation.
Contact information:pollyzoom@tampabay.rr.com 727 687-1069
