Allan Randall Freelon facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Allan Randall Freelon Sr.
|
|
|---|---|
 |
|
| Born | September 2, 1895 |
| Died | August 6, 1960 (aged 64) Telford, Pennsylvania, U.S.
|
| Known for | Painting; arts education; activism |
Allan Randall Freelon Sr. (born September 2, 1895 – died August 6, 1960) was a talented African American artist, teacher, and activist from Philadelphia, USA. He is famous for his Impressionist-style paintings, especially during the exciting period known as the Harlem Renaissance. He also made history as the first African American to become an art supervisor for the Philadelphia School District.
Contents
About Allan Freelon's Life
Allan Freelon was born in Philadelphia on September 2, 1895. He grew up in a middle-class family that valued education. He was the oldest of three children. On September 4, 1918, he married Marie J. Cuyjet, and they had a son named Allan Randall Freelon Jr. Later in his life, he was married to Mary Kouzmanoff. Allan Freelon Sr. passed away on August 6, 1960, at his art studio in Telford, Pennsylvania. His grandson, Philip Freelon, became a well-known architect.
Allan Freelon's Education Journey
Allan Freelon went to the South Philadelphia High School for Boys. After that, he received a four-year scholarship from 1912 to 1916 to attend the Pennsylvania Museum and School of Industrial Art. This school is now called the University of the Arts (Philadelphia). He graduated in 1916 with a diploma in art education.
He then studied at the Philadelphia School of Pedagogy. This school helped prepare men for teaching careers. From 1917 to 1919, he served in the Army as a second lieutenant. After his military service, he attended the University of Pennsylvania. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree in education in February 1924.
Freelon continued his studies at the Barnes Foundation from 1927 to 1929. He also took private lessons from famous artists like Emile Gruppe and Dox Thrash. In 1943, he earned his Master of Fine Arts (MFA) degree from the Tyler School of Art at Temple University.
Allan Freelon's Art Career
One of Allan Freelon's first art shows was also the very first exhibition of African-American art in Harlem. This show took place at the 135th Street Branch of the New York Public Library. Today, this library is part of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
From 1928 to 1932, and again in 1934, he showed his art with the William E. Harmon Foundation. Their art shows traveled all over the United States. His artwork was also displayed in many other important places. These included the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., and the Whitney Museum of American Art in New York City.
Art and Activism
Allan Freelon was one of seven African-American artists who took part in a special art show. This show was called Art Commentary on Lynching. The NAACP organized it in 1935 to speak out against violence. Freelon wrote about his painting for the show:
I have not attempted to portray any particular lynching, but merely to record the horror of what has come to be a major sports event...
This quote shows how he used his art to highlight serious social issues.
Freelon was a member of many art groups and clubs. He was the first person of color to be chosen for the Print Club of Philadelphia. He also helped edit and write for a literary and art magazine called Black Opals.
The Pyramid Club and Art Views
In 1937, the Pyramid Club was formed in Philadelphia. This club gave important African Americans a place to meet and connect. Many other clubs at the time did not allow them to join.
In 1941, the Pyramid Club held its first annual art exhibit. Allan Freelon was asked to speak at this event. He talked about the role of Black artists and how their art could influence current events. He often showed his art alongside artist Henry B. Jones. Freelon, Laura Wheeler Waring, and Henry B. Jones also provided artwork for a show by the Negro Study Club in 1930.
During the "New Negro" movement, some people believed African American artists should focus on African themes in their art. However, Allan Freelon strongly believed artists should have the freedom to choose their own subjects. He wrote in a review in 1944:
In his chapter on the "New Negro" movement, Mr. Porter analyzes that most interesting and fecund period of the late twenties, when opposite schools of thought were attempting to direct the Negro artist into this "African background," or insisting that he be accorded the same freedom of choice as that granted any other artist as regards subject matter and means of expression. The author dispassionately evaluates both theories and his conclusions are valid and sound. He brands the "African background" theory for what it was: propaganda.
This shows his strong belief in artistic freedom for everyone.
In 2015, Freelon's work was shown in an exhibition called We Speak: Black Artists in Philadelphia, 1920s-1970s at the Woodmere Art Museum.
Allan Freelon's Teaching Career
After graduating from the Philadelphia School of Pedagogy in 1919, Allan Freelon became an art teacher. He taught in the Philadelphia public school system. In 1921, he was made assistant director of art education. This made him the first African American to hold such a high position in the district's art department.
In July 1939, he was promoted again. He became a special assistant to the director of art for the Philadelphia public schools. In this role, he supervised art programs in vocational and junior high schools. He had already been supervising art projects in elementary schools for many years. He earned this promotion by placing first in a competitive exam. He held this important position until he passed away.
Freelon was also very interested in printmaking. He taught etching and lithography at the Philadelphia Museum of Art from 1940 to 1946. Besides his public school job, he taught art classes at his studio in Telford, Pennsylvania, which he called Windy Crest.
Allan Freelon's Political Efforts
In 1949, Allan Freelon ran for a seat in the Pennsylvania state legislature. He ran as a member of the Progressive Party (United States, 1948). Although he did not win, his effort showed his dedication to making a difference in his community.
