Danny Allen – India ink on bond. Not signed or dated, ca. 1972.
I know it’s not going to be an easy thing to, but it’s the right thing to do. I’m going to hand over ownership of all of the artwork that I have in my custody, done by Danny Allen to the Allen family sometime after the 4th of July, 2013. My role for the past four decades has been to serve as the “keeper” of Dan’s collection. I’ve seen to it the art has been safely stored, but the time has come for it all to return home.
Dan’s sister, Chris is going to come to visit me here in Philadelphia for the transfer. The way my will has been written, the art was always intended to go back to the Allen family–but I see no purpose in delaying that exchange of ownership and responsibility. I’ve loved and enjoyed having Dan’s work and lived with pieces on my walls for decades. Now it’s time to move-on.
Someday I’d like to have a small exhibit of Dan’s art–and Rochester, New York is the natural choice for that exhibit to take place. I’ve been putting out some “feelers” as to where the exhibit could be shown, but no location has yet been determined.
Danny Allen, Graphite and color pencil. Collection of Robert Henning (former curator of the Memorial Art Gallery) and his partner, Brian Stenfors. This piece has been given to the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery of the University of Rochester. (New York State).
Following the shock of learning the tragic fate of Dan’s art from other collections where there was no legal will in place, I felt compelled to make this transfer. The location and virtual existence of some of Dan’s finest pieces remains ominously uncertain after collectors passed away without specifying how their collections were to be handled. The pieces I’ve watched over will be distributed among members of the Allen family. I urge anyone who has original art (not just by Danny Allen) but any pieces of note–to provide for the future owndership of that art. Several collectors have expressed an intention to leave their examples of Dan’s work to the Rochester Memorial Art Gallery, and others intend to leave art to the Allen family. Both choices are good choices.
My next reading/book signing will be in Rehoboth Beach, Delaware on Saturday, June 29th at 4:30pm at PROUD Bookstore – 149 Rehoboth Ave Rehoboth Beach, DE 19971 – 302.227.6969. I’m hoping to include a PowerPoint presentation if the space will allow.
Books are available online through PixelPreserve:
http://www.pixelpreserve.net/bookstore/
An Early Work Late in Life 