Historical June 1994 article. Dates, prices, services and contacts describe the source period; current availability has not been established.
Maria Allen is one of my neighbors on Nina Place and, although I had spoken with her before she decided to move to our neighborhood, I have not gotten to know her very well.
A mutual friend on Nina told me something about her art one day and it stimulated my interest. Maria Allen is a quiet, dignified woman who has been an art teacher for a number of years.
She grew up in Little Rock and first came to St. Louis to go to school in 1959.
She taught in St. Louis, New Orleans, Little Rock and then returned here.
She noted that she has family in all three cities.
For the past 15 years, she has been teaching art at Incarnate Word Academy in Bel Nor. And, she has been pursuing her own painting and drawing. Allen grew up with art.
Her mother is an artist and portrait painter.
I ler grandfather was also an artist.
He studied at Washington University in 1886 and 1887 and then trained further in Brcmcn. Germany. Whether it was heredity or always growing up in a certain environment, Allen learned to appreciate art and majored in art education.
She was always drawing and painting while she was growing tip.
Her mother permitted her to use her oils and would point out colors and space to her which allowed her to appreciate what they felt like.
In recent years, her art has been a means to explore her Native American heritage.
Her father is half Cherokee.
She initially portrayed women in Native American mythology.
She then turned to the more personal and studied about the Cherokee nation.
She visited the Cherokee National Center in Oklahoma as part of her research.
She collected a large number of books. Allen is attempting to base her art on her father’s memories of growing up in central Arkansas.
Her grandfather was a cotton farmer and blacksmith.
She realizes them is a real connection for her with this background. Maria showed me some of the monotone prints she has done around Cherokee themes.
They encompass family history and she places careful written inscriptions below each of the prints.
They are very delicate and graceful.
She has had three one-person shows in the last four years as well as taking part in group shows at Art St. Louis and Componere.
Her fulltime teaching limits her ability to exhibit more frequently. Allen said that she became aware of our neighborhood when biking through on her way to and from University City.
She had been looking for a house and a real estate agent hooked her up with the condominiums on Nina Place.
She really likes the neighborhood a lot, especially the diversity and the multicultural aspects.
There is also a diversity of age groups, single people, and professional people.
She also commented on the historic aspect of Skinker DeBaliviere and its proximity to Forest Park and MetroLink.
However, she would like to sec a grocery store closer by.
It seemed like Allen had found “a clean well-lighted place” to pursue her vocation and avocation.
The paintings that line her home reflect her heritage, humor, and commitment. Skinker DeBalivicre has been noted for a number of distinguished artists in its midst. Maria Allen is a beautiful addition to that company.
Original photograph caption
Maria Allen. Photo by King Schoenfeld.
Originally published in The Times of Skinker-DeBaliviere, June 1994.
Read this article in the original newspaper issue.
Original source: SD_Times1994_06.pdf, printed page(s) 5; PDF page(s) 5.
