In a time when people share everything, with everyone, every second of the day, it’s hard for me to filter which one of my experiences is worthy of sharing with the world. Every now and then, however, an extraordinary interaction occurs with remarkable people, a one-hour gallery visit that turned into three a couple of weeks ago most definitely is perfect for this.

 

Recently, Jack and I made long over-due plans with friends, a husband/wife business couple, to share an evening of wine, nibbles, and a tour of the gallery. What began as a relaxed evening of viewing art, soon evolved into a night of deep conversation and contemplation about the human condition and the role of the artist as a voice for expressing aspects of it.

 

As we moved through the gallery, exploring all of Jack’s artwork with an inquisitive, appreciative eye, it was clear this couple was moved by his work. Abstract expressionism is not always easy for people to access, but this couple immediately connected both to the method and philosophy of Jack’s work. Much of his work evokes a sense of lightness, freedom, and joy, and there was much warmth shared among all.

 

Upon making our way to his Unity series, however, the dialog deepened into more serious, contemplative conversation. You see, Jack’s goal for this series is aimed to represent humanity as a unified whole, that works together to bring peace and cooperation to the world. A beautiful goal that sometimes seems unattainable, but that evening, it was apparent that the four of us understood that the key required for change is for people to listen. And so we did. We listened and shared examples of disunity we had experienced in our individual lives and in the lives of those we cared for, and we were lifted up by our common goal for seeking unity in a better world and for our efforts to lead others there.

​

What made this evening so very interesting, was our willingness to accept the power of this ideal through painting. Seeing the Unity Series gave one of our guests pause, a term she used to describe her reaction to one of the pieces, UNITY XVII. As she took her time to explore every part of this painting, she connected to and understood the message Jack was trying to convey. It’s a powerful thing to witness someone understand what your work means, and I was honored to see Jack felt championed and validated in his mission to reach people through art. We all felt changed for the experience.

 

This couple appreciated not just art, but also saw the value in it creating conversation that could lead to a global dialog. I was grateful to be a part of this experience, and I look forward to inviting others to see the value in Jack Allen’s artwork as a vehicle for discussion towards change.