Artist statement

After a thorough reading of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada: Calls to Action document published by the Government of Canada and conversations with the curator, I settled on the idea of illustrating the view from the Eagle’s Nest (an iconic and revered geographic spot on the north side of town) as how it would look without the present day “settler” incursions of a Tim Horton’s restaurant, business buildings and homes and a golf course; just the hallowed vision of the curling York River and the simple rolling hills ablaze with fall colour, a view that local indigenous populations have marveled at and honoured for millennia; and that has been a shared sacred spot for me and other settlers, as well, in my time living here.

About the artist

Born in the eastern Ontario village of Domville, after completing his studies at Ontario College of Art and Design in 1971, Allan worked in advertising and promotion in the Toronto area.

Throughout the years, Allan maintained a parallel career as a fine artist, showing in many solo and group exhibitions. As well, he self-published two books of poetry combined with black and white photography; an illustrated children’s book on the theme of meditation; and a book in which he documented the experience of a five-day meditation retreat in prose, poetry, photography and paintings and drawings titled, Retreat at Worst Horse. In the fall of 2020, he published his autobiography, My Life, etc., available at blurb.ca

Between 2001 and 2004 Allan trained at the Transpersonal Therapy Centre in Toronto. Since May of 2007, he has worked full-time as a fine artist and psychotherapist.

He presently lives in the vintage Maxwell Settlement schoolhouse, built in 1910 and his family homestead since 1955.