Brendan Greaves' Biography 'Truckload of Art' Chronicles Terry Allen's Multidisciplinary Career
Brendan Greaves' biography, 'Truckload of Art – The Life and Work of Terry Allen,' set for release in 2024, delves into the diverse artistic endeavors of Terry Allen, which encompass visual arts, music, and theater. The narrative recounts Allen's first meetings with Elvis Presley at the age of 12 in Lubbock, Texas, and Marcel Duchamp at the Chouinard Art Institute, where Duchamp's retrospective at the Pasadena Art Museum left a significant mark on him. The book also highlights Allen's partnership with Jo Harvey Allen, their relocations from Los Angeles to Fresno to Santa Fe, and features appearances by notable figures such as Walter Hopps and Ed Ruscha. Greaves notes that Allen's 1970 Bay Area exhibition was inspired by a song, while his work 'Ghost Ship Rodez' (2006) examined Antonin Artaud's madness, showcased at venues like MASS MoCA. In 2011, Bob Dylan declared Allen his favorite visual artist. Allen, born in 1943, recently released 'Blood Sucking Maniacs' and has an upcoming book titled 'Down in the Dirt – Graphic Art by Terry Allen, 1970-2025.'
Key facts
- Brendan Greaves published 'Truckload of Art – The Life and Work of Terry Allen' in March 2024 by Hachette Books.
- Terry Allen hosted Elvis Presley for dinner at age 12 in Lubbock, Texas, booked by his father Sled Allen.
- Allen met Marcel Duchamp at Chouinard Art Institute in Los Angeles.
- Duchamp's retrospective at Pasadena Art Museum influenced Allen's art practice.
- Allen's multidisciplinary work includes visual art, music, and theater, often with narrative elements.
- Allen's 1970 Bay Area gallery exhibition was based on his song 'Cowboy and the Stranger'.
- Allen's work 'Ghost Ship Rodez' (2006) about Antonin Artaud was performed at MASS MoCA, Lensic Theater, and Theatre Artaud.
- Bob Dylan named Terry Allen his favorite visual artist in 2011.
- Allen released new album 'Blood Sucking Maniacs' and upcoming book 'Down in the Dirt – Graphic Art by Terry Allen, 1970-2025'.
- The biography includes figures like Walter Hopps, Ed Ruscha, Marcia Tucker, Dave Hickey, David Byrne, and Laurie Anderson.
Entities
Artists
- Terry Allen
- Jo Harvey Allen
- Elvis Presley
- Marcel Duchamp
- Man Ray
- Antonin Artaud
- Bob Dylan
- Walter Hopps
- Ed Ruscha
- Marcia Tucker
- Dave Hickey
- David Byrne
- Laurie Anderson
- Hank Williams
- Jimmy Reed
- Bo Diddley
- Joe Ely
- Butch Hancock
- Jimmie Dale Gilmore
- Jo Carol Pierce
- Barry Tubb
- Sharon Ely
- Joan Tewkesbury
- Sam Shepard
Institutions
- Chouinard Art Institute
- Pasadena Art Museum
- MASS MoCA
- Lensic Theater
- Theatre Artaud
- Contemporary Arts Museum Houston
- Hachette Books
- Paradise of Bachelors
- Texas Tech University Press
- Glasstire
- Artforum
Locations
- Lubbock
- United States
- Los Angeles
- Fresno
- Santa Fe
- San Francisco
- Philadelphia
- Pasadena
- North Texas