Allan Crite (Finding Aid)

Allan Crite

1910 - 2007

Favorite Color: All Colors

Favorite Food: Anything that doesn't make him sick

Favorite Time of Year: Anything but winter

Interview Length: 80 minutes

Interview Date(s): February 12, 2001, February 11, 2001

Interview Location(s): 410 Columbus Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts, 410 Columbus Ave, Boston, Massachusetts

Abstract

Despite his age and hearing difficulties, Allan Crite's spirit is irrepressable. He details, with plenty of humorous asides, his upronging in post turn-of-the-century Boston. He talks about his paretns and thier quest for knowledge through education, His father was one of the first black engineers in the state. Crite shares stories of childhood precociousness and burgeoning artisitc talent. His mother exposed him to art through classes and trips to the Museum of Fine Art in Boston. this exposure had a great influence on him as he eventually attended the School of the Museum of Fine Arts after graduating from high school. Much of Crite's early work was based on Negro spirituals and biblical stories, and he details his influences and works during that period. Allan Crite explores the religious nature of his various commissioned works for churches across the country. He also speaks of the influence his relligious beleifs have upon his work as well. Some controversy has always surrounded Crite's use of black figues in his religious works, and he answers his critics here. Additionally, he details the influence some of his travel to Mexico and Puerto Rico had upon his artisitc craftsmanship. Crite has had the advantage of long life, and discusses some of his contemporaneous black artists. The segment closese with Crite's discussion of his 1990 illustration of the Book of Revelations, a project which Jacob Lawrence also contributed to as well. As an artist in his ninth decade, Allan Crite developed a touching philosophy and world view on art and mankind. Living in Boston for his entire life has created a strong relationship among other artists and Crite, who sees himself as a patriarch of sorts. He reflects upon his art which he sees as part of a continuum, not indivdual pieces and time periods. In the most moving part of his interview, Crite closes with a soliloquy on the relationship between humanity and nature where he says, "All of us have taken part in the story of life together. We're never alone."

49 Stories (See Ordered Story Set)