Trust the Process: Gallery Exhibit Showcases the Work of Steve Allison

The Northfield Mount Hermon Visual Arts Department highlights the work of a stalwart member of the NMH community in its opening exhibit of the school year. "Out of the Frame" features 28 original pieces by longtime faculty member, coach, and visual artist Steve Allison. The exhibit opens on Sept. 11 in The Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center, with a formal reception beginning at 6:30 pm.

Allison's first solo show at NMH, the exhibit is a mixture of recent explorations into linocut block printmaking, interspersed with previous work he describes as "mixed media chalk drawings."

Each piece evokes Allison's varied influences and interests — the music that stirs his imagination (the title of the show is inspired by musician Kate Bush); the ambiance evoked by vintage travel posters; a desire to address political and ecological issues in an age of uncertainty — layered into a deceptively simple melange that emphasizes process over product and the human element at the heart of it all.

Many of the block prints are multiple versions of the same image — some with text superimposed on them; others colored in acrylic tones — meant to highlight the variability of the creative journey.

"The image is just the starting point," said Allison of his work. "It's all of the things that I'm trying to bring into that image to create layers of meaning."

Other pieces were inspired by his personal connection to the people and landscape he's found in nearly three decades living at NMH. "I think of the tree images as portraits," he said. "They're living testaments: They wouldn't be who they are if they hadn't grown in this place. That's a big influence on me."

Similarly, Allison's unique professional path predicates his creative approach. After graduating from Temple University's Tyler School of Art and Architecture, Allison spent time designing an installation at a nature reserve in Pennsylvania, working for a professional party supply company, and making custom furniture, among other jobs. On campus, many members of the community know him as the coach of the mountain biking and outdoor teams or as a dorm faculty member in South Wallace.

Allison is grateful to serve as a resource and steward for the community and landscape he's called home for so long.

"As I move toward the next phase of my life, one of the things I'm going to miss the most about this work is the privilege of occupying this space," he said. "It's outrageously beautiful every single day, and it changes from moment to moment. In the space of a 20-minute walk, you can go from the main stem river of this entire region, up through this highly manicured academic space, into a beautiful, varied woodland environment. That's a gift I don't ever take for granted."

For now, however, Allison's creative talents and engagement in the community continue to set an example throughout the school.

"The artwork included in this solo exhibition is a wonderful testament to Steve's commitment to meaningful subject matter and uncompromising craft," said Jamie Rourke, chair of the Visual Arts Department. "He finds ways to bring his experience and passion to academic, athletic, and residential spaces, reminding us that art and life are inextricably interwoven and demanding [that we] look for beauty and connection in everyday moments, while also applying a critical lens to the world around us."

Allison hopes the exhibit will inspire students to find meaning in the process of living, rather than obsessing on preconceived notions of success. "The idea that you can do these things and also nurture other parts of your being and your joy in the world — that's an important message for kids when they're beginning to think seriously about what to do with their life," he said. "I think for the vast majority of people, it's just like the printmaking process: It's the work and the doing that inform what your outcomes are."

"Out of the Frame" is on display in The Gallery at the Rhodes Arts Center through Oct. 23. Off-campus visitors can email mseno@nmhschool.org to arrange a visit.

— Max Hunt

Images courtesy of Steve Allison.