Over the past 35 years Bruce Allen has served the civic, commercial, and academic community as a panelist, board member, juror, and consultant for a variety of public and private art organizations.  He has adjudicated and/or curated exhibitions, festivals, art educators, art commissions (both public and private), and participated in the design and creation of several projects in public spaces.  He has been working with local, regional, national and internationally known artists in workshops, exhibitions and the creation of art works. All this experience has given him a unique set of skills and insights into the arena of public art and artistic collaboration. 
 
            He has a BA in Art and a BS in Mathematics from Centenary College of Louisiana and an MFA from the University of Wyoming.  He spent a year at the Academy of Fine Arts in Stuttgart, Germany during graduate school and a spent a semester in Xian, China studying Chinese painting and sculptural arts.
 
            Bruce has broad experience in the public arena of education, arts administration, and non-profits and a strong background in the materials and techniques of sculpture. He also has strong communications skills and has worked with a wide variety of collaborators from nationally known figures like William Joyce, Clyde Connell, James Surls, Bob Wade, and Dwayne Hansen to K-12 students.  His collaborative work explores the media that he uses and he has a strong commitment to the use of recycled and green materials.  Whether it’s drawing, painting or printmaking; casting iron, bronze, aluminum, or plastics; carving in wood, stone or plastic foam; welding or sewing; he tries to use his materials to express their own unique nature and the ideas of the society in which we live and work.   Irony and social comment are often a subtle presence in his works of art.  However, he strives to communicate with a wide audience, especially in public works, using humor and playfulness as well as seriousness and structure.  
 
Bruce has recently had solo shows of his digital drawings in Paris, France and Joshua Tree, California.  He had a retrospective exhibit at the Meadows Museum of Art celebrating his 36 years at Centenary College of Louisiana in April-May of 2019.
            

Curriculum Vitae
March, 2020
BRUCE ALLEN  
555 Herndon St.
Shreveport, LA  71101
(318) 221-0678–Home  (318) 869-5260—Office
ballen@centenary.edu
 
EDUCATION
BA, Art; Centenary College of Louisiana, 1975.
BS, Math; Centenary College of Louisiana, 1977.
Guest Student, Academy of Fine Arts, Stuttgart, W. Germany, 1980-81.
MFA, Sculpture and Printmaking, University of Wyoming, 1981.
 
EMPLOYMENT
Centenary College of Louisiana 
Professor of Art (1983-Present)
Chair, Department of Art and Visual Culture (1989-Spring 2005, 2012-Present)
Director of Logistic and Exhibitions, Meadows Museum of Art (2014-Present)

Centenary College Research Professor in Humanities (2003-2006, 2012-Present)
Turner Art Center Gallery (1987-1999 and  2007-8, 2010-Present)
Art Show Consultant, Governor’s Invitational Western Art Show and Sale,
 Cheyenne Wy. during Frontier Days (1981-2014)                     
Curator, Meadows Museum of Art and Centenary Collection (1993-2003)
Director of Magale Library Gallery (1983-1992 and 2005-06) 
Curator, Old West Museum, Cheyenne, WY (1982-83).
Guest Lecturer, Xian Art Institute,  Xian, China(Spring, 2000).
Guest Artist, St. Hellen’s College, St. Hellen’s, Great Britain. (February, 2002).
 
HONORS
Who’s Who in the South and Southwest since 1992.
Louisiana Division of the Arts: Visual Arts and Crafts Panel Juror-1992, 1994, 1995.
Louisiana Division of the Arts:  Presenter Panel Juror-1996-1997-1998-1999.
International Who’s Who of Intellectuals 1993-present.
Selected for the “Artist-Teacher Registry” for the Vermont College of Norwich University-1993-present.
Strathmore’s Who’s Who, 1998, 1999.
Troy’s Who’s Who,  2000.
Who’s Who in American Art, 2000.
Special Advisor to the Shaanxi Institute of Chinese Art, Xi’an, China, 2000-2005.
Red River Revel, Visual Arts Juror, 2001-2005
Red River Revel, (Selection Committee) 2002-2008, 2009-Present)
Bossier Central Library Exhibition Juror, 2001
Who’s Who Among America’s Teachers, 2002-2009
Who’s Who in American Education, 2005-2009
 
GRANTS  RECEIVED
Louisiana Decentralized Grants for Bronze Casting Workshop, 1997
Shreveport Regional Arts Council Artists Mini Grant -”Burnt Secrets” with Kristi Hanna, 1998
Shreveport Regional Arts Council Project Assistance Grant  for Bronze Casting Workshop, 1998.
Louisiana Decentralized Grants for performances of Works In Progress ’99, 1998.
Louisiana Decentralized Grants for performances of “Isadora’s Story” 1999/2000.
Shreveport Regional Arts Council-Artist Mini Grant for travel to Houston to present selections from “Isadora’s Story.”2000.
Louisiana Decentralized Grants  for Bronze Casting Workshop, 2000/2001.
Louisiana Board of Regents Undergraduate Enhancement Fund Grant for $26,823 to digitize art instruction at Centenary Art Department 2001/2002.
Louisiana Decentralized Grants-Technical Assistance Grant  for Red River Film Society to bring in 2 professionals to assist in the development of an independent film theater in downtown Shreveport.
 
