Big larger Al:than life
“
Who was Allen
“Big
Al Carter?
I create the essence.
“
“
Art is my emotion. Art is freedom. Art is my memories. Art is my life.
Allen B. Carter defies categorization— except in one
category. He was big. Standing six feet, four inches tall, Al had a big laugh, a big personality, a big imagination, a big heart, and immense talent. Al presented himself as an outsider to the fine arts world, someone who was just “trying stuff,” “messing around,” and “having fun.” But Al earned his B.F.A. from the wellknown Columbus School of Art and Design in Ohio, pursued graduate work at American University, received critical acclaim from Washington and New York critics, and was exhibited at the Corcoran Gallery of Art, the Freer Gallery of Art, the Virginia Museum of Art, and the Southeastern Center for Contemporary Art. Although Big Al described himself as uncomplicated and guided by impulse, instinct, dreams, and visions, he was also keenly aware of technique and had a firm grasp of artistic tradition—he was influenced by James McNeill Whistler, Henri Matisse, Robert Rauschenberg, Elija Pierce, Sam Gilliam, and artists from Black Mountain College, including Josef Albers.
Cat With Old Lady Watercolor and crayon on poster board, 40 1/2 x 40 in.
‘Man, that’s nice!’
“
“
“I don’t really have a style. I just do it. I love lines, I feel lines. I see something, I say,
Big Al refused labels. He worked in most media—painting, drawing, murals, printmaking, sculpture, and photography. He produced art that was highly devotional and art that challenged religious doctrine. He was equally at home painting cartoons of dogs and tricycles as he was painting slaves, Holocaust victims, the rural poor, and his dying mother.
While he signed and titled most of his art, Big Al rarely dated his work. He did not want his life set down in a neat chronology or simple narrative. Big Al created art for himself and for the world, and for no one in between. He did not work for collectors, or critics, or curators, or dealers. In his own words: “My art is my freedom.” In contrast to his common refrain, “You know...just the same old Big Al...” Allen Carter was a richly layered human being, whose great depth and soulful mastery produced a vast body of enduring work. Big Al once remarked: “People ask me, ‘What are you? Who are you? Are you black, are you white, are you Indian? Are you a printer, are you a painter? What are you?’ And I say: ‘I’m a burnt-umber man. I’m the burnt-umber artist.’”
Steven J. Tepper Dean of the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts at Arizona State University
Previous spread: My Dad in My House (Detail) Watercolor and mixed media, 20 x 16 in. Left: Blue Fishing at Point Lookout, MD (Detail) Mixed media, 35 3/4 x 47 3/4 in.
Allen B. Carter (1947-2008) United States Born in Arlington, VA; died in Alexandria, VA All works on loan from Flora Stone and Cecilia Carter Al Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. Bald Head Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. Black Man in Maxton, North Carolina Watercolor on board, 25 1/2 x 31 1/2 in. Blue Fish Watercolor and mixed media, 30 x 22 1/2 in. Blue Fishing at Point Lookout, MD Mixed media, 35 3/4 x 47 3/4 in. Boy Etching, 14 x 18 in. Carp Mixed media, 29 x 50 in. Cat With Old Lady Watercolor and crayon on poster board, 40 1/2 x 40 in.
Concept 4 Watercolor, 4 x 5 in. Connie Watercolor and mixed media, 15 x 22 1/4 in. Cook Lake, Alexandria, VA Watercolor, 20 x 27 1/2 in. Down by the Potomac River Etching and drawing, 19 1/2 x 23 5/16 in. Dream Song (Tricycle) Watercolor and mixed media, 29 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. Emotionally Withdrawn Lithograph, 20 3/4 x 24 3/4 in. Face Acrylic on masonite, 5 1/2 x 6 1/2 in. Face 2 Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. Faith Fountain Mixed media, 24 x 39 1/2 in. Fish Mixed media, 48 3/4 x 52 1/2 in. Fishing Pen and ink, 3 x 3 in.
Fishing Pete (Detail) Acrylic paint, 25 3/4 x 25 3/16 in.
