The internationally acclaimed artists, joined by their sons Bukka and Bale Creek, will lead five sessions discussing the making of their art, their lives of making art and issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Home to the Terry and Jo Harvey Allen Center for Creative Studies, Texas Tech University also houses the Terry and Jo Harvey Allen Collection. The living archive within University Libraries includes more than 50 years' of personal journals, correspondence, workbooks and drafts of scripts and other writings, and various audio and visual recordings that document the artists' creative processes. The Lubbock natives are best known for their individual and collaborative, curiosity-driven, transdisciplinary works.
Beginning today through Friday (Nov. 9-13), the internationally acclaimed Allens will lead five sessions in virtual residency with the center. Terry Allen and Jo Harvey Allen will be joined by their sons, Bukka, a well-known and highly sought after musician, and Bale Creek, a prominent visual artist and gallerist. All four family members will work from their home studios in Santa Fe and Austin, discussing the making of their art, their lives of making art and issues arising from the COVID-19 pandemic.
Each session will be held from 7:30-9 p.m., with the first session presented as a panel discussion moderated by Paul Hunton, Texas Tech Public Media general manager. Hunton is the producer and director of "Hold It on the Road," a soon-to-be-released feature-length documentary film on the Allens. The remaining four sessions will include a video, followed by a discussion and Q&A segment.
"Terry, Jo Harvey, Bukka and Bale Creek are four of the most creative, talented and interesting artists I've ever known, and they all are part of the same family," Hunton said. "That's pretty remarkable! If you want to find inspiration, or insight into the challenges of dedicating your life to creating art in any form, you won't want to miss these incredible conversations."
All sessions are free and open to the public, and participants are not required to attend all five sessions. Registration is required and may be completed online.
The sessions are as follows:
Today (Nov. 9), Panel discussion: Art and Family
During a discussion moderated by Hunton, the four family members will discuss their
work, both as individuals and in collaboration with one another, as well as the impact
of living and working in a family of artists.
Tuesday (Nov. 10), Jo Harvey Allen: Stage and Film, A Personal History
An actress, playwright, poet and pioneer of women in radio, Jo Harvey Allen is best
known for her numerous film roles and critically acclaimed one-woman shows. Her photographs,
lithographs and installations have been exhibited in Peru, Havana, San Francisco and
Austin. This session features a review of her works for stage and film, coupled with
her comments on her early experiences and how her work has evolved. Topics also will
include radio, theater, film, poetry and screenwriting. With regard to her process,
the session will touch on the beginnings of various projects, their development and
the elements she believes are essential to any work.
Wednesday (Nov. 11), Bale Creek Allen: Working Double-Time, the Artist as Gallerist
In a presentation suitable for both artists and those interested in the business of
art, the session will include images of Bale Creek Allen's works as an artist and
views of his Austin gallery. He will discuss how running a gallery and being an artist
has worked for him.
Thursday (Nov. 12), Bukka Allen: The Importance of Community and Connection, Recording
and Producing Music in the Time of COVID
For musicians, recording engineers, producers and music teachers, Bukka Allen will
focus on the pros and cons that have come with the closing of live music venues and
studios across the country due to the coronavirus pandemic. He notes that, "although
it feels like a spiritual and financial amputation," there have been remarkable innovations
in terms of technology, online learning, virtual recording and social media platforms,
and in online live music and marketing platforms. He will talk not only about the
role all of these rapidly evolving changes play in day-to-day music, but also how
they most likely will remain vital once COVID-19 begins to let up.
Friday (Nov. 13), Terry Allen: Stories, Pictures and Songs
A visual artist and songwriter and the recipient of numerous awards and honors, Terry
Allen has written for and worked extensively in both radio and theater. His work has
been shown throughout the U.S., and in addition to 13 albums of original works, he
has written numerous songs used in films and documentaries. This session will include
a review of Terry's transdisciplinary works with a focus on his creative process.
