Florence Wysinger Allen
Encyclopedia
Florence Wysinger Allen was an African American artists' model
for more than 30 years. She was called "San Francisco's best loved artists' model".
, California in 1913. Her father, Marion, was the son of California pioneer Edmond Edward Wysinger
. Her mother, née Moore, was a concert pianist. Allen attended Fremont High School
and became active in the San Francisco arts community and became a civil rights activist and newspaper columnist. Her social circle included the likes of Paul Robeson
, Paul Newman
, Harry Belafonte
and Allen Ginsberg
. When not modeling she worked as a hostess
at North Beach restaurants such as Washington Square Bar and Grill
. In 1987 she was struck by a truck while crossing a street near Fisherman's Wharf
, breaking both her legs and restricting her mobility. She died in El Sobrante
, California on June 1, 1997.
Allen began modelling in 1933, motivated by monetary need, and worked for painters such as Mark Rothko
, Diego Rivera
, Gertrude Murphy and Wayne Thiebaud
. She also modeled for art school
classes at the San Francisco Art Institute
, University of California-Berkeley, Stanford University
, the California College of Arts and Crafts and Mills College
. She preferred to model in the nude, for which she was paid 75 cents an hour versus 50 cents an hour for clothed modeling. In 1945 she founded the San Francisco Models' Guild. In 1965 the University of California-San Francisco held an art exhibition titled "Florence Allen Herself" which showcased Allen's thirty year modelling career. In 1987 she became the Model Coordinator and teacher of the Model Certification Workshop at the California College of the Arts
.
Model (art)
Art models are models who pose for photographers, painters, sculptors, and other artists as part of their work of art. Art models who pose in the nude for life drawing are usually called life models...
for more than 30 years. She was called "San Francisco's best loved artists' model".
Personal life
Florence Wysinger Allen was born in OaklandOakland, California
Oakland is a major West Coast port city on San Francisco Bay in the U.S. state of California. It is the eighth-largest city in the state with a 2010 population of 390,724...
, California in 1913. Her father, Marion, was the son of California pioneer Edmond Edward Wysinger
Edmond Edward Wysinger
Edmond Edward Wysinger . African American pioneer of California. Arriving around October 1849--the beginning of the California Gold Rush. California was annexed by the United States and was admitted to the Union as the thirty-first state on September 9, 1850.-California Supreme Court case:January...
. Her mother, née Moore, was a concert pianist. Allen attended Fremont High School
Fremont Federation of High Schools
The Fremont Federation of High Schools is a group of three high schools, located on the same campus in Oakland, California, formerly known as Fremont Senior High School....
and became active in the San Francisco arts community and became a civil rights activist and newspaper columnist. Her social circle included the likes of Paul Robeson
Paul Robeson
Paul Leroy Robeson was an American concert singer , recording artist, actor, athlete, scholar who was an advocate for the Civil Rights Movement in the first half of the twentieth century...
, Paul Newman
Paul Newman
Paul Leonard Newman was an American actor, film director, entrepreneur, humanitarian, professional racing driver and auto racing enthusiast...
, Harry Belafonte
Harry Belafonte
Harold George "Harry" Belafonte, Jr. is an American singer, songwriter, actor and social activist. He was dubbed the "King of Calypso" for popularizing the Caribbean musical style with an international audience in the 1950s...
and Allen Ginsberg
Allen Ginsberg
Irwin Allen Ginsberg was an American poet and one of the leading figures of the Beat Generation in the 1950s. He vigorously opposed militarism, materialism and sexual repression...
. When not modeling she worked as a hostess
Maître d'hôtel
The maître d’hôtel in the original French language is literally the "master of the hotel". In a suitably staffed restaurant or hotel, it is the person in charge of assigning customers to tables and dividing the dining area into areas of responsibility for the various servers on duty. The plural...
at North Beach restaurants such as Washington Square Bar and Grill
Washington Square Bar and Grill
The Washington Square Bar and Grill is a landmark restaurant adjoining Washington Square in San Francisco, California's North Beach neighborhood...
. In 1987 she was struck by a truck while crossing a street near Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf
Fisherman's Wharf may refer to:*Fisherman's Wharf, Monterey, California, a historic fishing wharf in Monterey, California*Fisherman's Wharf, San Francisco, a tourist destination and still-functioning wharf, in San Francisco, California...
, breaking both her legs and restricting her mobility. She died in El Sobrante
El Sobrante, California
El Sobrante is a census-designated place in Contra Costa County, California, United States. The population was 12,669 at the 2010 census...
, California on June 1, 1997.
Artists' model
There's an art to this business. There's a hell of a lot more to it than skin and bones. It's very difficult work. You find muscles you didn't know you had. Just when you think you're relaxed, the sweat starts running – and then you itch. The strain is tremendous. – Flo Allen
Allen began modelling in 1933, motivated by monetary need, and worked for painters such as Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko
Mark Rothko, born Marcus Rothkowitz , was a Russian-born American painter. He is classified as an abstract expressionist, although he himself rejected this label, and even resisted classification as an "abstract painter".- Childhood :Mark Rothko was born in Dvinsk, Vitebsk Province, Russian...
, Diego Rivera
Diego Rivera
Diego María de la Concepción Juan Nepomuceno Estanislao de la Rivera y Barrientos Acosta y Rodríguez was a prominent Mexican painter born in Guanajuato, Guanajuato, an active communist, and husband of Frida Kahlo . His large wall works in fresco helped establish the Mexican Mural Movement in...
, Gertrude Murphy and Wayne Thiebaud
Wayne Thiebaud
Wayne Thiebaud is an American painter whose most famous works are of cakes, pastries, boots, toilets, toys and lipsticks. He is associated with the Pop art movement because of his interest in objects of mass culture, although his works, executed during the fifties and sixties, slightly predate...
. She also modeled for art school
Art school
Art school is a general term for any educational institution with a primary focus on the visual arts, especially illustration, painting, photography, sculpture, and graphic design. The term applies to institutions with elementary, secondary, post-secondary or undergraduate, or graduate or...
classes at the San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute
San Francisco Art Institute is a school of higher education in contemporary art with the main campus in the Russian Hill district of San Francisco, California. Its graduate center is in the Dogpatch neighborhood. The private, non-profit institution is accredited by WASC and is a member of the...
, University of California-Berkeley, Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, the California College of Arts and Crafts and Mills College
Mills College
Mills College is an independent liberal arts women's college founded in 1852 that offers bachelor's degrees to women and graduate degrees and certificates to women and men. Located in Oakland, California, Mills was the first women's college west of the Rockies. The institution was initially founded...
. She preferred to model in the nude, for which she was paid 75 cents an hour versus 50 cents an hour for clothed modeling. In 1945 she founded the San Francisco Models' Guild. In 1965 the University of California-San Francisco held an art exhibition titled "Florence Allen Herself" which showcased Allen's thirty year modelling career. In 1987 she became the Model Coordinator and teacher of the Model Certification Workshop at the California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts
California College of the Arts , founded in 1907, is known for its broad, interdisciplinary programs in art, design, architecture, and writing. It has two campuses, one in Oakland and one in San Francisco, California, USA...
.
External links
- Bay Area Models Guild which was started by Allen
- Flo Allen's obituary from the SFGate