PROFESSIONAL WORKSHOPS 
Iron Casting Workshop, ISC, Grand Rapids, MI, 2009
Bronze Casting Workshop, University of Louisiana Monroe (Assistant), 2008.
Chicago International Art Exposition, Chicago, IL-1986, 1987, 1988, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
Chinese Watercolor Workshops, Centenary College with Ru Gui and Wan Ding-1995.
Save Outdoor Sculpture Workshop, Centenary College with Sarah Luster-1995
Iron Casting Workshop, Virginia Commonwealth University-SECAC Conference-1996
Bronze Casting Workshop, Centenary College with Rojelio Tijerina-1998
(I organized this workshop with grants from SRAC and Louisiana Decentralized Funds.)
ACS/Mellon Internet Teaching Pilot, Centenary College – 1998
Chinese Painting Workshops- Xi’an, China – 2000
Bronze Casting Workshop, Centenary College with Rojelio Tijerina-2000/2001  
 
PROFESSIONAL CONFERENCES ATTENDED
College Art Association, Annual Conference, New York, 2000, 2014
International Sculpture Conference, Chicago, Illinois, 2000, 2009
College Art Association, Annual Conference, Chicago, 2001
Andy Warhol Conference, London, England-2002
Cultural Economy Initiative Conference, Baton Rouge, LA-2004
Conference of Louisiana College & Universities, New Orleans, LA-2005
Louisiana Cultural Economy Summit III, New Orleans, LA-2007
International Sculpture Conference, Grand Rapids, Michigan, 2008.
 
COMMUNITY SERVICE ACTIVITIES
Shreveport Commons/Caddo Commons Park–Artists’ Design Team (2013-Present)
Shreveport Regional Arts Council (1987-present); Vice President-(1997-2002 and 2013-Present); Executive Council Member– (1989-2002 and 2013-Present);   Board Member-(1987-present); Chair, Arts Advisory Panels-(1989-present); ArtSpace Consultant, 2007, 2008; Community Cultural Plan-Task Force-(1990-91);  Community Cultural Plan Steering Committee-(1990);   Community Cultural Plan-Advisory Council-(1991-present);Designed and built sections for Christmas in the Sky; one of the most successful single day  arts fund raisers in the country-(1990, 1994, 1996, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, and 2012).
Shreveport Public Art Task Force (1998-Present)
Red River Film Society Inc. –Founding Board Member and Secretary (2003-2013).  (Robinson Film Center)
Arodasi ® Dance Center—Business Manager (2007-Present)
A Visual Sound & Movement Co.—Founding Board Member and Director (1992-present).
Shreveport Common Task Force  2012-Present
Shreveport Arts Congress, Steering Committee (2007-Present)
Tower Gallery Selection Committee (1998-2001)
HRI/Shreveport Lee Hardware Artists Live/Work Space Oversight Committee-2000/2001
Louisiana Artists, Inc.–-Member (since 1985) and President (1988-1991).
Clyde Connell Contemporary Art Center–Vice President (1997-98).
Krewe of Highland 2008, King XIII.
 
 

COLLEGE SERVICE
Highland Mardi Gras Parade, constructed floats-2005.
Freshman Advisor-1983-1997.  
Founder and Advisor to the Centenary Film Society-since 1983.
Graduate Council-2006-7.
Humanities Division, Chair-1986-87 and 2003-2006.
Faculty Coordinating Committee-2003-2006.
Faculty Organizations Committee-1986-87.  
Student Life Committee-1987-92; (Chair 1988-92).  
Pegasus (student literary magazine), Advisor-1988-89.
Communications Committee-1992-93 and 1994-95.  
Yoncopin Advisor-1992-93 and 1994-present.
Economic Policy Committee-1995-98.  
Learning Resource Committee-1993-94 and 1999.
Conduct Review Committee, 200/2001/2002, Chair.
Faculty Kappa Pi Art Fraternity-1983-86 and 1990-present.
Turner Art Center Gallery–Scheduled and displayed over 70 art exhibitions-1987-1999 and 2005-present.
Faculty Development Committee–1998-99, 2007-08.
 