Fishing at Accotink Park, Fairfax, VA Etching, 15 x 23 in. Fishing at Accotink Park, Fairfax, VA Mixed media on tray, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. Fishing Pete Acrylic paint, 25 3/4 x 25 3/16 in. Fishing Today Acrylic paint, 1/4 x 24 in. diameter Five Trees Watercolor, 9 x 12 in. Head Pain Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. I am Sick God, please help Charcoal, 28 1/4 x 34 in. Intense Acrylic paint on wood with metal hinges, 61 1/8 x 71 3/4 in. Jake Etching, 14 x 18 in. The King Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. King for a day Wood chair, acrylic or oil paint, glass stones, buttons; dimensions variable
Lamp with Red Fish Ceramic head base on wood, acrylic paint on shade, dimensions variable Linear 20 Etching, 14 x 18 in. Linear 54 Monoprint Mr. Bean Watercolor on masonite, pen & ink, varnish, 4 x 6 in. Mr. Ben Watercolor with charcoal, 22 x 30 in. Mr. Carson Walking Down the Street Charcoal, 32 x 40 in. Mr. Harper Thinking by the Sink Acrylic paint, 21 1/2 x 17 1/4 in. Mr. Jack Fishing Watercolor, 6 1/2 x 8 in. Mr. Jason Acrylic paint, 15 1/2 x 23 in. Mr. Johnson Drawing Charcoal, 32 x 40 in. Mr. Jumbo Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. Mr. Richardson and Chair Watercolor under etched plexi glass, 10 1/2 x 11 1/2 in.
Mr. Sam by the Bridge Acrylic paint with buttons, 8 x 10 in. My Dad in My House Watercolor and mixed media, 20 x 16 in. Night Time Watercolor, 5 x 6 1/4 in. No Fish Acrylic paint on black frame/tray, 15 1/2 x 23 in. No Fish Etching, hand-colored, 21 x 14 in. No Food on Kemper Acrylic on wood and canvas, 61 1/2 X 61 x 113/16 in. No Neck Mr. Johnson Acrylic paint, 24 1/4 x 21 3/4 in. Nude 1 Drawing, 4 1/2 X 6 in. Nude 2 Drawing, 7 1/4 x 4 1/4 in. Nude Two Acrylic bowl, 3 x 12 1/4 in. diameter Nude 5 Acrylic bowl, 4 1/4 x 9 3/4 in. diameter
Sometimes Lines Get Large and Small (Detail) Charcoal, 32 x 40 in.
Nude 23 Etchings, 21 x 14 in.
Ride (tricycle), A/P Color linoleum cut, 22 x 30 in.
Nude 27 Drawing, 5 x 6 1/4 in.
Run Brother Run Acrylic on canvas, 13 1/2 x 10 1/2 in.
Nude 37 Etching, 14 x 17 3/4 in. Nude in a Tondo Acrylic on wood, round format, 9 in. diameter Nude Lamp Ceramic, lamp shade, and acrylic paint, dimensions variable Nude on Horse Etching, 16 3/4 x 20 3/4 in. The Nudes, A/P Etching, 7 x 11 in. Old Lady Watercolor, 6 1/2 x 8 in. Praying for Mother Pen and ink, 8 1/2 x 14 in.
Slim Fishing Acrylic paint with buttons, 8 x 10 in. Sometimes Lines Get Large and Small Charcoal, 32 x 40 in. Sunlight Bridge Etching, 14 x 17 3/4 in. Take Off Your Hat Acrylic painting on masonite in box frame, 6 x 6 1/2 x 3 in. Thinking of My Uncle Brady Black chalk over watercolor on masonite, 13 1/2 x 11 x 2 in. Two Lines Talking 4 Charcoal, 44 x 27 1/2 in.
Praying for the World Mixed media, 18 x 24 in.
Untitled Etching, watercolor, mixed media, 30 x 22 1/2 in.
Queen for a Day Wood chair, acrylic or oil paint, glass stones, buttons; no dimensions provided
Untitled Watercolor, pen and ink, 6 1/2 x 8 3/4 in.
Ride (tricycle) Mixed media, 47 3/4 x 36 in.
Untitled (Man in Forest With Pink Hat) Watercolor, 7 x 7 1/2 in.
Untitled Nude Acrylic on board, 24 1/4 x 24 in. Value 10 Charcoal, 20 3/4 x 24 3/4 in. Vision 2 Poster paint, pastel, watercolor, and mixed media, 30 x 41 1/5 in. Your Grace and Mercy Mixed media, 25 1/2 x 37 1/2 x 2 1/2 in. Your Grace & Mercy Mr. John at the Grave Etching, watercolor and graphite, 28 3/4 x 37 3/4 in.
Fish (Detail) Mixed media, 48 3/4 x 52 1/2 in.
Cover Image: Mr. Harper Thinking by the Sink (Detail) Acrylic paint, 21 1/2 x 17 1/4 in.
All works in this exhibition are on loan from Flora Stone and Cecilia Carter. This exhibition is supported by the Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts and the Evelyn Smith Exhibition Fund. This publication was designed by Ara単a Schulke, graphic design assistant and undergraduate student in printmaking.