Jim Allen is described by Auckland Art Gallery as "a vital force in shaping the local art scene during the 1960s and 1970s". Photo: Nick Bevin/ Supplied/ Stuff
A pioneer artist across the ‘60s and ‘70s and one of the most influential arts educators of his generation, Jim Allen passed away just shy of turning 101 in June.
Known for inspiring what has been termed ‘post-object art’ in New Zealand, Allen was still working as a performance artist in his 90s. And he had a formative influence on another legend of experimentalism and education, artist Phil Dadson.
Allen first taught a young Dadson at Elam School of Fine Arts in Auckland back in the ‘60s. On Saturday November 11 Dadson will perform a tribute to Allen at the iconic Futuna Chapel in Karori, Wellington, for which Allen with architect John Scott created some remarkable works way back in 1961.
By that time Allen had already worked as a teacher in the Far North in the 1950s under the influential Gordon Tovey with the Māori Experimental Art Project - part of what is considered the most remarkable shakeup in arts education by the government in New Zealand history. He went on to radically transform the sculpture department at Elam School of Fine Arts before teaching at the Sydney College of the Arts 1977 to 1987.
A promotional image for Four Men in a Boat 1974, Auckland Art Gallery -Jim Allen, Bruce Barber, Philip Dadson, and Kieran Lyons. Photo: supplied
Allen’s impact on Dadson has been equally far reaching. Best known to the wider public for the invented musical instruments, dance, voice and sculpture of ensemble From Scratch, Dadson continues to have a prolific and collaborative late career, moving effortlessly between video, sound, graphic scores, sculpture and new instrumentation. Recent book Little Doomsdays (Massey University Press) combines abstract paintings by Dadson with text by Ngāi Tahu writer Nic Low.
Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly
Just released, Aurongo - Inner Listening on Rattle Records sees Phil Dadson improvise on a multi-voiced bespoke instrument called ‘the gloop’ with Rob Thorne on taonga pūoro. Rattle’s Steve Garden then reshapes their tracks into three suites for a second enclosed album.
Photo: Rattle Records
Following an Auckland launch, Thorne and Dadson perform at Pōneke’s Pyramid Club Friday November 10 ahead of the Futuna Chapel concert on the Saturday.
The Futuna chapel concert features other artists and a discussion on Jim Allen’s legacy.