 
SCHOLARSHIP
PERFORMANCE ART, VIDEO AND VISUAL ART
Performance
My first large public performance production was in 1988 by a group calling itself “Phase Faces” and was entitled “Cycles.”  The performers included dancers, poets, painters, sculptors, musicians and the audience.   I was the producer of the event and I designed and prepared the set.  It was performed at Pierre Bossier Mall.  
A new group, “Works In Progress,” emerged in 1990 led by Renee Smith, Kristi Hargrove, Alan Dyson and myself.  More than fifty artists  participated in “Works In Progress” during the 1990-91 season which included eight productions at the Princess Park “Red Box” Theater (a city owned facility in a city park) and at the Performing Arts Center in Downtown Shreveport.  The group has continued to function with several grants and at many local venues.
 
2014
Louisiana Film Prize Top 20 Finalist-Lighting Design and Art Direction
 
2013
Louisiana Film Prize Top 20 Finalist-Lighting Design and Art Direction
 
2012
Louisiana Film Prize Entry with ARODASI Dance-Lighting Design
 
Visual Art Exhibitions and Commissions
 
 
2017
Louisiana Artists, Inc. Norsworthy Gallery, Shreveport, LA
Shreveport Aquarium, Interior Design and Construction Commission with Jim & I Design, LLC (Completed November, 2016)
 
2016
Louisiana Artists, Inc.  Norsworthy Gallery, Shreveport, LA
 
2015
Shreveport Regional Arts Council-Commission to Design, Fabricate and Install “The Flame,” a public artwork on top of the Kallenberg Artist Tower, Shreveport, LA
 
2014
Caddo Commons Park Design Team-Artist member of the landscape design team, Shreveport, LA.
 
Norton Art Gallery– Commissioned Children’s Sculpture Play Area, Shreveport, LA
 
Critical Mass-ArtSpace, Shreveport, Louisiana
 
2013 
Northwest Louisiana Artists’ Roster-Juried Artists’ Site on line
 
Bienville Parish Courthouse Commission-Arcadia, Louisiana, (Completed August) Public Art Commission
 
Norton Art Gallery– Commissioned Children’s Sculpture Play Area, Shreveport, LA
 
2012
SWEET! Candy Store-8 Willy Wonka themed window displays construction and installation-Highland and Hollywood, Hollywood, CA.
 
2011
Norton Art Gallery-Educational Space design and creation, Shreveport, LA
Louisiana Artists, Inc. -Barnwell Center, Shrevport, LA
Educ8-Invitational-Fine Arts Gallery, Bossier City LA
Port of Shreveport Bossier-Commission– Port Project (for Dot), Public Art Commission
 
2010
Pop-Invitational-Artspace, Shreveport, LA
Extravagonzo-minicine?-Shreveport, LA
Positive/Negative-Juried Johnson City, TN
Louisiana Triennial, Meadows Museum, Shreveport, LA
 
2009
Eye 20 Discipline-Capital Building, Baton Rouge, LA
ArtPort “UP”-Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, LA.
Outdoor Sculpture Garden, (one piece (new) on exhibit) ULM, Monroe, LA.
Louisiana Artists, Inc. Barnwell Center, Shreveport, LA.
Imagilaboration, national sculpture organization.
Americas 2009: All Media, Juried, Minot, N. Dakota.
Northwest Louisiana Artist Roster Exhibition, Shreveport, LA.
 
2008
ArtPort “UP”-Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, LA.
Outdoor Sculpture Garden, (one piece (new) on exhibit) ULM, Monroe, LA.
Louisiana Artists, Inc. Barnwell Center, Shreveport, LA.
Imagilaboration, national sculpture organization.
 
2007    
Donna Service—With a Smile-Turner Art Center, Shreveport, LA.
ArtPort “UP”-Shreveport Regional Airport, Shreveport, LA.
Outdoor Sculpture Garden, (one piece on exhibit) ULM, Monroe, LA.
Louisiana Artists, Inc. Barnwell Center, Shreveport, LA.
Imagilaboration, national sculpture organization.
 
2006
Eye 20 Discipline-Coolspace, Shreveport, LA
Louisiana Artists, Inc.-Barnwell Center, Shreveport, LA.
2006 Think Pink Get Framed Art Auction, Richardson, TX.
 
2005
A Male Perspective-A Visual Sound & Movement Co. Studios, Shreveport LA.
Parkinson’s Symposium-LSUHSC, Shreveport, LA.
Art and Robotics-Artspace, Shreveport, LA.
 
2004
Louisiana Artists, Inc-Barnwell Center, Shreveport, LA.
Christmas in the Sky-Shreveport Regional Arts Council, Louisiana Downs, Bossier City, LA.
Parkinson’s Conference-Honoring Willard Cooper, Biomedical Atrium, S